Ok, What about the worst song he wrote.

[Restless]

I know he never wrote one...so lets not start anything. But!!! I know we all probably have one in our collection that gets fast forwarded everytime it come on...
So lets hear it...what song sort of makes ya cringe???? And Why.
I have a hard time with "Lesson in Love". In not in to the beat and it seems too dang slow for some reason.
Excuse my ignorance but who is Jeny Lind????

[joveski]

don't really know why, but i always skip the following

last time i saw her
i'm not supposed to care
too late for prayin
all i'm after

[mtheeb]

Yikes! "Lesson In Love" is one of my top-ten favorites! However, "Anything For Love" is among the handful of Lightfoot songs I admire least. Sugary over-production by the over-producer David Foster. (My best understanding is that Jenny Lind was a very popular Swedish singer who toured America in the mid 19th century.)

[Restless]

Yikes! "Lesson In Love" is one of my top-ten favorites! However, "Anything For Love" is among the handful of Lightfoot songs I admire least. Sugary over-production by the over-producer David Foster. (My best understanding is that Jenny Lind was a very popular Swedish singer who toured America in the mid 19th century.)

[mtheeb]

Say it ain't so, Joveski! "I'm Not Supposed To Care" is wonderful, and I adore "All I'm After" even more than "Lesson In Love"!! I respect differences of opinion in music, but this is frightening!!!

------------------
And I will always love
that sound until the day
I die.

[Restless]

Say it ain't so, Joveski! "I'm Not Supposed To Care" is wonderful, and I adore "All I'm After" even more than "Lesson In Love"!! I respect differences of opinion in music, but this is frightening!!!

------------------
And I will always love
that sound until the day
I die.

[Rebecca]

Not that he ever sings it anymore, but I don't care for "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You." I'm not wild about "Cobwebs and Dust," either.

[Vincent57]

Just a response to the Jenny Lind question. She was a performer in the Barnum & Bailey Circus who had a longtime "relationship" with P.T. Barnum. Don't know how I know that but have heard that story somewhere along the way. That's why the song always made sense to me.

[wild rose]

Just a response to the Jenny Lind question. She was a performer in the Barnum & Bailey Circus who had a longtime "relationship" with P.T. Barnum. Don't know how I know that but have heard that story somewhere along the way. That's why the song always made sense to me.

[mytoyota@earthlink.net]

Go here for info on Jenny Lind:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/07494.html


Lind, Jenny
Lind, Jenny,
1820-87, Swedish soprano. She made her debut
in 1838 as Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz.
She studied in Paris and sang in Germany,
England, and Sweden. In 1849 she abandoned
opera for concert and oratorio until 1870.
Under the management of P. T. Barnum she
toured (1850-52) the United States with great
success. After her marriage to Otto
Goldschmidt in 1852 she lived in Dresden and
in London, where she taught at the Royal
College of Music. Called "the Swedish
nightingale, she was one of the greatest
coloratura sopranos of her time, possessing a
voice of remarkable range and quality.

------------------
paperback dreams . . .

[joveski]

quote:Originally posted by Restless:
Say it ain't so, Joveski! "I'm Not Supposed To Care" is wonderful, and I adore "All I'm After" even more than "Lesson In Love"!! I respect differences of opinion in music, but this is frightening!!!


they're not bad songs, but i just tend to skip them most of the time. BTW, i like Lesson in love.

[SilverHeels]

I cannot believe you dont like NOT SUPPOSED
TO CARE! It's beautiful. I get weepy
whenever I really listen to those lyrics.
Havent we all, at some time, loved someone
we shouldnt have? For me, it is all there
in that song. I love it!

As a 'fast fwd' track ... hmmm.. I think it has to be 'YellowCanaryCanoe' or whatever
its called. I just dont connect with that
one.

But they are all masterpieces one way or another.

[Rebecca]

"I'm Not supposed to Care" would have to be in my Top 5 list of favorites, although I don't dare listen to it when I have PMS or I'll get all weepy.
Rebecca
I don't care for "Canary Yellow Canoe" either.

