Sundown refers to back-door lover. He suspected his woman was cheating, and this was a warning shot to let them both know that he knew - or at least suspected. And he ended up being right. Classic song that was a huge hit when it released.
Gordon said he blamed himself for the breakup of his marriage. He wasn’t there for her, always on the road & should never married anyone. He’s not the Marrying Kind.
@@modawg1111 To a degree I think you are right and for the longest time I interpreted the song the same way. But the relationship is between co-dependent junkies. The heavy addiction references point this way, plus the stories of Cathy Smith brought up by another commentator makes this more than just she's cheating on me song.
Another song with quite a background. At the time Gordon wrote this song he was on again, off again dating a woman named Cathy Smith. She was a backup sing and groupie who was known by bands that she could always get them any "chemical" entertainment they could want. Hence that's why bands kept her around. There are hints to the drug culture in his lyrics. "Sometimes I think it's a shame When I get feeling better, when I'm feeling no pain." Indicating that he feels shame when he feels better feeling no pain because of the drugs she provides. It was also rumored that it wasn't unusual for him to want to stay home and work on his music but she would go out and party. This was all his mindset when he wrote this. Now, the rest of the story. This Cathy Smith is the same woman who also went down for being the one who injected John Belushi with the drug cocktail that ended him.
Gordon Lightfoot has a unique way of making his twelve string guitar sing so beautifully!! His melodies are gorgeous too! I had the honor of seeing him live during the early seventies. It was a great performance. Fortunately, concerts were affordable for most of us back then, unlike now 😢
Hands down my favorite song from Gordon Lightfoot. So glad you found it too. The line, "Sometimes I think it's a sin when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again." hits kinda hard.
Fun facts. The woman that Lightfoot wrote about was Cathy Smith, who also appears as Miss fanny in The Band song, "The Weight". She also spent time in prison for manslaughter after administering the fatal drug dose to John Belushi !!!
This guitar, beside Gordon, on Nov 17th was sold by auction in Houston by the family for US$ 350K. Bought by a group of Canadians. 50 plus year old guitar. Try Beautiful next, the best love song.
Luv Gordon a lot R.I.P. He is one of the Great Canadian singers from Orillia, Ontario just north of Toronto. The next Gordon Lightfoot songs you should do are..... - Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Ribbon of Darkness - Bitter Green - If You Could Read My Mind - Me and Bobby McGee (a remake of the Kris Kristofferson hit) - Carefree Highway - Daylight Katy - Blackberry Wine - Baby Step Back - Summertime Dream - Do It Again - Rainy Day People - The House You Live In - Race Among the Ruins - Spanish Moss This should keep you busy for a while
The song is about his relationship with his then girlfriend, Kathy Smith, who wasn't known for being monogamous. She also had a relationship with one of the band members in Gordon's band. Some time later Kathy became quite notorious as she was responsible for the overdose that killed John Belushi.
Was also my favorite one of his. I commented that once on a YT video, and he actually responded himself and thanked me for being a fan! That was not long before his death. Not only was it a thrill for me that he acknowledged the comment, but also that I was able to give him a bit of adulation in his final days.
"The Circle is Small" - the second time he recorded it is pretty awesome too. Don't believe it was ever a hit or even released as a single. I found it not that long ago, 5 years at the most, and now my favorite GL song. There is also a Burton Cummings song he performs live - Burton singing as Gordon Lightfoot singing Maggie May and he nails it - especially on the word "never" , I found it humorous
This is one of my favourite songs by Gordon Lightfoot, great country rock riff, love it! Very sadly he passed away in 2023, he left behind a really great legacy of music.
According to Gordon, he and his girlfriend were invited to a party. He declined to keep writing music (that was his passion above anything). He told her she could go but after she left he began to get jealous and wrote that song in response. As someone else said she was not known to be particularly faithful. She was later implicated and found guilty of being involved in the death of John Belushi. Afterwards she said of all the famous people she knew only Gordon did not abandon her.
