Which Gordon Lightfoot song makes you cry?

[tiffany]

I don't mean to be depressing gang.But I'm curious.How many of you can't sing all the way through one of Gordons' songs without crying?
Which one(s)? Personally,I can't make it all the way through Gords version of 'Changes'(Yes,I know it was written by Phil Ochs).There just something about that song that makes me loose it everytime
I hear it.
patybear

[ December 01, 2006, 19:04: Message edited by: patybear ]

[patybear]

I don't mean to be depressing gang.But I'm curious.How many of you can't sing all the way through one of Gordons' songs without crying?
Which one(s)? Personally,I can't make it all the way through Gords version of 'Changes'(Yes,I know it was written by Phil Ochs).There just something about that song that makes me loose it everytime
I hear it.
patybear

[ December 01, 2006, 19:04: Message edited by: patybear ]

[joveski]

dont make me cry, but the A passing ship comes close

[formerlylavender]

For me it's Looking at the Rain. Don Quixote is in my car right now, and when I hear that song, I can tear up on the spot.

[Yuri]

Any closing song that makes the CD eject and brings silence to a room moments ago flooding my world with Lightfoot. It's the following silence that brings tears to my eyes!

...but seriously folks, I agree with 'formerlylavender' above and 'Looking At The Rain" puts a lump in my throat each time.

I shared the story of my connection to this song with this group years ago.

[GJA]

"Now and Then"

[Melody]

"Song for a Winter's Night" about missing someone you truly love & "Home from the Forest" about a drunk, homeless man who lost his wife & children to his addiction(the "forest"). At the end, before he dies, a vision of her and his children appears to him, those he lost(to the "forest", the booze)....That's how I interpret that one. Just my opinion...
Melody

[charlene]

Home From the Forest makes me cry sometimes as does Sit Down Young Stranger...When he did SDYS at Massey it was jaw droppingly spectacular...
it's a heartbreaker of a song... Both songs evoke such vivid images/emotions of true loneliness...

[Melody]

Very true Charlene...

I meant to add that I interpret the "long forgotten Soldier" as lonley, forgotten "Man", who has lost his way...due to his addiction. The "forest" is a beautiful place initially, "where the wild flowers did bloom" but the man takes the wrong path in his life and the forest becomes a dark, sinister place. Again, my own interpretation...
Melody

[MaryO]

Too late for prayin' is the one that tugs at my heart. m.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Circle Of Steel, Drifters, and Looking At The Rain can make me come pretty close when I'm in the correct mood.

[Old Folkie]

Song for a Winter's Night
I Heard You Talking in Your Sleep (heartbreaking!)

[charlene]

BEAUTIFUL
BEAUTIFUL always did make me cry for sentimental reasons...now when I hear it in concert it's because he just soars when he sings it....it took a while to get used to the 'new' version but unless I play a CD I don't really remember it...The new version is truly beautiful...

Clouds of Loneliness can choke me up and "In My Fashion" can too....along with APPT....I hurt for him when I hear him sing such sad lyrics....

[SilverHeels]

'I'm not s'posed to care' is the biggie for me.
'Clouds of Loneliness' - that one hurts!
'Home from the Forest' so, so sad.

[seahawk11]

Canary Yellow Canoe...

Just kidding. How's about Tattoo, Home from the Forest, Miguel, If Children had Wings? They all come close...

[BILLW]

None yet !

Bill :)

Even his "sad" songs make me smile, go figure.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Pussywillows Cattails also can make me come close to crying. The lyrics are not that sad but the tune reminds me of days gone by (the ones that you cannot get back, and wish like h*ll you could) :(

[Borderstone]

Not as many as before. The only one that still can pierce my cool (no matter how hard I try )is "Too late For Prayin'". :( *sniff!

Some come close but I hold it together to the end. :)

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Talking about "Too Late For Prayin", watch this film (kind of long) and then give that song a listen. :(

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1035259505575011866&hl=en

For each child with eyes that smile
They'll be 10 more cryin'

[jeffyjo]

If Children Had Wings... also, oddly, Welcome To Try comes close... it leaves a lump in my throat.

[Station Master]

hmmm, well, when Gord opened in Hamilton with Spanish Moss, unaccompanied, just his pluckin and strained vocal ...oh boy, that was a throat lump moment, that tune hit like never before

...whenever i hear that decending "so I'm rolling north thinkin' of the ways things might have been..." well, as usual, the seamless blend of lyric, reality, chord progression and melody make the eyes gloss up a bit ...not sure if it's joy or sorrow

but ditto to a prior post, too late for prayin - well, i cannot remember exactly weeping during or following a good listen but still, such impact (up there with 'not supposed to care', eh, bru? ...killer stuff, also)

i think one reason may also be the association i have given it to my first exposure and listening to some of the net gang picking away and singing this tune at a char-b-que :) kenyon 'shea' did some smooth, gentle soloing

i later remember getting out the axe, cockily and giving that tasty solo a go myself

ok, now THAT's when, not the song, but my entire butchered attempt led to the good wail ...heh

but back to serious, the lyric "for each child with eyes that smile there'll be ten more crying" hits hard

all interesting pics... so many neat threads to catch up on

Gord's last lyric(s) to us left me hanging and got me right down especially during that first long awaited listening, quite a damper

"...you're leaving right now..."

can't wait for a new album or more releases from the vaults... 'stone cold sober' certainly no to tapper either

cheers,
jimmy

[brink-]

It has always been Home From the Forest. Tom's video of that chokes me up.