[mytoyota@earthlink.net]

I have to agree with Silverheels on Canary Yellow Canoe.
I'd never tell him that, but it's true.

------------------
paperback dreams . . .

[Selene]

I agree about Anything For Love, but the one that I always have to skip is May I. The Last Time I Saw her is one of my favorites--especially the '77 Avery Fisher Hall recording.

[Martin/12]

I agree about Anything For Love, but the one that I always have to skip is May I. The Last Time I Saw her is one of my favorites--especially the '77 Avery Fisher Hall recording.

[charlene]

Canary Yellow Canoe is hard to listen to. The only reason I enjoy it to any degree is because I know all the rivers from studying geography in school!
lol
Char

[charlene]

Canary Yellow Canoe is hard to listen to. The only reason I enjoy it to any degree is because I know all the rivers from studying geography in school!
lol
Char

[Dan O'Malley]

Canary Yellow Canoe is hardly a favourite, but May I must surely be the least greatest of all Lightfoot's work!

[Rose]

Rebecca,
"Remember Me, I'm the one" is the first Gordon Lightfoot song I ever heard. I believe this was over forty years ago. I was a young teenager and was vacationing in Canada at the time. I fell in love with the song and him. This is a love that has lasted a long time.
You have to understand that this song was written to mirror other popular songs of the time, many sang by Jim Reeves.
This song is very different from most of his other works.
I can understand why this may not be your favorite but to man of us really "old" fans it was a marvelous beginning.
Betty

[sundownbuff]

Rebecca,
"Remember Me, I'm the one" is the first Gordon Lightfoot song I ever heard. I believe this was over forty years ago. I was a young teenager and was vacationing in Canada at the time. I fell in love with the song and him. This is a love that has lasted a long time.
You have to understand that this song was written to mirror other popular songs of the time, many sang by Jim Reeves.
This song is very different from most of his other works.
I can understand why this may not be your favorite but to man of us really "old" fans it was a marvelous beginning.
Betty

[joveski]

don't know why people don't like canary yellow canoe. I know it may sound a bit too rocky for some but since I'm only 24 and have friends that only listen to chart hits, they think that gord is an old country artist. I've played this song to them and they change their minds (expecially the material from DSR-salute). One guy told me "gee, he actually writes normal songs too"
Persoanlly, I was surprised at it when I first heard it but it's great for cranking up my guitar sometimes.
Another song I skip sometimes is Welcome to try

[mtheeb]

I have to agree: Canary Yellow Canoe is actually quite cool (perhaps, in part, because it's so un-Lightfoot-like). If I may stray, does anybody LOVE, almost to tears, Always On The Bright Side (from Songbook) as much as I surely do? Just wondering...

[Restless]

I have to agree: Canary Yellow Canoe is actually quite cool (perhaps, in part, because it's so un-Lightfoot-like). If I may stray, does anybody LOVE, almost to tears, Always On The Bright Side (from Songbook) as much as I surely do? Just wondering...

[SilverHeels]

ME! I LOVE 'Always on the Bright Side'!
There is an almost hypnotic quality to it
and it is one I can play over and over!
Love it to bits!

[Brenda]

"Cobwebs and Dust", just because it's repetitious. And although it's probably sacreligious to admit, I can't stand "Sundown"!

------------------

[Westernstar9]

"Cobwebs and Dust", just because it's repetitious. And although it's probably sacreligious to admit, I can't stand "Sundown"!

------------------

[mtheeb]

I think it's okay to dislike Sundown. I recall, when I was younger, feeling uncomfortable with the lyrics...perhaps too risque! (Of course these days, compared to the offensiveness of much of contemporary music, it sounds like a Disney tune.) Now I more appreciate the production, the musicianship, and its place within a great album. And some of the lyrics are actually kind of cool ("...when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again.")