Great classic! Impossible not to sing this one when I hear it ❤. They don’t make them like Gordon anymore; was just a kid when I started listening to him.
I remember riding in the car with my grandmother when this song came on the radio. She quickly changed the station because "you don't need to hear that filthy song!" It was one of my favorite songs after that!
This song reminds me of my childhood, cuddled up on the couch with my Dad after dinner watching him perform this on the CBC when it came out. So smooth.
Here's the lyric I relate to, "Sometimes I think it's a sin when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again." There's something cool about challenges we can't beat, to me it's just keep battling.
Gordon Lightfoot had so many great songs. This one, If You Could Read My Mind and my all time favorite, The Circle Is Small. This last makes me well up everytime. It's the lyrics, the guitar and the violins. It's an amazing song, sadly underappreciated.
Gotta be nostalgia, but I just went from your "Painkiller" reaction to this and the emotion I feel for both of these songs is the same. I've listened to Lightfoot since I was in Kindergarten in my dad's car on the radio.
Amazing songwriter with endless great songs. This one here is a very favorite of mine. If You Could Read My Mind and The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald would complete my top Three.
A Canadian icon who happens to be from our hometown, Orillia, Ontario (about 90 minutes north of Toronto). Our local opera house was just renamed after him after he recently passed away. We also have the most beautiful statue of him by the waters of Lake Couchiching. Local and international legend.
Gordon Light foot is one more FANTASTIC 70s Singer Song Writer Sun Down was released in 1974 . I was 14 years old and having a blast being a 70s brat ,
I would recommend "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" for your next reaction. It's about the origins and building of the Canadian railroad and has many great music changes throughout the song and a great storyline. I also love his song "Affair On 8th Avenue".
Gordon Lightfoot was so cool. I do believe this is the first song I remember ever hearing by Gordon. I like your reactions because you give me “food for thought “. ❤️✌🏻🎶
They also had James Taylor in your recommendations; I can't remember if you've done any of his; you will LOVE him! "Fire and Rain" was probably his biggest hit in the early '70s, but he had a ton of them. He did a cover of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" that was more popular than hers, and it was his first big hit. Other great ones by James Taylor: "Carolina In My Mind", "Sweet Baby James", "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", "Mexico", "How Sweet It Is", "Shower the People", and "Country Road". He also covered Beatle George Harrison's "Something in the Way She Moves" and had a big hit with that.
When I was growing up, I would hear this song often. Around Ft. Worth, we had a radio station called Q102 and then later on 92.5 classic rock. My dad listened to both. I love the rhythm of it and his rugged voice. As I got older it hit me, oh dang, I realize what he was talking about. Love his music in general.
Gordon Lightfoot was a fantastic musician! The song has a great groove, the solo's are excellent (sonically, as yous say), but it's the "little" touches that really make the song so musically outstanding. Listen to it again and pay attention to all the little guitar fills that are placed just so as the song moves along. If You Could Read My Mind was one of his great hits. Rick Beato did a whole video on the song; breaking it down and pointing out the guitar and string fills and what they did musically to enhance the song. It's worth a watch. The arrangement is fantastic and Gordon excelled at that. You should also listen to Approaching Lavender, one of my favs. Really nice melody! Very catchy. "If you'd like to spend an afternoon approaching Lavender but one thing's sure, you'll never be the same." Really sweet guitar and finger-picked chords on this.
🙏 Throwing out a request; the quintessential Yacht Rock song; song of the year Grammy winner in 1981: “SAILING” by Christopher Cross, a must hear for music, and he’s got other great hits as well!!!
Great reaction, Black Pegasus ! "I think it's a sin, when I think I am winning while I am losing at the game again". Winning arguments, but the disputes still exist.
Gordon Lightfoot (R.I.P.) had so many songs that make my Canadian pride swell in me when I listen. Some songs worth checking out include "Daylight Katy", "Carefree Highway", and "Beautiful".