[Gitchigumee]

Well when I was at a GL concert in Sept., Early Morning Rain made me cry. It was emotional, not because of the lyrics or melody, but just because it was my first Lightfoot concert and it's the opening song on a CD I play every day in my car, and it just hit me hard (but good) that I was actually seeing and hearing Gordon Lightfoot live, in person, the real thing, FINALLY! They were happy tears!

[Andrea]

Clouds of Loneliness gets to me. I don't think there's really a song out there that makes me cry. But the emotions in that song are so potent.

[Ginny]

Hi Friends. First of all let me say that it's great to be able to come here and connect with all the wonderful folks again. This topic has lots of latitude for discussion about just what kind of sensation gets generated when we become so emotionally involved that we're brought to tears by a piece of artistic work. This happened to me recently at a symphonic performance here at the Orpheum theatre(Gord played there in 1999) in Vancouver. My wife asked me why I was crying and I told her I was overcome with joy. How else could it be explained? But the topic does tend to make one think a little more deeply as it's not just your average cry shall we say over the death of a family pet as an example. It's very different and when I tried to gather the thoughts going on at the time, a whole bunch of stuff kicked in beginning with the anticipation factor of getting ready for the concert and how lucky I was to live within a twenty minute walk to a beautiful well preserved old theatre and being able to sit there and absorb the cacophony of symphony musicians getting ready to play their beautiful acoustic instruments while waiting for the conductor to come out and then hearing that very first note. I guess it's all about being able to have this as part of your life's experience and how thankful and fortunate one really is. This could go on and on but getting back to Gord's songs; yes, "In My Fashion" can well me up pretty good. There's something about a recitation during a song that finds it's way into the emotional core and ingites a spasm that only a cryful episode seems to be able to contain. The first line: "Now Take A Look At Me." That's a powerful statement and a fearless one also. How many times has he sung that song, and in front of thousands of people? He's not hiding anything. The man is baring his soul in that one line. That does it for me. Of course being a guy who's gone through similar experiences as he has during his life registers pretty well also. You've done it, the very best you could do, and the home fires are still burning. So why not sing it out? It's a fantastic piece of work and I can still hear it ringin'in my head. For me it's another great experience that has come my way in life for which I am very thankful. Bring on the throat constrictors and the tear wellers. Ron J.

[Gitchigumee]

Very nice comments, Lighthead, and how true. Regarding the song "In My Fashion" I just think it is so typical of Gord to turn a topic like "How I Did It" or "How I've Lived My Life" into the beautifully simple statement "In My Fashion." What a classy guy.

[Ginny]

Thanks Gitchigumee. Just browsed through your earlier post on Dec 1st and I hear the sentiments you reflected which seem to fall in line with the ones I was trying to make. The appreciation of the complete package tends to draw on the emotional end of oneself and seems to ignite the fuel created inside when it reaches a certain level. The beauty is though, the explosion created is not a damaging one, nor a sorrowful one either. Simply joyous. This is a really great topic for guys like who like to ramble on. Cheers, Ron J.

[Ginny]

Originally posted by ColoradoSue:
~*~ THE LAST TIME I SAW HER ~*~
CLOUDS OF LONLINESS
BEAUTIFUL
STONE COLD SOBER
SHADOWS

[Ginny]

Hi ColoradoSue. "Stone Cold Sober." Yes, that's one that did a number on me, big time, as well. I'd never heard it before till my wife, Marian bought me the "Songbook" collection for my birthday and when the time was right I sat down alone in my room and listened to every tune on those recordings one by one. There were several numbers done on me that day as well by a few of those tunes especially some of the earlier ones which I hadn't heard for a while and I think that alone helped contribute to the joy of it all. But that one song placed me onto a magic carpet and swept me back to those days he was talking about in that piece of work. I felt the hurt, the pain, the joy, and the wishing of how I wanted to be back there again, Stone Cold Sober, wishing how I could have that all back, those beautiful women, those moments of ultimate joy, staying up all night, we were all so young, and so in love. Even now I don't play that one unless I can find the space to fit it into the mindset that I need to have in order for it to bring out the full potential of quality that it really has. I'm so happy that Gord put this one out there. Ron J.

[Jennifer]

Oh yeah, Gordon has made me get teary-eyed a few times. Here are a few that get me all choked up.

If You Could Read My Mind: I don't think any song expresses the pain, confusion and heartache of a divorce/breakup any better than this.

Miguel: Not only is the story very poignant but the melody is haunting and tugs at your emotions.

Talking in Your Sleep: The lyrics say it all in this one. Is there anything more sad and depressing than lying next to your sleeping beloved while listening to them talk about there secret love? Me thinks not... :(

Go My Way: this may not be a "sad song" per se but there is a sweet sort of longing in the words and something about that line "Why must I sail my ship alone without a friend??" that gets me each time.

[musky_man]

Oddly enough - The Ballad of Yarmouth Castle can put a lump in my throat.

I find the lyrics so powerful - sometimes it seems I'm on that boat with those poor souls going down with the ship in some sort of hellish inferno.