[Restless]

I think it's okay to dislike Sundown. I recall, when I was younger, feeling uncomfortable with the lyrics...perhaps too risque! (Of course these days, compared to the offensiveness of much of contemporary music, it sounds like a Disney tune.) Now I more appreciate the production, the musicianship, and its place within a great album. And some of the lyrics are actually kind of cool ("...when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again.")

[mtheeb]

I just thought of a Lightfoot song which may be my least favorite of all: "Rainbow Trout" from Cold On The Shoulder. The melody and lyrics are...well, let's just say I don't enjoy that particular track.

[Restless]

I just thought of a Lightfoot song which may be my least favorite of all: "Rainbow Trout" from Cold On The Shoulder. The melody and lyrics are...well, let's just say I don't enjoy that particular track.

[Brenda]

quote:Originally posted by Restless:
I think it's okay to dislike Sundown. I recall, when I was younger, feeling uncomfortable with the lyrics...perhaps too risque! (Of course these days, compared to the offensiveness of much of contemporary music, it sounds like a Disney tune.) Now I more appreciate the production, the musicianship, and its place within a great album. And some of the lyrics are actually kind of cool ("...when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again.")

No, it's not the lyrics necessarily, I just felt that the tune was well, contrived. Gord last scored a top-10 hit in 1971 with "If You Could Read My Mind", and I felt perhaps there were some "suits" at WB hinting his next album ("Sundown") may be his last on Reprise if it didn't produce a hit. I've never been a big fan of "hook" tunes, and "Sundown" certainly qualifies as that. The musicianship was it's usual impeccable self, so there's no complaints there.

By the way, if your moniker "Restless" is taken from the GL tune, that's one of my favorites.

------------------

[Westernstar9]

quote:Originally posted by Restless:
I think it's okay to dislike Sundown. I recall, when I was younger, feeling uncomfortable with the lyrics...perhaps too risque! (Of course these days, compared to the offensiveness of much of contemporary music, it sounds like a Disney tune.) Now I more appreciate the production, the musicianship, and its place within a great album. And some of the lyrics are actually kind of cool ("...when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again.")

No, it's not the lyrics necessarily, I just felt that the tune was well, contrived. Gord last scored a top-10 hit in 1971 with "If You Could Read My Mind", and I felt perhaps there were some "suits" at WB hinting his next album ("Sundown") may be his last on Reprise if it didn't produce a hit. I've never been a big fan of "hook" tunes, and "Sundown" certainly qualifies as that. The musicianship was it's usual impeccable self, so there's no complaints there.

By the way, if your moniker "Restless" is taken from the GL tune, that's one of my favorites.

------------------

[Janice]

Westernstar9,

I don't care for "Sundown" either and for the same reasons that you stated. I seem to recall making this same statement some time ago in another thread with a different cast of characters and was fried royally http://www.corfid.com/ubb/eek.gif

[SHVentus]

My least favorite GL tune is Black Day in July. I know the historical value, but I just cant handle the repetativeness and the overall mood of the song. It really drags me out. But thats the only one! As I am a songwriter myself, I know the importance of some of the unique lyrics that make a song. When I hear that someone is not fond of the song 'The Last Time I saw her face',I can almost bet they've never walked through a rain drenched forest.

[Kevin]

My least favorite GL tune is Black Day in July. I know the historical value, but I just cant handle the repetativeness and the overall mood of the song. It really drags me out. But thats the only one! As I am a songwriter myself, I know the importance of some of the unique lyrics that make a song. When I hear that someone is not fond of the song 'The Last Time I saw her face',I can almost bet they've never walked through a rain drenched forest.

[SaraJane]

I don't like MAY I at all....
I get the feeling he threw that song together just to fill a contractual agreement or something.

COBWEBS AND DUST is another clunker. The repetition is monotonous, and I also get the feelign he threw in the other instrument just to address the monotony of the song.

ANYTHING FOR LOVE though, is one of my favorite songs by Lightfoot...for what that's worth.

