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char · 04-19-2002, 02:24 PM

I wish I knew so much more than I do about Lightfoot. he's a very shy and evasive sort when asked certain questions. he'll turn the question back to you and evade answering it that way! The following was a while back but it's some insight into the song:
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Tom
Member posted January 28, 2001 21:16
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"The Watchman's Gone" is such a fantastic song. I would love to hear that song in concert. I'm trying to figure out the meaning....can anyone else help out? Obviously the Watchman refers to the guy who's job it is to guard the train from hobo's and the like who try to get into the traincars. The song seems to be about a guy who is leaving a failed relationship("As I leave you in the sunset") & hitches a train bound for "the golden sun" the dream of a new start somewhere else. He makes it, but warns others to "beware knowin' the watchmen's always there". I'm not sure what he's trying to say. The ending is a little confusing for me too (i.e. "if you find me feedin' daisies"). I love the Canadian accent on "Kickin' your dreams ABOUT". What a classic!

Got one more nothin' I'd like to say
"You don't know me, A son of the sea am I"

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Tom
Member posted February 03, 2001 14:37
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Can anyone help me out on the above question? Thanks!
I've been on the town
Washing the *Barbara Striesand* down

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Tom
Member posted February 04, 2001 00:26
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THE WATCHMAN'S GONE
The more I listen to it, I think the end part about "If you find me feedin' daisies/Please turn my face up to the sky" I think he's talking about dying. It seems from the song he leaves for good to "follow the golden sun" and when his time is up "leave me be". Until then he will keep on drinking remembering his past pains: "Whatever I was/You know it was all because..." It's both a freeing song and yet he's still imprisoned.
Does that sound right, or does someone else have a different viewpoint of the song?

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charlene
Moderator posted February 05, 2001 11:30
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The Watchman's Gone (Sundown) 4:25

Just like birds of a feather
We too have followed the golden sun
It feels so good,
Knowin' the watchman's gone
If I give you a rose, buddy
Would you please bury it in the fields?
I seen a rose
Watchin' it all fold out

he's talking about being on his own and free from prying eyes, judgements and restraints - possibly those caused by a relationship? burying the rose in the fields - perhaps "planting" a rose in his memory because it seems when he saw a rose it opened up the way he saw life as opening up.

There's a train down at the station
It's come to carry my bones away
Two engines on
Twenty-one coaches long
End to end
Twenty-one coaches bend
The watchman's out
Kickin' the bums about

A funeral train perhaps? for when he/someone dies. the watchman's out doin his job keeping the bums off the funeral train.

If I wait for the right moment
You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen
I've done it before
I know I can do it in my sleep

he mentions he's gonna get on aboard so it's probably not him that dies.

The watchman's out
Kickin'the bums about
The watchman's out
Kickin' your dreams about

bums/hobos all have dreams of the free life of riding the rails but the watchman's job is to keep them off the trains so that means he's kicking their dreams about too - literally and physically i guess.

As I leave you in the sunset
Got one more nothin' I'd like to say
"You don't know me
A son of the sea am I"
As I say to you, my brother
If you live to follow the golden sun
You better beware
Knowin' the watchman's always there

when he leaves the train after perhaps getting on on one shore after he left the sea and headed across the country to the other shore and another ocean (he's a son of the sea) he lets the other guy know for what it's worth, that he needs to watch out for the watchman cuz he's always there.

If you find me feedin' daisies
Please turn my face up to the sky
And leave me be
Watchin' the moon roll by
Whatever I was
You know it was all because
I've been on the town
Washin' the bullshit down

a lot of hobos die along the train routes and many are alcoholics. he wants to be buried face up to watch the moon. he's explaining his life as being what it was because he got into the drinking too much and that ruled his life.

The watchman's out
Kickin' your dreams about
It feels so good
Knowin' the watchman's gone
It's like a song
Knowin' the watchman's gone

when you die the "watchman" (big brother, bosses, etc.) is no longer watching you and is the only time you are free of being watched by anyone. he finds peace with this knowledge.

I think it can be about living your life under intense scrutiny (perhaps as a successful performing artist) by people who will judge you by outward appearances mostly and that it only stops (for you) when you're dead and that's when peace comes. It also relates to everyone though be it a boss, spouses, parent etc. that plays the part of the "watchman".

i think!
lol
char

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Tom
Member posted February 05, 2001 21:49
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Thanks Char. I'm "dying" out here trying to figure this song out! Sometimes I wish we could email Gordon Lightfoot with questions, although I read he doesn't use a computer.
I agree with some of your insights. I like your idea of the "watchman" being more than just the train worker, but also possibly representing "Big Brother", Bosses, Spouses, Parents, etc. And how they literally & physically "kick" our dreams around.

I disagree with the part about "planting" a rose. The song asks the friend/buddy to "bury" the rose in the field, not plant it. Maybe he feels like that rose?