[Ginny]

This topic keeps coming back to me as I think of all the Lightfoot tunes that are out there and I think I've heard them all, at least the ones that are readily available, but one is never sure. Some of my songwriter friends every once in a while will pull one out of the pack and it can send me off into a tailspin. I guess it's all about the power of song. "DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW." That's another Lightfoot tune that registers it's tally on my scale and it's up there pretty high. It's an incredibly beautiful song with a fantastic arrangement and for the folks in "our age group," during the sixties there was an influx of maritimers(Eastern Canada folks) arriving in Toronto looking for a better life. I was one of them in my early twenties, and just up and left the comfort zone of living with my parents, arriving in the big city not even knowing how to boil water. But Gordon Lightfoot was there with his music and I knew right from that moment I had found a comfort zone that, unbeknownst to me at the time, was to carry me through to this day. To say I got hooked on Lightfoot would be an understatement. My Mom is still alive and well back East and I reflect back every now and then on that lyric: "but the letters that you write, in the faded winter light, they tell her, they tell her that you've got ten dollars and you'll be alright, (or "your rent cost eight") and when you get straight, you're gonna' come back East some day." That's me re-living the past. I can't even let myself get NEAR a cry on that one. It would put me over the top, especially this time of year. I just spoke with her today and she's right as rain. I'm a very lucky guy to have a Mom this long and we only get one in this life. You kind of have to understand what things were like during the sixties in Toronto as well. Gord went down East and entertained all those folks from the remote villages on the Southern shore of Nfld. so when he wrote those kind of songs he had a scope on what he what he was doing with his work. He registered with those folks and thay gave it back to him in appreciation of his contribution. I met more Newfies in the bars in Toronto than I knew back home in Nfld. The talk always included back home, your Mom, the family etc. Not surprising Gord came up with that song. He knew how to read his audience and gave them exactly what they came to hear and I'm so happy that I was part of all that in those early days. Merry Christmas,, Ron J.

[Auburn Annie]

Merry Christmas, Ron - one of my favorites as well. His voice is vintage, with a hint of Glenn Yarborough, and you're right - he knows about being away from home and family.

[Long River]

Three songs come to mind, the first - If You Could Read My Mind. In concert, I close my eyes when he sings this & I hear how beautiful his voice is. It's the first song I knew by him, so part nostalgia & just how beautiful he sounds. Brings tears to my eyes but in a good way.

I can't even listen to Home From the Forest, too sad for me.

Another beautiful song, A Painter Passing Through, some of the lyrics... But I love this song.

[DiggerBoy]

I get close to crying with I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE, PUSSYWILLOWS CATTAILS, IF CHILDREN HAD WINGS... to name a few.

What really made me cry were the songs he didn't sing at the cancelled Harris, Michigan concert in September.

Boo hoo.

Happy Holidays everyone!

[Kathy in Michigan]

I get close to crying with I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE, PUSSYWILLOWS CATTAILS, IF CHILDREN HAD WINGS... to name a few.

What really made me cry were the songs he didn't sing at the cancelled Harris, Michigan concert in September.

Boo hoo.

Happy Holidays everyone!

[Mair]

Tatoo.

Time has been wasting away ...

[walls]

I'll go from the gut, and list the five that come to mind most readily:

Home From The Forest
Too Late For Prayin'
I'm Not Suppose to Care
If Children Had Wings
That Same Old Obsession

[Kathy Number Four]

Bringing this topic back to the top....

Quite a few of them get me a little misty-eyed (like "The Last Time I Saw Her" and "Clouds of Lonliness"). But in "The Patriot's Dream"... the line "She cried into the silken folds of her new wedding gown" ALWAYS brings on the tears! Also the line in another verse: "How could she tell those children that their father was shot down?" The whole song is especially apropos to the current times (i.e., the war in Iraq).

[podunklander]

Shadows

[johnfowles]

For me it is most definitely "Looking at the Rain" (one of a few of Gord's best songs missing from the Songbook box set IMHO)
back in 1962 I had cycled the 8 miles from my parent's home in Ferndown Dorset to the big city of Bournemouth to do some shopping and as usual had gone through the racks at my favourite record shop. I was well rewarded by discovering the then
brand new Don Qiixote and peddled home as fast as possible to listen to it.
by the time I did it was a veritable cats and dogs situation...
raining heavily.... you know it was raining poodles.
I had very recently gone through the trauma of a grevious personal loss through the treachery of somebody I loved, that was in the event not to be overcome for another 27 years of living on my own
So when I found myself gazing out of the window and hearing the words
"Looking at the rain, feeling the pain
Of love lost running through my brain
Looking at the wind, watching it spin
The leaves along the street, you win
Waiting for a line to fall
Telling you it's all a big mistake
Looking at the wall, wishing you'd call
And tell me you're okay, that's all "
that was and still is a real tear jerker I can tell you!!
it was possibly wetter inside the house than outside

[Jesse Joe]

Bringing this topic back to the top....

Quite a few of them get me a little misty-eyed (like "The Last Time I Saw Her" and "Clouds of Lonliness"). But in "The Patriot's Dream"... the line "She cried into the silken folds of her new wedding gown" ALWAYS brings on the tears! Also the line in another verse: "How could she tell those children that their father was shot down?" The whole song is especially apropos to the current times (i.e., the war in Iraq).