[ROBO]

I don't like MAY I at all....
I get the feeling he threw that song together just to fill a contractual agreement or something.

COBWEBS AND DUST is another clunker. The repetition is monotonous, and I also get the feelign he threw in the other instrument just to address the monotony of the song.

ANYTHING FOR LOVE though, is one of my favorite songs by Lightfoot...for what that's worth.

[restless shadows]

I have been a lightfoot fan, in earnest, since 1968, and frankly, there are no real "clunkers" because almost every song contains a line or phase that is interesting. There are some songs, however, that I would rather pass up; May I is one, and two others that readily come to mind are Slide on Over and I Want to Hear It From You.

If I may make a few comments about some of the worst songs noted in this post, I would need to start with I'm Not Supposed to Care, the lyrics are simply poetic and grabs at the heart, and the guitar lines and chord progressions are brillant.

A Lesson in Love is a great tune, with a very clever lyric, just listen; poor Jenny Lind.

Anything For Love is another wonderful song, again, if you listen and take in the music coupled with the poetry of the lyric, it speaks for itself.

Rainbow Trout; rather clever and it does have a lasting musical hook.

Too Late for Prayin', what can you say, this song is great, deep, and an individual interpretation can change as one's perception of life shifts. This song says too much at times; even the obvious.

[restless shadows]

I have been a lightfoot fan, in earnest, since 1968, and frankly, there are no real "clunkers" because almost every song contains a line or phase that is interesting. There are some songs, however, that I would rather pass up; May I is one, and two others that readily come to mind are Slide on Over and I Want to Hear It From You.

If I may make a few comments about some of the worst songs noted in this post, I would need to start with I'm Not Supposed to Care, the lyrics are simply poetic and grabs at the heart, and the guitar lines and chord progressions are brillant.

A Lesson in Love is a great tune, with a very clever lyric, just listen; poor Jenny Lind.

Anything For Love is another wonderful song, again, if you listen and take in the music coupled with the poetry of the lyric, it speaks for itself.

Rainbow Trout; rather clever and it does have a lasting musical hook.

Too Late for Prayin', what can you say, this song is great, deep, and an individual interpretation can change as one's perception of life shifts. This song says too much at times; even the obvious.

[seahawk11]

I'm wearing my flak jacket, so here's the list of songs I skip over for whatever reason (I'm such a huge fan that maybe I've heard them too many times):

Baby Step Back
Make Way for the Lady
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (sorry folks, but like Warren Zevon's 'Werewolves of London', it's one of those 'career' songs that just HAS to be played at every show)
Ode to Big Blue
Cherokee Bend
Endless Wire
Whispers of the North
On Yonge Street
And, yes...that "Canary Yellow Canoe" song.

[Brian 57]

Well, his worst song is still better than my best because my best hasn't been written yet. Mainly because I haven't written any. But there is a song I can certainly say is not my favorite-- My Pony Won't Go. (It sounds like it went, but in a different sense of the term)

[Summerside]

Hello everyone..have been away from the web page for sometime for one reason or another and realize how much I missed it. Now, must agree with Kevin, Black Day in July is one that is usually skipped over, puts me in a "black" mood. On the other hand, SUNDOWN has the best intro and just yesterday in my car I replayed it over and over. Can't imagine what people thought seeing me in my car moving to the music. GL will be in PA three times in the next few months and I am so disappointed I won't make any of the shows.

[Margie]

Hello everyone..have been away from the web page for sometime for one reason or another and realize how much I missed it. Now, must agree with Kevin, Black Day in July is one that is usually skipped over, puts me in a "black" mood. On the other hand, SUNDOWN has the best intro and just yesterday in my car I replayed it over and over. Can't imagine what people thought seeing me in my car moving to the music. GL will be in PA three times in the next few months and I am so disappointed I won't make any of the shows.

[Bill]

Any of the tunes where rhymes are forced to sound pastoral and folkie (Wild Strawberries, Canary Yellow...). Best tunes have strong melody and conversational lyrics (Don Quixote - although very good as poetry, Sundown, even Dream Street Rose - a very under appreciated tune).