I don't think it is a funeral train. My daughter asked the same question right after I dl the song. lol It's just a train that carries his body to another place/city in "the golden sun".

Thanks for your imput Char. I'm the kind of person that has to figure out what a song means to fully appreciate. Can you break down IYCRMM? I still don't understand that one either! lol

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charlene
Moderator posted February 05, 2001 23:13
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Tom - re: bury/plant - us gardeners (LOL) will refer to the putting a plant in the grand as "burying" it. i.e.- "bury it 5 inches deep and cover with peat moss and loam, water well. May be a Canadian thing tho.
plus bury has two syllables as opposed to plant which has one and thus didn't fit the flow of the sentence maybe???
It may not be a funeral train. Could be just takin his old, tired bones across the country to another shore where the seaman can be near the ocean again.

You should write to Gord - see if you get a reply. It won't hurt!
Char

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Lightfoot678
Member posted February 09, 2001 10:04
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Regarding Canadian Railroad Trilogy. That song is one of my all time favorites. Everything about it is great. The lyrics, the guitar playing, the tempo changes. That song proves that Gord is a talented guitarist
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Look into his shining eyes and if you see a ghost don't be surprised......Listen to the strings. That jangle and dangle while the old guitar sings.

The lake it is said never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come early.

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sonia
Member posted February 10, 2001 22:34
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my favourite song has changed since I bought Songbook. It used to be If you could read my mind, but now I can't get enough of Always on the bright side.You can tell Gord has mellowed with the years if that's possible.I get a relaxed,take-me-away-Calgon-feeling when I listen to it. Just Gordon and his guitar. I love it.
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Chuck
unregistered posted February 11, 2001 10:15
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Watchman's Gone Cont...
Tom, I'm with you on this one. Best song ever written. No other song can effect me like this one. I would like to add my 2 cents on the meaning of this one.

Char touched on it a little bit.

I believe the whole song is about his battle with alcoholism.

Terms and Definitions:

Watchman = alcoholism itself, or the end result, death

Golden Sun = his favorite drink, possible Southern Comfort or other whiskey

If I wait for the right moment
You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen
I've done it before
I know I can do it in my sleep = falling off the wagon. If the mood is right it's so easy to take that first drink

As I say to you, my brother
If you live to follow the golden sun
You better beware
Knowin' the watchman's always there = telling us if we insist on abuseing ourselves with alcohol, we better be aware of the consequences

I've been on the town
Washin' the bullshit down = washin, another term for drinking, as in drinking to kill the pain

Gordon had a dificult time overcoming alcoholism. I believe this was his song expressing that.