"How could she tell those children that their father was shot down?" The whole song is especially apropos to the current times (i.e., the war in Iraq).


Quite right Kathy Number Four ! :(

[gwen snyder]

At the concert in Indy last fall, my husband thought I was going nuts but every other song I was misty eyed... I had eyes shining with a smile and tears running out of my eyes for the passion of the man. I must admit he is "art"-ist enough for me. Blessed is the thought that was running through my mind. He had enough God in him to correct the things in his past that made him move off his goals, that was a chore. AND then write about them. Additionally he had enough compassion for us to know we all go through his emotions someone said "to stand in front of a crowd of thousands and bare your soul, etc..." we are in this together, he, you and I. He is a gift for us. We are so lucky to be in his "era". Until I started coming to this sight, the words to some of his songs alluded me, songs like "home from the forest" really didn't make sense (so it wasn't a favorite) until I read the words and identified with the sadness of the situation. We are Gord's gift, too, to be able to identify with his music and to be as "Ginny" put it in this unique space and time with a "cultural icon" like Gordon Lightfoot. Yes!!!!!

[RM]

I had very recently gone through the trauma of a grevious personal loss through the treachery of somebody I loved, that was in the event not to be overcome for another 27 years of living on my own
So when I found myself gazing out of the window and hearing the words
"Looking at the rain, feeling the pain
Of love lost running through my brain
Looking at the wind, watching it spin
The leaves along the street, you win
Waiting for a line to fall
Telling you it's all a big mistake
Looking at the wall, wishing you'd call
And tell me you're okay, that's all "
that was and still is a real tear jerker I can tell you!!
it was possibly wetter inside the house than outside


Ouch ! Thanks for sharing that story.

[Jesse Joe]

For me it is most definitely "Looking at the Rain" (one of a few of Gord's best songs missing from the Songbook box set IMHO)
back in 1962 I had cycled the 8 miles from my parent's home in Ferndown Dorset to the big city of Bournemouth to do some shopping and as usual had gone through the racks at my favourite record shop. I was well rewarded by discovering the then
brand new Don Qiixote and peddled home as fast as possible to listen to it.
by the time I did it was a veritable cats and dogs situation...
raining heavily.... you know it was raining poodles.
I had very recently gone through the trauma of a grevious personal loss through the treachery of somebody I loved, that was in the event not to be overcome for another 27 years of living on my own
So when I found myself gazing out of the window and hearing the words
"Looking at the rain, feeling the pain
Of love lost running through my brain
Looking at the wind, watching it spin
The leaves along the street, you win
Waiting for a line to fall
Telling you it's all a big mistake
Looking at the wall, wishing you'd call
And tell me you're okay, that's all "
that was and still is a real tear jerker I can tell you!!
it was possibly wetter inside the house than outside


I always loved that song,' Looking At The Rain.' And what I just read by you Sir John is very moving to say the least. Thanks for sharing...

What a great songwriter this poet genius is. :)

[Jesse Joe]

At the concert in Indy last fall, my husband thought I was going nuts but every other song I was misty eyed... I had eyes shining with a smile and tears running out of my eyes for the passion of the man. I must admit he is "art"-ist enough for me. Blessed is the thought that was running through my mind. He had enough God in him to correct the things in his past that made him move off his goals, that was a chore. AND then write about them. Additionally he had enough compassion for us to know we all go through his emotions someone said "to stand in front of a crowd of thousands and bare your soul, etc..." we are in this together, he, you and I. He is a gift for us. We are so lucky to be in his "era". Until I started coming to this sight, the words to some of his songs alluded me, songs like "home from the forest" really didn't make sense (so it wasn't a favorite) until I read the words and identified with the sadness of the situation. We are Gord's gift, too, to be able to identify with his music and to be as "Ginny" put it in this unique space and time with a "cultural icon" like Gordon Lightfoot. Yes!!!!!


"He is a gift for us. We are so lucky to be in his "era".

Very beautifully said gwen snyder, you guys are great... :)

[Kathy Number Four]

"Cobwebs and Dust", because it reminds me of how behind I am in my house cleaning. :biggrin:

[Dream Street Rose]

Hi Kathy,

I think I have "Cobwebs and Dust", in my head. :)

One of Gordon's songs that brings tears to my eyes is "Summer Side of Life".

DSR

[Kathy Number Four]

I think I have "Cobwebs and Dust", in my head. :)

DSR

Wellll...... I didn't want to say anything Dore, but now that you mention it...... ;)

[timetraveler]

Too Late For Praying isne. Another is Bittergreen, followed by Circle Of Steel. Oe tht hs me ter up with a differant type of tears is Seven Island Suite. It's beautiful beyond words.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Apology is probably the saddest song he has written because I can relate to it (don't show enough luv and they slip away). I wish he would do another recording of that one.

[The Rez]

Which Song Makes Ol' Rez Cry . . . The Auctioneer [Leroy van Dyke]

It tears me in three that

[being a cross-bread Balboa-Okie]

I just can't sing/talk that fast . . . !

Were I to sing the song, it would be a 9 min opus

[Guitarman2214]

I would have to say all of them...But if I really have to narrow it down I'm gonna go with...Long River, Minstrel of the Dawn, Now and Then, Shadows, Does Your Mother Know and Dreamland just to name a few : )

[chillicothe20]

Affair on 8th Avenue really gets me.