[minstrelms]

"Canary Yellow Canoe" does it for me. I usually love anything he does, though.

[loveyagord]

"Canary Yellow Canoe" does it for me. I usually love anything he does, though.

[lavender]

sorry, restless, but i strongly disagree with "rainbow trout" as a skip-worthy song. it is simple but has a cute, underlying story to it. it's not meant to be epic.
among my least favorites:

baby step back
ringneck loon
canary yellow canoe
cold on the shoulder (sometimes)

*Also, watchman, i totally agree with your summary of the time factor; it really can change one's perception of a song.

[lavender]

sorry, restless, but i strongly disagree with "rainbow trout" as a skip-worthy song. it is simple but has a cute, underlying story to it. it's not meant to be epic.
among my least favorites:

baby step back
ringneck loon
canary yellow canoe
cold on the shoulder (sometimes)

*Also, watchman, i totally agree with your summary of the time factor; it really can change one's perception of a song.

[joveski]

i don't understand why most say that canary yellow canoe is one of his worst songs. It's simple, catchy and probabaly recorded in the name of fun!
I like it. Anyone else?

[BILLW]

Not to disagree with my newly met old friend,lavender, but I think the song is kind of fun.
Bill

[Wingdrops]

While I share the views of many here, my vote for Lightfoot's worst all-time released song is "I'd Do It Again," which is not only bad in itself, but bad in how it nearly ruins a great album side (for those of us who remember vinyl).

Other clunkers on my list are:

I Want to Hear it From You
Don't Beat Me Down
Cold Hands from New York
If There's a Reason
Canary Yellow Canoe (which is mere curiosity piece, IMO)

For worst title cut, my clunker is "Salute."

Other songs I often skip are

Summer Side of Life
Salute
My Pony Won't Go
The Soul is the Rock
Cherokee Bend
Welcome to Try.

I'm not sayin' these are not good or interesting songs, but generally they are just not my cuppa tea. Oddly enough, I love the way the last chords of "My Pony Wont Go" lead into "It's Worth Believing."

Concerning the songs listed by others above, my strongest disagreement is with "Slide On Over," which may be the most danceable song Gord ever wrote (there's an interesting thread I think I'll start). It's packed full of testosterone too. LOL

I like "Cobwebs and Dust," although I agree that it's a weaker song. I'm not too fond of "Black Day in July" but that's primarily because the subject is somewhat dated.


------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

[2Much2Lose]

While I share the views of many here, my vote for Lightfoot's worst all-time released song is "I'd Do It Again," which is not only bad in itself, but bad in how it nearly ruins a great album side (for those of us who remember vinyl).

Other clunkers on my list are:

I Want to Hear it From You
Don't Beat Me Down
Cold Hands from New York
If There's a Reason
Canary Yellow Canoe (which is mere curiosity piece, IMO)

For worst title cut, my clunker is "Salute."

Other songs I often skip are

Summer Side of Life
Salute
My Pony Won't Go
The Soul is the Rock
Cherokee Bend
Welcome to Try.

I'm not sayin' these are not good or interesting songs, but generally they are just not my cuppa tea. Oddly enough, I love the way the last chords of "My Pony Wont Go" lead into "It's Worth Believing."

Concerning the songs listed by others above, my strongest disagreement is with "Slide On Over," which may be the most danceable song Gord ever wrote (there's an interesting thread I think I'll start). It's packed full of testosterone too. LOL

I like "Cobwebs and Dust," although I agree that it's a weaker song. I'm not too fond of "Black Day in July" but that's primarily because the subject is somewhat dated.


------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

[Wingdrops]

I forgot to mention "Ring-Necked Loon" and "On Yonge Street." I was not fond of either of these two when I first heard them. But RNLoon, in particular, has grown on me and is now one of my favorite cuts on Painter. IMO, it bears repeat listening, much like "Lesson in Love."

