Gordon Lightfoot is dead at age 84. A brilliant songwriter and singer, I will always associate him with the seventies when his music was an oasis for me as I navigated college and law school. He had the usual failing of entertainers in multiple marriages and children out of wedlock. After serious illness in the early part of this century he became more religious and noted that his faith in God as a Christian was the only thing that kept him going. May God deal gently with his minstrel soul.
This 1972 BBC concert was Lightfoot at his absolute best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEVQiUMbvHU&t=2774s
I have many of his albums, a couple of CDs and had several cassettes for the playing in the car. His music will always be part of my life.
I watched a beautiful tribute to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The surviving family members gathered on the anniversary date of the ship’s horrific descent to the lakes bottom.
The many comments from family regarding Gordon Lightfoots poetry was breathtaking. How they felt that Gordan had paid an unending tribute to their loved ones and forever honored them. The tears were contagious. It was a local television production that was truly superb. Well edited and thought provoking.
Gordon Lightfoot.
Rest in Peace and may your surroundings comfort you as you comforted so many in your words and music.
I found the piece. The local station, 9&10 News.
https://youtu.be/v4EaoiSJrlc
A very versatile musician. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and perpetual light shine upon him.
https://youtu.be/kZlrrwUIwcE
“I Love Edmund Fitzgerald’s Voice”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOaFHmMYikc
I’ve never heard of Gordon Lightfoot. I have however, heard “If you could read my mind” many times and can sing the lyrics, as it has been remade a few times. His original version is lovely. God rest his eternal soul.
My friend was career Marine. We were in my car and I was playing a Gordon Lightfood CD. Don Quixote came on with the lyric, “See the soldier with his gun who must be dead to be admired.” He said, “Do you think that’s true?” I had never analyzed that lyric closely but I had to admit, no, soldiers shouldn’t have to be dead to be admired.
shouldn’t have to be dead to be admired.
Although that is often the case. Memorial Day reflects that, although making the ultimate sacrifice it is understandable. As Audie Murphy said, the real heroes never came home from the war.
Gordon Lightfoot was gifted with a magnificent voice. May the choirs of angels bring him to heaven where the Lord can enjoy Lightfoot’s singing.
Thank you Donald McClarey for Audie Murphy’s comment. Murphy often said: “I don’t know why I am alive. I ought to be dead.” God had work for him to do. The most decorated man of WWII Murphy said: “These medals belong to those who did not come back.”
Murphy often referred to himself as a refugee from the law of averages.
Don Quixote came out in the 70s when returning Vietnam vets were not treated well. This lyric makes it seem like those returning vets are not to be admired.
Or it could be a caustic reference to how they were being treated. Like a lot of his lyrics they are ambiguous. Fifty thousand Canadians fought in Vietnam and those who returned to Canada were treated shabbily,
QUOTERMEISTER.
Funny.
About 5 years ago some locals had fun spinning yarn about whale sightings off the shores of the Great Lakes.
Yes. Vacationers periodically would ask, where is there a good location to spot whales?
Try Dana Point!…I’d respond. 🤔
Writing about actual historical events was Lightfoot’s greatest strength as a songwriter. In addition to the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, there was the Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle about a cruise ship that burned down at sea en route from Miami to the Bahamas in 1965. Then there was Black Day in July about the 1967 Detroit riots.
Although Lightfoot was left of center politically, this song is an apt description of the result of leftist policies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmwQIzdzKCc