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PAST TENSE – ORILLIA HISTORY
f YOU COULD READ MY MIND…
GORDON LIGHTFOOT
Hometowns have always been an enigma with many a celebrity. Some such as Madonna have gone out of their way to disassociate themselves from their burgs. Others, such as Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen have gone out of their way to write songs about their early hang outs.
Orillia in the 1940’s and 50’s was the last place you would think to find a singer/musician who would come to be a Canadian folk hero. But then again, in an earlier time, who would have thought that a celebrated comedian, Lucille Ball, would emerge from the bustling, quaintness of a business minded Jamestown, New York. But it happened and they are both the better for it.
When you ask Orillians, who were growing up in those early post war days, their memories of Gordon Lightfoot, you get a variety of memories. Some remember “Gordie”, not a moniker he enjoys, which may be due to the fact he was part of THE SWINGING EIGHT, who were featured on Country Hoedown hosted by none other than Gordie Tapp. And Gordie Tapp, god bless him, was associated with good ol’ country corn.
But that’s just pure speculation. It is perhaps, more due to the juvenile nature of the shortened form. Nevertheless, he is remembered as the kid who would act up in class and yet on Sundays sing like an angel. Others would remember him as the kid who would dog their heels while they were dating his sister. And still others would remember him as the talented guy who was also quite the party animal. The memories aren’t necessarily insightful, but they are telling.
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot has experienced past tense. Haven’t we all! Our histories are seldom without complication. Gordon Lightfoot is pictured as someone who sought attention, while often shunning adulation. In the past tense, we find a young man, who found his musical roots early on but needed more than any small town could give him. He needed to move on. It was just natural. But that would lead to distancing oneself in order prove oneself.
That distancing perhaps was exacerbated when Orillia tarred and feathered the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1962. It may have underlined for him the lack of vision and foresight that Orillia was becoming known for. And it was a long time before he returned to perform. And when he did, it was with some reluctance. Not that he would dislike performing in Orillia, on the contrary. But his hometown came to expect it when they needed to raise a little cash.
It wasn’t until 1989 that he returned to Orillia to play to two sold out shows at the Orillia Opera House. It was a fundraiser that another person with a past tense David Fanstone, Orillia Opera
More than twenty years had passed. Why so long? Why did it take a theatre person from Niagara Falls to see the merits of the connection?
Trent University was the first to give him an honorary degree. Chum Radio declared GORDON LIGHTFOOT DAY from Toronto. Orillia couldn’t remember which house was his boyhood home. But then again Jesus realized the problem long ago in Luke 4:24 “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.” Well, it wasn’t that he wasn’t welcome, it just that his time hadn’t come, Gordon that is.
Orillia has only lately, given more attention to Gordon Lightfoot. Oh sure, there was a wooden sign back in the 1980’s out on the highway that drew our attention to the fact that Orillia is his hometown. But just underneath his name was SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL. Even the Opera House took advantage and named its main auditorium after him. Opportunism may have always rubbed him the wrong way.
Today the city is reaching out, an honorary degree from Lakehead University, even a statue to be unveiled this summer in Tudhope Park. Yes, the honorary degree is touching but what has it to do with Orillia, keys to the city would have been more of an honour. And the statue, built and inspired by a St. Jacob’s artist, Tim Scmalz, not necessarily commissioned by City council.
Yes, the honours and acknowledgement are trickling in. And maybe it is better late than never. Even Gordon himself, returns the favour with an Orillia song allusively entitled COUCHICHING which unfortunately will never stand alongside NEW YORK STATE OF MIND by Billy Joel or FREEHOLD by Bruce Springsteen or for that matter THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD. But perhaps it is as it should be for the man who when asked about Orillia replied, ” When I go out and see the Narrows and look north up to Lake Couchiching, it feels like home.” It’s not about the city, it’s about a Narrows state of mind.
nak Köhler
Orillia history
