Favorite Lightfoot Imagery

[LindaMay]

Do you all have favorite vivid images from Gord's songs? Some of mine are as follows:1)from Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: "The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound"
2) Lesson in Love: "First to come are the midgets/a monkey and a kid? Followed by those two one armed jugglers/the Ego and the Id"
3) Endless Wire: "Down in the dark of a burnt out soul/there's a few good second hand dreams"
Do you all have any? (: )) Linda

[SilverHeels]

How about 'the pavement was a shoulder for her tears' ?

[Auburn Annie]

The sky above is filled with stars the road is long - no cars are in sight
With one hand on the wheel I've been driving all day I can drive all night....

(Never Say Trust Me)

[stationmaster]

"The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon each page
The words of love you sent me"

Song For A Winter's Night

Classic Lightfoot imagery


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"The station is for travelers even you must ride someday"

[TheWatchman]

"To the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn haze,
We went walking on the high side of the bay on a chilly morn,
And we saw how leaves had fallen on the beds where trees were born"

Seven Island Suite

[LSH]

Needless to say, they all give me "mind movies". Here's one or two of my favorites:

"time has been wasting away
I can see it go sailing on by
as it slips through my fingers
the bow and wave never
wait for tomorrow, they just keep
on rolling as straight as an arrow"


And ditto on Seven Island Suite, Watchman!
I shouldn't have answered this post, I can't choose, they all give me images...sigh. EMR is another great one.
He's a painter alright

[BILLW]

This springs to mind:

Sitting alone, my friends have all gone home
You never know when they'll come droppin' in
Thinking of girls with their fingers in my curls
Too young to understand how love begins

(Second Cup Of Coffee)

Bill http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[brink]

I love that line from Endless Wire.

[Jenney]

There's a kind of a restless feeling and it catches you off guard
As we gaze off in the distance through the trees in my back yard ..

The entire song of Restless to me conjurs up the most images.
Jenney

[stationmaster]

"His tears fell on the sidewalk as he stumbled in the street
A dozen faces stopped to stare but no one stopped to speak
For his castle was a hallway and the bottle was his friend
And the old man stumbled in from the forest"

"Home From The Forest"

[violet Blue Horse]

Whispers of the wind
I will feel it sting
I will see it rise and fall
I will hear it sing
The sound is like a song to me
It takes away the pain
The river is the melody
And sky is the refrain

[stationmaster]

"Reaching for his saddlebag
he takes a rusty sword into his hand
Then striking up a knightly pose
he shouts across the ocean to the shore
Til he can shout no more"


"Don Quixote"

[closetcanadian]

"Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"

No matter how many times I hear that lyric, it always gives me the chills.

[Borderstone]

To save us all a lot of time and space,you can't get more visual than,"The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald". Since just about all of us know the words,you surely know what I mean. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

Most of the love songs make grat movies in my mind as well. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif

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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." ;) - Borderstone

[stationmaster]

"Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" is also visual, although not as popular as The Wreck......

[LSH]

Hear the steeple bells ring out
above my lobster pots....
LIR

Just like birds of a feather
we two have followed the golden sun..
WG

Deep as the sea and as wild is the weather
we will go--just you and me--t'pick wild strawberries together
Or be livin' on our own in a cabin in a meadow...
WS

Ah, everyone has posted such good pictures...

[BILLW]

And who can forget:

The colors that surround you there will be the shade of lavender
Shadows dancing everywhere
Like flowers in the rain
You will find your tongue's on fire while lying next to lavender
With words you never spoke before
And will not speak again

Bill http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[jj]

good one, lm http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif
for me, a vivid image sticks as the result of it being straightforward and simple, i can only digest so many metaphors in a lyric

"i think you have somebody waiting outside in the rain to take you away"

not even a metaphor, but so vivid, there musta been a lotta paint dripping off Gordon's brush when he laid that stroke (there, i just contradicted my whole point, lol)

[bjb]

Here's one:
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


[This message has been edited by bjb (edited August 30, 2004).]