[TC]

Sometimes on the weekends I'll pick up the geetar, clear off the dust, break out a lightfoot songbook and attempt to play and sing a bit of Gord's music. I will often times record it...listening to me attempt to play a guitar and sing is what makes me cry :)

Tony

[KHester]

Without a doubt, it must be Too late for Praying, it not only brings a tear to the eye. But also brings a realization to the heart, and to the mind.

Kevin

I wish you good spaces.....

[Nightingale]

I think a lot of it depends on what's happening in my life.
Gordon has so many beautiful songs that speak to a heart that's breaking for whatever reason...how can you choose just one?
Too Late For Prayin'...that song is very appropriate for the world today:(
I can never listen without a tear or two for the sadness of life expressed in that song.

The Watchman's Gone is one that can get to me...I'd Rather Press On....Now And Then..Tattoo...It's Worth Believin'....and lately, for some reason, The Pony Man.

[joveski]

much to my surprise
i'll tag along
river of light
cabaret

[BILLW]

None yet !

Bill :)

Even his "sad" songs make me smile, go figure.

Still the same, almost 2 years later. :)

[Jesse Joe]

Welcome to Corfid "Guitarman 2214", your among friends here. :)


Back to the topic Im like BILLW, "None yet !" :whistle:

[Jesse Joe]

Sometimes on the weekends I'll pick up the geetar, clear off the dust, break out a lightfoot songbook and attempt to play and sing a bit of Gord's music. I will often times record it...listening to me attempt to play a guitar and sing is what makes me cry :)

Tony

Pretty good TC, this really made me laugh... :biggrin: :cool:

[JohninCt.]

The only one I can think of, is when I had a romantic break up many years ago, Looking At The Rain, keyed up some emotions in me. Still makes me think of that time in life whenever I hear it.

[mandoann]

The Last Time I Saw Her
Bitter Green
Sometimes I Wish (last song on Harmony...:()

[bjm7777]

"A Passing Ship", "Tattoo", "All The Lovely Ladies", "River of Light"....there are others. Can't pin it down to one song.....I thing being moved to tears is the whole point of it all....

[geodeticman.5]

Misty - High there ! I agree with the song you mentioned of "That Same Old Obsession" makes me well-up, and man can he sing in that one - perfect selective vibrato - I can "see" the sun shining like gold.. .

And Station and Shut up et al I agree totally with "Too Late for Prayin' " - and there again he really pulls out the stops in his masterful singing.. .

Hello Bru ! - I agree completely with Clouds of Loneliness - so sad.

And with losing Merry, "our song" was "Beautiful"; had that sung at our Wedding and played at Merry's funeral, so Char I agree on this one big time- it breaks me up major.... but also makes me smile..

Bo(rder) I agree at the end of Too Late for Prayin, even if I hold out til then, In the You Tube vistory version showing Jesus t the end with with what appears to be a tear in his eye and I lose it right there for sure, if I made it to begin with... . And of too many more to list - one that stands out currently, two actually, again (sorry guys) fron losing Merry, are: before she passed - "Your Love's Return", and now after she is gone - I am a basket case listening to: "The Last Time I Saw Her Face"
- her eyes were bathed in starlight, and her hair hung long....
oh Lord here I go again God Bless Gordon and his crystal ball into our hearts, and his foretelling lyrical paintbrush....how does he KNOW that what he writes is in our hearts, too....? I guess its no miracle to to be able to write what all men and women of passion feel in their hearts.... but it sure is a gift.
~geo steve

[mandoann]

Misty - High there ! I agree with the song you mentioned of "That Same Old Obsession" makes me well-up, and man can he sing in that one - perfect selective vibrato - I can "see" the sun shining like gold.. .

And Station and Shut up et al I agree totally with "Too Late for Prayin' " - and there again he really pulls out the stops in his masterful singing.. .

Hello Bru ! - I agree completely with Clouds of Loneliness - so sad.

And with losing Merry, "our song" was "Beautiful"; had that sung at our Wedding and played at Merry's funeral, so Char I agree on this one big time- it breaks me up major.... but also makes me smile..

Bo(rder) I agree at the end of Too Late for Prayin, even if I hold out til then, In the You Tube vistory version showing Jesus t the end with with what appears to be a tear in his eye and I lose it right there for sure, if I made it to begin with... . And of too many more to list - one that stands out currently, two actually, again (sorry guys) fron losing Merry, are: before she passed - "Your Love's Return", and now after she is gone - I am a basket case listening to: "The Last Time I Saw Her Face"
- her eyes were bathed in starlight, and her hair hung long....
oh Lord here I go again God Bless Gordon and his crystal ball into our hearts, and his foretelling lyrical paintbrush....how does he KNOW that what he writes is in our hearts, too....? I guess its no miracle to to be able to write what all men and women of passion feel in their hearts.... but it sure is a gift.
~geo steve

Hi Steve,
I have been reading all the posts and wanted to add my prayers of sympathy at your loss. And I echo your thoughts: I thank God for Gord. It brings tears to my eyes thinking how his songs express what is in our hearts (happiness and delight, as well as sadness). I am so thankful to be part of a group of people that appreciate his gift and each other.

Once again, please accept my condolences...