Happy 50th anniversary!! Well Sundown came out in the spring of 1974 and it's now November but it's still 50 years. RIP Gordon Lightfoot. A Canadian legend!!!
This song was used in the trailer for the recent 'Salem's Lot remake and whoever thought to use it and completely change its meaning in that context deserves a raise.
Gordon Lightfoot and Neal Peart were masters at writing lyrics. Word choices and phrases that really add depth and meaning to the song. Canada can definitely be proud. Sadly both are no longer with us.
My young friend, he was under the radar in a sense to the people who were singing with him on the radio. I turned 63 in September and I was fortunate to have a aunt and uncle who played his entire albums for me. Our age difference was about the difference of yours and mine 😂. I heard a lot of great music at their house and back then you played the entire album ❤ As I watch you exploring music I understand the joy they felt with me. Thank you for that. Wishing nothing but blessings, love and joy for you and your family
One of my favorites by Gordon Lightfoot. You mention addiction and for my two cents I get that. He is addicted to a relationship that is just a dream as she is fooling around with someone. Sundown is used a reference to someone who never shows up in the light of day, just at night to see one person alone.
I think your insight about addiction is accurate here - I had read that he knew this relationship was toxic but was still drawn to it. Your interpretation of the line actually made me see it understand it more clearly in that light. Thanks!
Another on of my all time favorite songs. This and Cat’s in the Craddle (which you’ve already reacted to), Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good by Don Williams ( Almost anything by Don Williams), Seven Bridges Road (live version) by the Eagles, and Dock of the Bay by Ottis Reading
This is a nice discovery for me, and it's always interesting to read the comments about the background! If you're interested in discovering a great contemporary pop/folk artist, check out Ondara. All his songs are great but I suggest either "An Alien in Minneapolis", "Saying Goodbye", "Torch Song" or "Lebanon".
Sundown was his nickname for his then GF Kathy Smith with whom he had a very dysfunctional toxic relationship while he was married. From what I've read they were both drinking, she was a groupie & drug dealer - they eventually split and she went on to become infamous for injecting John Belushi with a lethal speedball
Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind, Beautiful, and Softly are some of my favorites that I still listen to, but that's just the start. He was an extraordinarily prolific song writer his entire life. The Circle is Small is another one about a cheating lover with true story roots.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy, If You Could Read My Mind, Carefree Highway, Alberta Bound are all good. And someone else to check out as a great Canadian singer-songwriter is Ian Tyson. Early stuff is folk and pop (especially the Ian and Sylvia albums) but he then went country. Navajo Rug, Four Strong Winds (this and Lightfoot's Alberta Bound were part of the opening ceremonies to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Alberta and the two performed together), and Summer Wages are all great. And there's an interesting Ian Tyson Corb Lund cover of AC/DC's Ride On.
RIP Gordon! One of the best songs, so well written and such a vibe. Great story behind this that someone below wrote about so I won't explain it. They said it perfectly!
For me the best song by Gordon Lightfoot is "BLACK DAY IN JULY". Amazing description of the 1967 Detroit Riots. I also love the music in this one. The drums are great.
A sundowner is a drink that you have when the sun goes down. A little bit like Cracklin Rosie by Neil Diamond I have always thought this to be a song about succumbing to drink when you really dont want to. I think the lyrics being presented as a relationship are a metaphor for being being dependent on alchol but not wanting to be.
"Get feelin better when I'm feelin' no pain,' is illustrative of being under the influence of a SUBSTANCE to numb pain causing guilt which is pain. He said song is addressing a girlfriend out with friends at a bar while he was writing songs at home wondering what she was doing as the feeling in the music. It's illicit as a 'Backdoor Relationship' and she's cheating...Thus, her other lovers CREEPIN' round his back door. The woman, as reported, was a Canadian backup-singer, groupie, drug distributor who spent time in prison for injecting the substance killing John Belushi. The Eagles, Bob Dylan, CCR, Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young, Bachman-Turner, Mama's and the Papa's and more...All those people were in the Music Scene at the same time...THE POETRY AND SETTINGS of the music is always a VIBE.
