Symbolism in Sundown ??

[Sam in Houston]

I was told that Sundown contained symbolism related to a lovers trio. Can someone explain that one to me?

[Robby Lake]

I heard somethin bout the late Jim Bilushi,his girlfriend,alot of cocaine and later Gord and her getting together.he's singing to her about staying away from him or else.
I can't wait for more replies!

[Borderstone]

Funny you should post this Sam,i was thinking about this just the other day and I came up with this.---> "Sundown,you better take care if I find you've been creepin' round my backstairs" to me means that "Sundown is the woman in question.

Now,at Sundown,as we all know,we cast a long shadow,so if she's creepin' round his backstairs,I take that to mean simply "don't darken my doorstep with your presence". The shadow being the dark.

As for Belushi and all that,I don't think he (Belushi) was seeing her yet,maybe Gord was,I don't know. Main point though,the death of John Belushi wasn't until March 1982,so I'm sure this song has nothing to with that.

[MistyMoppens]

I understood the girl in the song to be Cathy Evelyn Smith - the woman who administered the lethal dose of drugs to John Belushi. Gordon lived with her for 4 years. It's hard to imagine, but she was very beautiful back then. They had an incredibly tempestuous relationship. It's been reported that Gordon gave her a large amount of money to help with her legal defense in the Belushi death case. I've heard it was around $35,000. but I could be wrong. (wouldn't be the first time) Gordon is known for being a loyal friend, no matter what.

Much of Gordon's work is rich in symbolism but in this case I always took "Sundown" to be the other man. In other words: "Don't come sneakin' around my back stairs to see MY woman - or else..."

This is a song where one's imagination can really run wild.

[Borderstone]

I know in a 1983 Entertainment Tonight interview,a voice over from MAry Hart stated that Lightfoot's management has advised him "not to discuss Smith in interviews".

If that's good advice or not,I don't know but I know he's never discussed it and most likely never will,unless he writes a biography/memoir.

[Auburn Annie]

Don't hold your breath on that; at this point I highly doubt there will be any authorized biography / autobiography from Gord. Between not feeling anybody would be really all that interested in his life and wanting to protect loved ones from past omissions and commissions in behavior, I don't see him sitting down to write or tell his story. More's the pity.