04-19-2002, 02:24 PM	#5
char Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Toronto,Ontario-CANADA Posts: 265	I wish I knew so much more than I do about Lightfoot. he's a very shy and evasive sort when asked certain questions. he'll turn the question back to you and evade answering it that way! The following was a while back but it's some insight into the song: IP: Logged Tom Member posted January 28, 2001 21:16 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Watchman's Gone" is such a fantastic song. I would love to hear that song in concert. I'm trying to figure out the meaning....can anyone else help out? Obviously the Watchman refers to the guy who's job it is to guard the train from hobo's and the like who try to get into the traincars. The song seems to be about a guy who is leaving a failed relationship("As I leave you in the sunset") & hitches a train bound for "the golden sun" the dream of a new start somewhere else. He makes it, but warns others to "beware knowin' the watchmen's always there". I'm not sure what he's trying to say. The ending is a little confusing for me too (i.e. "if you find me feedin' daisies"). I love the Canadian accent on "Kickin' your dreams ABOUT". What a classic! Got one more nothin' I'd like to say "You don't know me, A son of the sea am I" IP: Logged Tom Member posted February 03, 2001 14:37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can anyone help me out on the above question? Thanks! I've been on the town Washing the Barbara Striesand down IP: Logged Tom Member posted February 04, 2001 00:26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE WATCHMAN'S GONE The more I listen to it, I think the end part about "If you find me feedin' daisies/Please turn my face up to the sky" I think he's talking about dying. It seems from the song he leaves for good to "follow the golden sun" and when his time is up "leave me be". Until then he will keep on drinking remembering his past pains: "Whatever I was/You know it was all because..." It's both a freeing song and yet he's still imprisoned. Does that sound right, or does someone else have a different viewpoint of the song? IP: Logged charlene Moderator posted February 05, 2001 11:30 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Watchman's Gone (Sundown) 4:25 Just like birds of a feather We too have followed the golden sun It feels so good, Knowin' the watchman's gone If I give you a rose, buddy Would you please bury it in the fields? I seen a rose Watchin' it all fold out he's talking about being on his own and free from prying eyes, judgements and restraints - possibly those caused by a relationship? burying the rose in the fields - perhaps "planting" a rose in his memory because it seems when he saw a rose it opened up the way he saw life as opening up. There's a train down at the station It's come to carry my bones away Two engines on Twenty-one coaches long End to end Twenty-one coaches bend The watchman's out Kickin' the bums about A funeral train perhaps? for when he/someone dies. the watchman's out doin his job keeping the bums off the funeral train. If I wait for the right moment You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen I've done it before I know I can do it in my sleep he mentions he's gonna get on aboard so it's probably not him that dies. The watchman's out Kickin'the bums about The watchman's out Kickin' your dreams about bums/hobos all have dreams of the free life of riding the rails but the watchman's job is to keep them off the trains so that means he's kicking their dreams about too - literally and physically i guess. As I leave you in the sunset Got one more nothin' I'd like to say "You don't know me A son of the sea am I" As I say to you, my brother If you live to follow the golden sun You better beware Knowin' the watchman's always there when he leaves the train after perhaps getting on on one shore after he left the sea and headed across the country to the other shore and another ocean (he's a son of the sea) he lets the other guy know for what it's worth, that he needs to watch out for the watchman cuz he's always there. If you find me feedin' daisies Please turn my face up to the sky And leave me be Watchin' the moon roll by Whatever I was You know it was all because I've been on the town Washin' the bullshit down a lot of hobos die along the train routes and many are alcoholics. he wants to be buried face up to watch the moon. he's explaining his life as being what it was because he got into the drinking too much and that ruled his life. The watchman's out Kickin' your dreams about It feels so good Knowin' the watchman's gone It's like a song Knowin' the watchman's gone when you die the "watchman" (big brother, bosses, etc.) is no longer watching you and is the only time you are free of being watched by anyone. he finds peace with this knowledge. I think it can be about living your life under intense scrutiny (perhaps as a successful performing artist) by people who will judge you by outward appearances mostly and that it only stops (for you) when you're dead and that's when peace comes. It also relates to everyone though be it a boss, spouses, parent etc. that plays the part of the "watchman". i think! lol char IP: Logged Tom Member posted February 05, 2001 21:49 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Char. I'm "dying" out here trying to figure this song out! Sometimes I wish we could email Gordon Lightfoot with questions, although I read he doesn't use a computer. I agree with some of your insights. I like your idea of the "watchman" being more than just the train worker, but also possibly representing "Big Brother", Bosses, Spouses, Parents, etc. And how they literally & physically "kick" our dreams around. I disagree with the part about "planting" a rose. The song asks the friend/buddy to "bury" the rose in the field, not plant it. Maybe he feels like that rose? I don't think it is a funeral train. My daughter asked the same question right after I dl the song. lol It's just a train that carries his body to another place/city in "the golden sun". Thanks for your imput Char. I'm the kind of person that has to figure out what a song means to fully appreciate. Can you break down IYCRMM? I still don't understand that one either! lol IP: Logged charlene Moderator posted February 05, 2001 23:13 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom - re: bury/plant - us gardeners (LOL) will refer to the putting a plant in the grand as "burying" it. i.e.- "bury it 5 inches deep and cover with peat moss and loam, water well. May be a Canadian thing tho. plus bury has two syllables as opposed to plant which has one and thus didn't fit the flow of the sentence maybe??? It may not be a funeral train. Could be just takin his old, tired bones across the country to another shore where the seaman can be near the ocean again. You should write to Gord - see if you get a reply. It won't hurt! Char IP: Logged Lightfoot678 Member posted February 09, 2001 10:04 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding Canadian Railroad Trilogy. That song is one of my all time favorites. Everything about it is great. The lyrics, the guitar playing, the tempo changes. That song proves that Gord is a talented guitarist ------------------ Look into his shining eyes and if you see a ghost don't be surprised......Listen to the strings. That jangle and dangle while the old guitar sings. The lake it is said never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come early. IP: Logged sonia Member posted February 10, 2001 22:34 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- my favourite song has changed since I bought Songbook. It used to be If you could read my mind, but now I can't get enough of Always on the bright side.You can tell Gord has mellowed with the years if that's possible.I get a relaxed,take-me-away-Calgon-feeling when I listen to it. Just Gordon and his guitar. I love it. IP: Logged Chuck unregistered posted February 11, 2001 10:15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watchman's Gone Cont... Tom, I'm with you on this one. Best song ever written. No other song can effect me like this one. I would like to add my 2 cents on the meaning of this one. Char touched on it a little bit. I believe the whole song is about his battle with alcoholism. Terms and Definitions: Watchman = alcoholism itself, or the end result, death Golden Sun = his favorite drink, possible Southern Comfort or other whiskey If I wait for the right moment You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen I've done it before I know I can do it in my sleep = falling off the wagon. If the mood is right it's so easy to take that first drink As I say to you, my brother If you live to follow the golden sun You better beware Knowin' the watchman's always there = telling us if we insist on abuseing ourselves with alcohol, we better be aware of the consequences I've been on the town Washin' the bullshit down = washin, another term for drinking, as in drinking to kill the pain Gordon had a dificult time overcoming alcoholism. I believe this was his song expressing that.