This was soooo my artsy mother’s vibe. I think she had an outfit exactly like what Gordon is wearing on the album cover there. She was also really into Jim Croce back then, too. If you’ve not checked him out I suggest Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Operator, and I Got A Name. Doesn’t sound anything like Gordon Lightfoot but he’s in that same 70s singer-songwriter genre. This song came out before I was born but my mom was definitely still listening to this music when I was a kid in the 80s.
Sundown refers to back-door lover. He suspected his woman was cheating, and this was a warning shot to let them both know that he knew - or at least suspected. And he ended up being right. Classic song that was a huge hit when it released.
And it was a friend of his cheating with his woman...Sundown is Gordon Lightfoots biggest hit❤🇨🇦
Gordon said he blamed himself for the breakup of his marriage. He wasn’t there for her, always on the road & should never married anyone. He’s not the Marrying Kind.
@@modawg1111 To a degree I think you are right and for the longest time I interpreted the song the same way. But the relationship is between co-dependent junkies. The heavy addiction references point this way, plus the stories of Cathy Smith brought up by another commentator makes this more than just she's cheating on me song.
My favorite song of his is 'The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald'. This one is quite beautiful too.
Gordan wasn't an innocent victim in the marriage breakup. He was cheating as well... and abusive toward his wife.
Another song with quite a background. At the time Gordon wrote this song he was on again, off again dating a woman named Cathy Smith. She was a backup sing and groupie who was known by bands that she could always get them any "chemical" entertainment they could want. Hence that's why bands kept her around. There are hints to the drug culture in his lyrics. "Sometimes I think it's a shame When I get feeling better, when I'm feeling no pain." Indicating that he feels shame when he feels better feeling no pain because of the drugs she provides. It was also rumored that it wasn't unusual for him to want to stay home and work on his music but she would go out and party. This was all his mindset when he wrote this. Now, the rest of the story. This Cathy Smith is the same woman who also went down for being the one who injected John Belushi with the drug cocktail that ended him.
Exactly.
Yes sir!! One and the same Cathy!!
Cathy was also the 14-year-old girl that The Band passed around and laughed about...
@@randomtruths3400 Yeah and she became pregnant and did not know which of them was the father so she called it the band baby.
What a sad life she lead. Where were her parents?
One of the best voices in music
Gordon Lightfoot has a unique way of making his twelve string guitar sing so beautifully!! His melodies are gorgeous too! I had the honor of seeing him live during the early seventies. It was a great performance. Fortunately, concerts were affordable for most of us back then, unlike now 😢
Gordon wrote so many good songs. He was a true Canadian troubadour.
Hands down my favorite song from Gordon Lightfoot. So glad you found it too.
The line, "Sometimes I think it's a sin when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again." hits kinda hard.
Speaking of that BP needs to react to *Santana* - _Winning_
Fun facts. The woman that Lightfoot wrote about was Cathy Smith, who also appears as Miss fanny in The Band song, "The Weight". She also spent time in prison for manslaughter after administering the fatal drug dose to John Belushi !!!
Another Canadian that makes an impact on the heart of the world. A super gifted talent. One of kind and real story teller.
This guitar, beside Gordon, on Nov 17th was sold by auction in Houston by the family for US$ 350K. Bought by a group of Canadians. 50 plus year old guitar. Try Beautiful next, the best love song.
Gordo Lightfoot's "Rainy Day People" is another great song from the Canadian.
like that song
Love me some Canadian Troubadour. Gordon Lightfoot was the man.
Gordon LIghtfoot, "Carefree Highway", and "If You Could Read My Mind" are great songs too
Luv Gordon a lot R.I.P.
