Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Which Gordon Lightfoot song makes you cry?

Ginny · 12-18-2006, 04:51 PM

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.

12-18-2006, 04:51 PM	#25
Ginny Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 83	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.