[geodeticman.5]

Thank you [I]very[I] much, Ann... I appreciate your kind words and thoughtful observation as well, of Gord's music. I'm glad you found some meaning in my words.
~geo Steve

[Tim]

With so much mention of "Home From the Forest" in this thread, I have to give an honorable mention to the way Murry McLaughlan performed it on the "Tribute" CD. He sings it so well, and with so much emotion.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Today it's Apology, Lookin' At The Rain, Sometimes I Wish, Stay Loose. Also, Someone To Believe In.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Still the same, almost 2 years later. :)

Not everyone is as tough as you. ;) :biggrin:

[Nightingale]

:) That's funny, Shutup and Deal, I'm losin'.

I forgot about Looking At The Rain...that is such a great song.
It really does contain that awful and sad feeling you get when you want so much to make it work and it just can't. It's kind of a shell shocked and scared feeling that mix in with being sad.

That Gordon...darm him anyway! He sure knows how to make someone cry.
Except for tough ole Bill W... :)

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

:) That's funny, Shutup and Deal, I'm losin'.

I forgot about Looking At The Rain...that is such a great song.
It really does contain that awful and sad feeling you get when you want so much to make it work and it just can't. It's kind of a shell shocked and scared feeling that mix in with being sad.

That Gordon...darm him anyway! He sure knows how to make someone cry.
Except for tough ole Bill W... :)

LOL.

[HeyokaFilms]

At the concert in Indy last fall, my husband thought I was going nuts but every other song I was misty eyed... I had eyes shining with a smile and tears running out of my eyes for the passion of the man. I must admit he is "art"-ist enough for me. Blessed is the thought that was running through my mind. He had enough God in him to correct the things in his past that made him move off his goals, that was a chore. AND then write about them. Additionally he had enough compassion for us to know we all go through his emotions someone said "to stand in front of a crowd of thousands and bare your soul, etc..." we are in this together, he, you and I. He is a gift for us. We are so lucky to be in his "era". Until I started coming to this sight, the words to some of his songs alluded me, songs like "home from the forest" really didn't make sense (so it wasn't a favorite) until I read the words and identified with the sadness of the situation. We are Gord's gift, too, to be able to identify with his music and to be as "Ginny" put it in this unique space and time with a "cultural icon" like Gordon Lightfoot. Yes!!!!!
Hello Gwen, and forum members
I'm a newbee here, posting for the first time. I'd like to say first, that I feel this is a special honorable place, (thanks to Char for making it possible, and all you for posting). I'm finding this humanly grateful, emotional connection, or thread that connects us all to this man, a very unique experience. I agree with "Ginny" too, that this is a special time and place, to all feel this close identification with Gordon's music. The enlightened works of Gordon Lightfoot's music, and pen, will certainly be discussed someday as is the emotional, sensual poetry of Walt Whitman's; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass
I aspire to be a heartfelt writer. Most times, I ponder about the sociology of the future humanity, and where we are going. That possible future without a direct connection to true experiences, loving and the loss of love once had. This special "man and his music", is ours to share. So...as I began working on a new idea for a screenplay, a while back, I wondered about ...what it would be like in that future, not having these gifted people, offering their natural emotional connections through the arts. Those future humans beings, wanting to reconnect again, with their past ancestry, and that time long ago, when humans cried with sadness and joy. We humans may be only remembered, by some, as simple and primitive, cave dwellers, but we sure do feel our emotions to the bone! LOL
I do have many visual experiences, while listening to Gordon's music, as I'm sure you all do too. These sometimes animated, and graphic character studies come in daydreams. I try to capture them on paper or by keystroke. Sometimes, by selecting and positioning my playlist of Gordon's songs I have met many connective threads between these unique, biographical characters. Sometimes their, character experiences, seem to form a coalescence into story chapters. These developments are only now in drafts stages. Yet, later on, I envision a running dialog between them. "Let them speak", so the songs tell me...What do the songs tell you?
I'm sure you all have these visuals too? (while listening) I would enjoy hearing about your experiences, with those characters in Gordon's songs. Greetings to you all. Thanks for letting me board.;)
Cheers,
Christopher

[charlene]

Welcome to corfid!

I am but the moderator here with all these fine folks and tough old Bill...
;)
Florian owns and manages all the 'geeky' stuff at this website..lol

Feel free to add to a thread or start your own..!

Char

[HeyokaFilms]

Welcome to corfid!

I am but the moderator here with all these fine folks and tough old Bill...
;)
Florian owns and manages all the 'geeky' stuff at this website..lol

Feel free to add to a thread or start your own..!

Char

Hello Char, and forum members
It is a pleasure to be among such a devoted flock... I'd like to start a new thread perhaps, as I'm developing this screenplay. There are so many well studied folks here, I mostly want to deepen my "Lightfoot" knowledge base.
Chers,
Christopher

[charlene]

From A Painter Passing Through -

I am still alone, remembering at last.

I always listen to this song anticipating this line and I always get a lump in my throat thinking of him writing those words..along with the earlier ones in the song:

Once upon a time, once upon a day when
I was in my prime, once along the way.

wow.