He is one of the Great Canadian singers from Orillia, Ontario just north of Toronto.
The next Gordon Lightfoot songs you should do are.....
- Canadian Railroad Trilogy
- Ribbon of Darkness
- Bitter Green
- If You Could Read My Mind
- Me and Bobby McGee (a remake of the Kris Kristofferson hit)
- Carefree Highway
- Daylight Katy
- Blackberry Wine
- Baby Step Back
- Summertime Dream
- Do It Again
- Rainy Day People
- The House You Live In
- Race Among the Ruins
- Spanish Moss
This should keep you busy for a while
Gordon's whole discography is a gem. The man was unsurpassed in crafting songs. A Canadian icon.
The song is about his relationship with his then girlfriend, Kathy Smith, who wasn't known for being monogamous. She also had a relationship with one of the band members in Gordon's band. Some time later Kathy became quite notorious as she was responsible for the overdose that killed John Belushi.
Oh wow! I was young when this song came out (6 or 7) but I remember the song. This back story is wild!😮
OMG!! Are you serious? Dammmm!!
If You Could Read My Mind is his best song.
Was also my favorite one of his. I commented that once on a YT video, and he actually responded himself and thanked me for being a fan! That was not long before his death. Not only was it a thrill for me that he acknowledged the comment, but also that I was able to give him a bit of adulation in his final days.
"The Circle is Small" - the second time he recorded it is pretty awesome too. Don't believe it was ever a hit or even released as a single. I found it not that long ago, 5 years at the most, and now my favorite GL song. There is also a Burton Cummings song he performs live - Burton singing as Gordon Lightfoot singing Maggie May and he nails it - especially on the word "never" , I found it humorous
I've always been partial to "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", but "If you could read my mind" is stellar.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy is great too
Stars on 45 did a good cover it for the movie 54.
This is one of my favourite songs by Gordon Lightfoot, great country rock riff, love it! Very sadly he passed away in 2023, he left behind a really great legacy of music.
😢
According to Gordon, he and his girlfriend were invited to a party. He declined to keep writing music (that was his passion above anything). He told her she could go but after she left he began to get jealous and wrote that song in response. As someone else said she was not known to be particularly faithful. She was later implicated and found guilty of being involved in the death of John Belushi. Afterwards she said of all the famous people she knew only Gordon did not abandon her.
Gordon is one of my favorite storytellers! Dan Fogelberg is up there with him! Please listen to Leader of the band or Longer! 🙏
Don't forget Auld Lang Syne
Anything from the album An Innocent Age
Yes! Leader of the Band by DF is awesome. You love storytelling songs, and that definitely is one!
Yes definitely. Dan Fogelberg needs to be on your list! You will really like him.
agree, Jimmy Buffet too!
My wife's favorite singer and he's Canadian too. 🇨🇦
Great classic! Impossible not to sing this one when I hear it ❤. They don’t make them like Gordon anymore; was just a kid when I started listening to him.
I remember riding in the car with my grandmother when this song came on the radio. She quickly changed the station because "you don't need to hear that filthy song!" It was one of my favorite songs after that!
Early Morning Rain is also a great song from Gordon!❤❤❤
This song reminds me of my childhood, cuddled up on the couch with my Dad after dinner watching him perform this on the CBC when it came out. So smooth.
Here's the lyric I relate to, "Sometimes I think it's a sin when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again." There's something cool about challenges we can't beat, to me it's just keep battling.
This is a Great song! “If You Could Read My Mind” is also.
Love this song’s groove! Totally agree with the sonically vs lyrically feel! ❤️🔥✌🏻🫶🏻
One of my favorite singers of all times.
Gordon Lightfoot had so many great songs. This one, If You Could Read My Mind and my all time favorite, The Circle Is Small. This last makes me well up everytime. It's the lyrics, the guitar and the violins. It's an amazing song, sadly underappreciated.