[bjb]

And this one:
Roses are waiting for dewdrops to fall
Climbing your windows and walls
Leaves in the garden are falling, calling
Listen to them talk about your love's return

[TheWatchman]

Annie, that's a good one too.

Here's another one that stirs up some stuff...
"This time tomorrow we might all be packed and gone,
I believe it's best we carry on,
Smoke rings rising til they disappear,
In the sky above,
If you ask me I'll tag along"

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman:
Annie, that's a good one too.

Here's another one that stirs up some stuff...
"This time tomorrow we might all be packed and gone,
I believe it's best we carry on,
Smoke rings rising til they disappear,
In the sky above,
If you ask me I'll tag along"

I love this thread! Thanks Linda.

[jj]

"in Orillia they had movies & sports & music too"

ok, ok, maybe not....in all sincerity though, i can only imagine what this wonderful new album would have been like if Gord had he had the chance to do a few tweakings, i still can't believe he was able to grace us with this release, even with the raw forms... sorry, didn't mean to add sidebar dialogue to a thread full of sacred text http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by jj (edited August 27, 2004).]

[BILLW]

quote:Originally posted by SilverHeels:
I love this thread! Thanks Linda.

Yeah, so do I. Makes you feel like you're on a Lightfoot Forum, no?

Bill http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[jj]

thanks for featuring 2nd cup of coffee, bw!
i confess, only know the ALL the lyrics to one GL tune and it's this one, for good reason http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Martin/12]

"Where the road runs down by the butternut grove to old Bill Skinner's stream,
Do tell at the noon-day bell, It's time for a summertime dream."

[brink]

The lamp is burning low upon my tabletop
the snow is softly falling
the air is still in the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly calling.

Song for a Winter's Night.

[spanishmoss]

I'll think about Monday when Monday comes...

Lazy Morning

I think of my lost love from over the sea
And sometimes I wonder if she thinks of me

That Same Old Obsession

[charlene]

"and our fingers entwined like ribbons of light"
Affair on 8th Ave.

Char
oh my...

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by charlene:
"and our fingers entwined like ribbons of light"
Affair on 8th Ave.

Char
oh my...

Char, I was about to post this one ! LOL

And Bill, yes, it is just like being on a
Lightfoot Forum! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by SilverHeels:
I love this thread! Thanks Linda.
Yes this is a super thread which has morphed into a listing of favourite Lightfoot verse and to read even more items go to the archived and sorted full
listing of responses to
a newsgroup alt.music.lightfoot
November 2002 thread
Subject
favorite Lightfoot songs and favorite lines?
Complete Listing of all Postings to this Newsgroup thread
which is on my web site at:- http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/LIGHTFOOT/completelisting.htm
Just thought you'd like to know as a public service

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited August 28, 2004).]

[SilverHeels]

[
Just thought you'd like to know as a public service

[/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks for the reprise, John. Someone should take all the lines chosen and put them into a book.

Reading thru the above reminded me of another fave of mine: >"Many's the times I've wished that I were free<
sometimes, I do believe Gord is writing this stuff especially for me!

[brink]

There is a book of Gord's lines that was sold in the 80's I can't remember the name right now. It came out in Boulder CO I think.

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by brink:
There is a book of Gord's lines that was sold in the 80's I can't remember the name right now. It came out in Boulder CO I think.

Yes, I have it. 'I Wish you Good Spaces' ... nice little book. Its' time for an update. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[brink]

Yep, that would be the one. I couldn't remember it. Yes it is time for an update. Do we have any publishers here?

[LSH]

Not the cheeriest, but I've lived here, so good imagery..

Bats in the roof, cats in the hall
Dust on the stairway, gnats on the wall

Big rain comin'
Big rain comin' this way
Rain on the rock

The Soul Is The Rock

[Paul H]

There are so many! Here is one:
"We might go just you and me
to pick wild strawberries together
or be living on our own in a cabin in
a meadow
and the cows will come home
and we'll face the world forever"

[brink]

I have never heard of a calendar, that would be cool. I know he doesn't do them now.

