OK, I remember enjoying this subject I guess in another thread variation before, 'cause I do remember indicating a few songs that make me feel like saying 'ayeeeeeshhh ethhh aaagh" - and getting up and running across the room, and moving the tonearm. I know I am dating myself - harkening to LP days and "record players".
The difference between a record player and a "turn-table", with say exactly the same features ? back then (70's), $30, a lot of money then. But as to the songs, I'd NOT play, for a friend I was introducing Gord's music to:
1.
Heeeeeey You - DSR - fingernails on the chalkboard to me, relatively.
2.
In my Fashion ( I know, I know, its admirable life principles, its sincerity,
all true, but the music, the contruct melodically, ayeesh ! lol ). I've even
heard it said that this song is somewhat autobiographical, and I certainly
would NEVER want to cast a dispersion on something of this level of
personal importance to Gord, but as to just it as a song.......ayeeesh
3.
Canary Yellow Canoe - No explanation necessary. However, I will give it
one thing, it is referring to his Old Town Canoe, a triple layer laminate
system they have a tradename for, that can be bent around rocks,
and popped back ! And Gord has said he had to do just that with it, after
it literaly folded around a boulder. And that foam core keeps 'em afloat
when they are otherwise capsizing.... a good thing, 50 miles out in the
Beaufort sea. however unlikely that is !
4.
Slide on Over - reasoning is weird and hard to put in words, and subject to
considerable misinterpretation. I do not feel Gord was posessed of any of
the as-yet-not-mentioned-awkwardness-Freudian-esque concepts the
song makes me think of a person beset by unhealthily, but its just the
choice of words that unfortunately elicit this. Words that harken to the
"Hey baby, whats your sign ?, school of hitting on" - mid - 70's polyester.
I'll mention distastefully one of the concepts that mildly makes my skin
recoil in "ayeesh" (thats my new word this week for disapproval of an
urgent nature...lol) - roughly "momma put your long dress on, see how
that little girl walks, why'ontcha slide on over , and ...." - in reality, its
perfectly normal quiet suggestion of perfectly healthy lust
, but
the imagery of the word choices, again from various eras "momma" , and
"litle girl" - both an
unintentional, and certainly not the case eliciting of
the subjects of Oedipal complex, and as far as children, which of
COURSE he was NOT referring too, I know, but the word choice takes
away all healthy entendre and healthy...lust
, and takes
it down "shrink alley", because of all the stuff you here about nowadays
in refernce sadly to children, as a father, it just makes me want to skip
it, nuff said. Not intended, not the case, , just unintentional song-
wrecking subjects for a person who has only HEARD of these things. I
guess maybe 'cause my mother was a psych.... lol who knows.
Bottom line - I'd skip it.
5. Cobwebs and Dust - no particular reason, fok music has its requisite
almost nursery-rhyme contingent I realize, and being tru to a genre
is admirable, but Gord really in the transitional IMO album of IYCRMM,
really slipped comfortably into his shoes woth DQ after that, and they
seemed to fit most comfortable thereafter thrpught the 70's, peaking
in apparent texture and feel of the songs - around 73 - 75 at its most
identifiable "peak" of this "texture" period as I have heard it written of
as - the 'Broad[Brimmed Era'.
Ones I don't understand of others - just the fun exchange that occurs in this
thread 'but I LIKE that song.... no fair...lol:
A.Beautiful - lol... I know many woman say ot just melts them, but as just
plain beautiful melody, warm and engaging lyrics, to me its a song that
when a man and a woman are in love, and they are sitting arm around
each other, this song...just seesm to pull them close together... I have
SEEN IT in concert in the audience immediately around me.... I love it.
As Gord says...love fulfilled....NOT sad.... lol no offense Cathy - I sort
of understand what you mean... its not very wode-ranging or inventive
melodically, its jst kind iof up and down a short range of scale, but as
rgw beautiful guitar-teacher I had when I was 18 - she was an OLDER
woman - 19.... I just stared at her and said "unh-huh" looking at her long
black hair,...lol..while she was trying to teach me "Beatiful", and she
explained what made it captivating and "pleasant" tp so may people -
I don't know if she was right... at the time.. who cared..... but she said
it was this "Steve, Lightfoot uses alot of miner 7's.....' so if you want to
play Lightfoiot - lets work on miner 7's.....she strummed some, and danged
if that long black hair.....wasn't...right...........what ?? oh..right... lol
B Pony won't go = I hear ya... it has a few turns in melody that were not
meant for humans,.... kinda make ya squirm in your chair.....ehhh lol
C.Knotty Pine - after seeing Stonewalls Vistory of it, I lke it. But before
that, I had the same reservations. And, this isn't fair of me , but what
with the bells-palsey and all, its not fair to Gord either, but when I
watched him solo it in the 4-Strong winds videi with Ian and Sylvia, and
EmmyLou, his facial gyrations to seee it made it seem excruciatingly
painful for him to sing....I hope thats not the case.....for his sake...
We seem to have a "mis-defenition" of what I meant about "Race Among The Ruins". First off,it's one of the very first Lightfoot songs I ever heard,so I do not dis-like it. What I meant is,it's good,but not exactly a place I'd start a new listner off. 
