In his song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" Gordon Lightfoot is singing a ballad he wrote about an actual historical event. Is this also true about his song "Cherokee Bend" or is it purely fiction? If it is true, can anyone fill me in as to the details of the story over and above the lyrics of the song?

Hi, George!
Yes, "Cherokee Bend" is a true story. Gord came across a story in "Reader's Digest" (Yes, he does read that!!!) many years ago. And it inspired that song. It really did happen. He wasn't real specific, but I believe it was one of those "Drama in Real Life" stories that the Digest always runs.

Stay loose, eh?

LAMS

------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

So Gord is not Cherokee, he was just telling a story about somebody else's experience? Gee, I really thought that he was talking about his own history.

Uh, no, Cherokee Bend is not a true story. The shortened version in Reader's Digest was from a "teen reader" by Hal Borland called "When The Legends Die". Lightfoot was not particularly faithful to the story line, even, but the spirit is the same.

Trying to read the book reminded me why I didn't like junior high school book lists.

straight from Gord's mouth.
from massey hally 75

http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...U2G4WE3E0OW20W


open the link and click on the download option... you should get an mp3 file

Thanks Mende - very cool !

Bill :)

Thanks, too, Mende! I was all excited, cozied up in my chair, listening to Gord, <sigh>, when all of a sudden, that's it! Darn! I was hoping I'd get to hear the whole kit and caboodle! Hey, something from Gord's better than nothing, eh?

I mentioned this to Alex in Reading while we had a chance to meet prior to the show.
"No,He's not an Indian"...{not that it'd make any difference if he was}
That is what I told my boss back in january when I told him I'd be takin a week off in Aug. to go see Gordon.{he is one of those deprived that say's "Gordon who??"}He said "Oh yeah,isn't He an Indian or something?"poor soul
About a week before our Summer Gordoning tour,I reminded him that I would be off next week,to which he replyed, "Oh yeah,yer going to see that Indian"...I just said,"Yeah,goin to see the Indian"

i just did the small intro for a quicker upload.

Well it was a treat nonetheless, thanks!