Gotta be nostalgia, but I just went from your "Painkiller" reaction to this and the emotion I feel for both of these songs is the same. I've listened to Lightfoot since I was in Kindergarten in my dad's car on the radio.
Life long fan. Saw him live 3 times. RIP Troubadour.
Amazing songwriter with endless great songs. This one here is a very favorite of mine. If You Could Read My Mind and The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald would complete my top Three.
Oh how I adore Gordon!!! One of the best artists out there. ❤ Such a smooth airy feel to all that he did. Keep On Rocking! ☮️🎶✝️
Gordon was popular when I was a kid in the 70's. This is my favorite of his.
It is about a former girl friend - the same lady who ended up giving John Belushi his fatal speed balls back in the day .
Love Gordon. R.I.P
A Canadian icon who happens to be from our hometown, Orillia, Ontario (about 90 minutes north of Toronto). Our local opera house was just renamed after him after he recently passed away. We also have the most beautiful statue of him by the waters of Lake Couchiching. Local and international legend.
Fellow Orillian! I grew up hearing stories about Gordon from my older relatives and family friends. So glad he’s being honoured at home.
"Canadian Railroad Trilogy"...a must !!!
Stories….some of the best songs out there are stories! Gordon is amazing as a singer, writer, musician, and storyteller! Great stuff! 👍🏻😁
Gordon Light foot is one more FANTASTIC 70s Singer Song Writer Sun Down was released in 1974 . I was 14 years old and having a blast being a 70s brat ,
I'm 66 and that's the 1st time I've heard "clapping cheeks". Lol. Gordon's voice and folksy guitar evoke a mellow vibe.
Lol
What!!!! WHAT!!!
Love this guys music. Carefee Highway might be my favorite by him.
Written about an actual highway in Arizona that runs from I-17 to the towns of Cave Creek and Carefree north of Phoenix.
I would recommend "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" for your next reaction. It's about the origins and building of the Canadian railroad and has many great music changes throughout the song and a great storyline. I also love his song "Affair On 8th Avenue".
That voice, so warm and smooth
He has a song called "Beautiful". I play it on my guitar for my wife and I can't get thru it without tearing up every time. You will love it
Ironically Listening to this at 4:15 pm Almost Sundown..😒❤🎶🤙
This is the song that introduced me to Gordon Lightfoot, one of my cousins had the 45 of this and I've been a fan from the first time I heard it.
This was his only hit in South Africa - it reached number 1 and stayed at the top spot for weeks on end. It was a huge hit locally..
Gordon Lightfoot was so cool. I do believe this is the first song I remember ever hearing by Gordon. I like your reactions because you give me “food for thought “. ❤️✌🏻🎶
Song for a Winter's Night is one of my favourites. Pure, simple, beautiful.
They also had James Taylor in your recommendations; I can't remember if you've done any of his; you will LOVE him! "Fire and Rain" was probably his biggest hit in the early '70s, but he had a ton of them. He did a cover of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" that was more popular than hers, and it was his first big hit. Other great ones by James Taylor: "Carolina In My Mind", "Sweet Baby James", "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", "Mexico", "How Sweet It Is", "Shower the People", and "Country Road". He also covered Beatle George Harrison's "Something in the Way She Moves" and had a big hit with that.
Always thought shower the people was one of his best
Gordon has an awesome unique voice 👌 everything I've heard has been great.
This is favorite song by him. He’s got so many very good doing. I love him. Rip
One of the smoothest songs ever
When I was growing up, I would hear this song often. Around Ft. Worth, we had a radio station called Q102 and then later on 92.5 classic rock. My dad listened to both. I love the rhythm of it and his rugged voice. As I got older it hit me, oh dang, I realize what he was talking about. Love his music in general.
Yo DFW bro! Q102! I listened all through high school and college (when I was in town).
@ Awesome!!