[geodeticman.5]

Today - while responding to the thread "One single line of Lyrics makes the song much better" - I was, as usual, waxing enthusiastically along blabberty blabbert , then about 15 on -thread examples as asked for in the thread theme, and... when I got down to the lines from "The Last Time I saw Her" , and "Beautiful" (my wife and my "song"), as the thread here asks, started me crying so hard I about shorted out my keyboard. Those 2, and so many more. Thats my short entry therapy today.
~geo steve

[HeyokaFilms]

Today - while responding to the thread "One single line of Lyrics makes the song much better" - I was, as usual, waxing enthusiastically along blabberty blabbert , then about 15 on -thread examples as asked for in the thread theme, and... when I got down to the lines from "The Last Time I saw Her" , and "Beautiful" (my wife and my "song"), as the thread here asks, started me crying so hard I about shorted out my keyboard. Those 2, and so many more. Thats my short entry therapy today.
~geo steve
Hello geo steve,
Good for you! Short out the whole town!;)....Gordon has done a fine job of reducing all of us, to our most blubbering, human level on occasion! I wish he had optioned many of his songs to be used in; Cinamatic films of the day. @1970 Can you imagine the theator's full of sobbing, blubbering examples...replace "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" with any number of Gordon's gems! i.e. from Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid" Bicycle scene...I personally find "Leaves of Grass" from Sunday concert, much to my hearts satisfaction.
Cheers All,
Christopher

[Lonesometroubadour]

"The Last Time I Saw Her", Always a tear jerker for me, it reminds me of my Sister who died in 1976.

[Oh, Linda]

Bells of The Evening and If Children Had Wings.

[jj]

"The Last Time I Saw Her", Always a tear jerker for me, it reminds me of my Sister who died in 1976.

"And if time could heal the wounds, I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more"

that lyrics moves me (not alot of water is shed from this stone for some reason) more than almost any other Gord words...I once made a mental list of all the settings and dates where I last saw (the face) and/or spoke to a lost relative or loved one...the list got so long that I thought I should write it all down but I started feeling like I was prematurely writing memoirs ...I highly recommend it ...you end up trying to squeeze the most out of the remainder of the day and jump up from your bed the next morning

I am sorry for your loss...much belated but sincere

[Oh, Linda]

One more I should mention, "Drink Yer Glasses Empty." He could have written that for my dad's oldest brother who flew B17 and B24 bombers in WWII. They used to hand him a bottle at the end of his mission and it'd be "bottom's up," so to speak. He came home a ruined man, a sharp contrast to the young, vibrant and funny man he was in his younger day as recalled by my dad.

I heard that song for the first time this summer when I picked up a couple of CDs I was missing from the GL catalog, including Waiting For You and the Songbook collection. Those poignant lyrics made me immediately think of him.

[jj]

started me crying so hard I about shorted out my keyboard


steve, it's ironic I suppose and I hope you dont mind my candid nature, but amidst your heart wrenching post, your one liner made me lol (when i typically type 'lol' I am not usually laughing our loud, mainly just grinning, but in this case I actually did!)...great one liner...cheers, hang in there, man

[christine75]

Shadows,song for a winters night and passing ship make me a litle teary eyed but so does the wreck of the edmund fitzgerald.

[jj]

"And if time could heal the wounds, I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more"

...I once made a mental list of all the settings and dates where I last saw (the face) and/or spoke to a lost relative or loved one...


i found a guest book post from Maury's (of Croce fame) brother at the tribute site ...it is a fine example of what I was trying to convey:


"Mom just reminded me that tomorrow (September 16) was the last day we saw Maury alive 35 Years ago. I can't believe it's been that long since we last said goodbye. I was only 12 at the time. What a special day that was. He had so much joy and hope for his future. Maury was so happy that day to be with all of his family and friends. I can still see his face in my mind's eye smiling at all of us. I will forever cherish that day. There was so much music and laughter. My sister Mary was very pregnant with her twins who would join us only months later. We were all so skinny back then. Maury especially. He could not have weighed more that a buck 20. I remember laying underneath his grand piano that day listening to him sing and play and also listening to other music including Patti Dahlstrom's album. One song called Emotion sticks out in my mind. Today is a day that my emotions are all coming back to me of that last day. Thank you Mom for reminding me and thank you Mary for giving us this wonderful site to remember our brother every day. Thanks to all of the people who are keeping my brothers memory alive by writing in to this site. You have no idea how much it means to our family. Love to all. Robert"

[danie1@everestkc.net]

The only time that ever actually happened was watching his concert in Reno, which was on PBS, doing "Restless." I hadn't heard that in a while, and him being older now, like me (close to his age), it just got to me. It's hard to let go, you know...

[bjm7777]

I thought this thread looked familiar....I reviewed my post from 07/16/08 and I have to say that my opinion is still the same now, as then. But, I should probably add "Sixteen Miles" to the list, though. To me, music is extremely personal, and whatever emotional "jab" I get from a song, by whomever (but we're talking about Lightfoot here), is pretty much just between me and the car windshield on Highway 93, with a stack of Gord's CD's, listening to "those Hi'Way Songs".
I first heard his music in the 60's when I was a youngster, and Lightfoot's music has been the single most influential music artist I have ever listened to. I learned to play guitar on his stuff. I used to watch Terry Clements' finger work in concert with a pair of binoculars.
Does his stuff make me cry? You better believe it...

[KHester]

Gordon has a wonderful way of touching our hearts. All the songs mentioned are great
a couple others that could also be included are The Leaves of Grass and Miguel.
The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle?