2Much2Lose

------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

[2Much2Lose]

I forgot to mention "Ring-Necked Loon" and "On Yonge Street." I was not fond of either of these two when I first heard them. But RNLoon, in particular, has grown on me and is now one of my favorite cuts on Painter. IMO, it bears repeat listening, much like "Lesson in Love."

2Much2Lose

------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

[joveski]

>Other clunkers on my list are:

>I Want to Hear it From You

WHAT??

>Don't Beat Me Down

depends on how much time i have. i usually listen to it on that album

>Cold Hands from New York

WHAT??

>If There's a Reason

probably my least fave on that album

>Canary Yellow Canoe (which is mere curiosity piece, IMO)

this is a fun little tune that everyone should like!

>For worst title cut, my clunker is "Salute."

A classic song, IMO

>Other songs I often skip are

>Summer Side of Life

never!

>Salute

never!

>My Pony Won't Go

sometimes

>The Soul is the Rock

never!

>Cherokee Bend

never

>Welcome to Try.

my least fave on painter

>Concerning the songs listed by others above, my strongest disagreement is with "Slide >On Over," which may be the most danceable song Gord ever wrote (there's an >interesting thread I think I'll start). It's packed full of testosterone too. LOL

agree there!

>I like "Cobwebs and Dust," although I agree that it's a weaker song. I'm not too fond >of "Black Day in July" but that's primarily because the subject is somewhat dated.

cobwebs is a really catchy song that fits nicely on that album. If there is a weak song on that album, it's me and bobby mcgee
black day in july is a unique tune that sounds like no other lightfoot song. i personally love the build up in intensity during the track

[james hill]

it's hard for me to pick a worst song from GL, but if i had to it would be "east of midnight". the overall production sounds very tinny, & there are are acoustic versions of the song that are much better. i like "anything for love" because it's a departure for Lightfoot with all the synths. i think it's good for established artists like GL to experiment with different sounds. Neil Young is famous for that. almost every album is different from the last. "canary yellow canoe" is another great example of GL doing something a little different. the song displays GL rocking harder than he ever has. "never say trust me" is an under-rated classic & we will probably never hear this one live. that's another thing. why doesn't gord perform any of the songbook rarities on his recent tours? not all of them, but 2 or 3 wouldn't hurt & it would boost the quality of the performances. concerts should be more than just a showcase for one's greatest hits.

[joveski]

i think he does belt out Forgive me lord and heaven don't deserve me, doesn't he?

[BILLW]

Good question Watchman... I haven't put a song on this thread because I'm one of those people who if GL said "for my next number I'm going to read the phonebook A to Z" I would sit and listen until my wife dragged me out..... http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[mtheeb]

At the risk of receiving a rock to the head, I respectfully offer this opinion: Probably most people attending Lightfoot concerts these days have attended one or more before, so the inclusion of rare tunes actually would "spice things up" a bit. One would think that'd make things more interesting for the band, as well. Yes? No? Maybe?

[Restless]

At the risk of receiving a rock to the head, I respectfully offer this opinion: Probably most people attending Lightfoot concerts these days have attended one or more before, so the inclusion of rare tunes actually would "spice things up" a bit. One would think that'd make things more interesting for the band, as well. Yes? No? Maybe?

[Brian 57]

Another thing to keep in mind is that not everyone in a concert audience is a "Lighthead". When choosing songs for a concert, the artist has to keep in mind the majority of listeners. So, like a lot of performers who have been around for years, the less well known gems have to be left on the sidelines in favor of those who have a common denominator. It's nice to know that Gord rotates his material. Some folks go into every concert with the same set, and it ends up getting rounded off at the edges.

[Wes Steele]

Surprised no one said this one......

"Songs The Minstrel Sang".... Endless Wire Album

[joveski]

quote:Originally posted by Wes Steele:
Surprised no one said this one......

"Songs The Minstrel Sang".... Endless Wire Album

that's cause it's a good song!