[RickC]

Imagery ... painting a picture with words

I have to agree with the Watchman. Seven Island Suite is one of Gord's best examples of his superb use of imagery. This song can take me back to every camping trip or outdoor experience I've ever had. Since the Watchman used some of my fav lines I'll post these : " It is rising like a feather, dipping and dancing from below "

Another great song for imagery is " Tag Along " ( Actually the whole album is ).

" Each and every bad dream will be hammered into dust. When we get back where we belong. If you ever turn that page again, And you need a friend. If you ask me I'll tag along. "

Great thread
rick


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On my second cup of coffee and I still can't face the day

[whirligirl]

What a clever topic. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif I agree with you gentlemen about the Seven Island Suite. Such a vivid song that calls up images like the fiery Autumn haze,for example. Another in particular that not only gives great imagery to me mind but goose bumps as well is The Pony Man from his 1970 album Sit Down Young Stranger. As you can tell,I prefer the original title to the alternate. The Pony Man in its simple gentle way,conjures up images that a lot of us thought only children could dream of. It's wonderful to imagine such a friendly magical kind of man like that. It's almost along the lines of believing in Santa for a few relaxing minutes until you have to get back to the real world. Kind of a pity but that's the world for us adults. By the by,I have not been around lately because I was growing tired of that young Douglas fellow. Such language! Glad to see I can show this site to my G-Kids! That's what they call themselves. I never thought I'd be one to say,I just don't get this younger generation. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif I'm off to sleep now,Sunday tomorrow. All of you have a dandy one. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif From North Dakota,night ay.

[BILLW]

What a Painter:

Now it's midnight on the open sea
And the moon is shining bright
Some people join the party
And others say good-night

Makes you feel like you were there !

Bill http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[SeattleRain]

From Why Should I Feel Blue?
"All that you can ever do with love is reveal it."

[LindaMay]

quote:Originally posted by SilverHeels:
I love this thread! Thanks Linda.

Hi-I just got back online and really enjoyed the images that were shared-he is such a brilliant poet, like the BEST of the 19th century writers and poets-he is in the same class of literary ,as well as musical, genius. Really enjoyed all the lines people shared... Linda

[searam]

The perfume that she wore
Was from some little store
On the dowm side of town.
And it lingered on
Long after she'd gone
I remember it well...

AFFAIR ON EIGTH AVENUE
Sean

[Oma]

"If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
And to be once again with you"

Song for a Winter's Night

[Dan O'Malley]

"I'd been out drinking all day, I got carried away in the parlour last night."
I love "Tattoo", and I often wonder whether Gord means he had to literally be carried away! I Know this song came out after he stopped drinking, but whatever, it's one of his most beautiful,touching songs in my opinion.

[seahawk11]

I love anything from Restless:
The lake is blue, the sky is gray, the leaves have turned to gold
The wild goose will be on her way, the weather's much too cold
When the muskie and the old trout too have all gone down to rest
We will be returning to the things that we love best

[Gaby]

How to choose!!??

I think this time that was the best time that we two had ever known
We tried the handle of the house upon the shore and found the open door
Once inside we found a curious moonbeam doing dances on the floor

To me this is just so sensual. I love the imagery in this song that conjures up such beguiling expectations.
How incredible it is when we find someone who shares our sense of wonder (in each other).
But, we're just pretending - how sad!

[BILLW]

And now for something a little different:


Still I don't kneel down
I was born to fight
So you'd best leave me alone
Maybe I'll get much more than I need
Or much less than I should own
Last of all let me say it again
Either step up or step on

The depth and scope of his work is quite amazing. From love songs to bar brawls, a little something for everyone.

Bill http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[LSH]

Sitting alone in the Blue Ridge Saloon
Is no place for an angel to be
Ladies make faces at me
Battered but clean,
I had pulled my machine off the road
I was too tired t'see
Wearing a smile like the rim of a cup...


Can't ya practically see the Blue Ridge Saloon and the smile?