And in the other vein, one of the songs that always make me smile is Brave Mountianeers.

Kevin

[netvoyager]

I have been a Gordo fan since 1966. I have sit in Jam sessions with him at the Earle of Old Town in Chicago, drank with him, and loved him and his music for to long to remember. There is a rare song on a rare album that has a line "I come to this garden, I come here to pray." I played the vinyl version until it just wore out and have been unable to remember the song or albums name. This song brought back memories of my mother and her love of flowers and music. Somehow it just seemed he wrote it for her. I just returned from his concert in South Bend, Indiana (March 12th, 2009) at the Morris Civic Auditorium. This auditorium is a grand old place and as I watched him looking around at the gold leaf plastering and the fine structure I felt he was saying goodbye. Our group feels that this tour is his final tour. He played songs he seldom plays, said hello to old friends, and had tears in his eyes and on his cheeks through several songs. I am a rough tough male, but seeing this and hearing any of his songs now brings tears to an old fan who is aging as well. Song writers like this don't come along very often. I have been fortunate to call him a friend, to see him in numerous concerts, and to tip a few with.

[charlene]

That Same Old Obsession, ©1972 by Gordon Lightfoot

I come to this garden, I come here to rest
Early each day upon rising
I think of my lost love from over the sea
And sometimes I've wondered, if she thinks of me

I long to recall every kiss, every kind word
I miss her so much I could die
But the creatures of evil have captured her heart
And that same old obsession still keeps us apart

There's peace in the garden, there's peace in the air
Peace in the sound of the river
There's peace in the meadow, the sun shines like gold
And if she were with me there'd be peace in my soul

I long to return to the place, I remember
The taste of her lips close to mine
I could do much better, if I could be strong
Come into my garden but leave me alone

I come to this garden, I come here to rest
Just as the night comes stealing
Someone is weeping, I'm calling her name
Deep in the garden, deep in my brain

I long to recall every kiss, every kind word
I miss her so much I could die
But the creatures of evil have captured her heart
And that same old obsession still keeps us apart
But the creatures of evil have captured her heart
And that same old obsession still keeps us apart

[netvoyager]

Thank you Charlene and hello from a fellow Gordo fan!

[charlene]

Hi there!! - that song is on Old Dan's Records..

[geodeticman.5]

steve, it's ironic I suppose and I hope you dont mind my candid nature, but amidst your heart wrenching post, your one liner made me lol (when i typically type 'lol' I am not usually laughing our loud, mainly just grinning, but in this case I actually did!)...great one liner...cheers, hang in there, man

I saw the theme in live windows hotmail come-up with a new 'Which Gord songs make you cry, I had to log in and give my 8 bits worth. Then I saw I did I did allready. Were it not for poor memory, U would not have seen the very kind comment jj - - thank you jj, and I'm glad you got a laugh out of the keyboard shorting out - its healthy - to laugh after crying.

I heard once God (or I.D. or what/whomever to be respectful of all religions) made crying to clear out badly stuffed sinusus - and you know its true. ! I'll spair you the details, but I DID cry so hard I DID short out my keyboard.... i was only kidding at first (not on the crying, but the keyboard(, then it started acting like filter keys was off its rocker.....had to replace it...lol

but - thanks jj
& Thank you HeyokaFilms so much as well.

I just did a quick read, so forgive me if a missed anyone, but I do want to give my thought and condolances, however ill-timed for Lonesometroubadour's
sister.

Gordo can really pull all out hear t strings, and every emotion I can think of, except maybe hate ?

[johnfowles]

I shared the story of my connection to this song with this group years ago.
Ditto Yuri
I was very sad missing somebody with whom I had shared several Lightfoot concertsthe day I first heard that song and was looking out of the window on a typical wet UK drizzle and lost it completely
one of Gord's most poignant dittys

[dad2mak]

For me it's these:

"I'm Not Supposed to Care"

"Same Old Loverman"

and

"Looking at the Rain"

[ANTHONY ROBERSON]

That one gets me very sad, but not to tears. That song has some of his most powerful lyrics, in my opinon.

[ANTHONY ROBERSON]

My last post wasn't clear. It was a misplaced "quick reply".

None of his songs have ever made me cry, but some have gotten me very sad. Mainly because I deeply identify with them:
ORDINARY MAN-That song seems to be from a man doing the best he can to show his love, but it's not enough.
LOOKING AT THE RAIN-That's probably the roughest one on me. We've all dealt with loneliness, and I deal with it a lot even today at times. This song really opens up the wound. Despite that, I love the song very much.
NOW AND THEN-Man, oh man does that one bring my ex-wife during the good times back to me.
DREAMLAND-Just about the same emotions as NOW AND THEN. I love how Lightfoot is able to reflect on what brought two together while dealing with the fact that they're totally apart.
IF YOU NEED ME-It sings of the romantic man that I wish I could be.....But am not.

Wow...I think a good shrink would have charged me $57/hour for that!

[charlene]

this is a "nocharge" session at corfid...

but.. shrinks in my neighbourhood charge $250.00+ an hour...
;)

[Wheels]

If Children Had Wings has gotten to me a few times.

[ELizabeth]

'Sit Down Young Stranger' and 'Leaves of Grass' often tear me up.