I remember this song - I loved this song back in the day. 😊💚💚💚🦠🦠🦠love from Lisa
You are right about that line referring to addiction, also the line about ‘feeling no pain’ , meaning drunk ( high) and therefore feeling no pain
Agreed about this being sonically pleasing to listen to even if the lyrics are a bit cryptic and dark. ❤
Gordon Lightfoot was a fantastic musician! The song has a great groove, the solo's are excellent (sonically, as yous say), but it's the "little" touches that really make the song so musically outstanding. Listen to it again and pay attention to all the little guitar fills that are placed just so as the song moves along. If You Could Read My Mind was one of his great hits. Rick Beato did a whole video on the song; breaking it down and pointing out the guitar and string fills and what they did musically to enhance the song. It's worth a watch. The arrangement is fantastic and Gordon excelled at that. You should also listen to Approaching Lavender, one of my favs. Really nice melody! Very catchy. "If you'd like to spend an afternoon approaching Lavender but one thing's sure, you'll never be the same." Really sweet guitar and finger-picked chords on this.
One of the most beautiful songs in history. Top ten pick for me
🙏 Throwing out a request; the quintessential Yacht Rock song; song of the year Grammy winner in 1981: “SAILING” by Christopher Cross, a must hear for music, and he’s got other great hits as well!!!
My favorite Gordon Lightfoot song.
Deryl Dodd & Wade Bowen did a killer cover of this song that is amazing. They didn’t get the credit deserved for it sadly, but it’s great!
Great reaction, Black Pegasus ! "I think it's a sin, when I think I am winning while I am losing at the game again". Winning arguments, but the disputes still exist.
The line is "when I'm losing again."
one of my favs of his. the music alone is worth it
Gordon Lightfoot (R.I.P.) had so many songs that make my Canadian pride swell in me when I listen. Some songs worth checking out include "Daylight Katy", "Carefree Highway", and "Beautiful".
He is so awesome❤73 yrs young still love his voice
My favorite track by Gordon Lightfoot for sure.
Happy 50th anniversary!! Well Sundown came out in the spring of 1974 and it's now November but it's still 50 years. RIP Gordon Lightfoot. A Canadian legend!!!
My absolute favorite Gordon Lightfoot song.
This song was used in the trailer for the recent 'Salem's Lot remake and whoever thought to use it and completely change its meaning in that context deserves a raise.
Gordon Lightfoot and Neal Peart were masters at writing lyrics. Word choices and phrases that really add depth and meaning to the song.
Canada can definitely be proud. Sadly both are no longer with us.
My favorite song by Gordon! Awesome to see you listen to it!
My young friend, he was under the radar in a sense to the people who were singing with him on the radio. I turned 63 in September and I was fortunate to have a aunt and uncle who played his entire albums for me. Our age difference was about the difference of yours and mine 😂. I heard a lot of great music at their house and back then you played the entire album ❤
As I watch you exploring music I understand the joy they felt with me. Thank you for that.
Wishing nothing but blessings, love and joy for you and your family
Play list for sure ,,,never gets old ... song righting song ,
My favorite Gordon Lightfoot song!!
One of my favorites by Gordon Lightfoot. You mention addiction and for my two cents I get that. He is addicted to a relationship that is just a dream as she is fooling around with someone. Sundown is used a reference to someone who never shows up in the light of day, just at night to see one person alone.
When I was a kid I used to love this song. It used to play on the radio al the time.
Great childhood memories for me too in the 70's.
I think your insight about addiction is accurate here - I had read that he knew this relationship was toxic but was still drawn to it. Your interpretation of the line actually made me see it understand it more clearly in that light. Thanks!
I'm up here in Toronto. Gordon Lightfoot, another of our great Canadian greats!!! ❤🍁
Another on of my all time favorite songs. This and Cat’s in the Craddle (which you’ve already reacted to), Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good by Don Williams ( Almost anything by Don Williams), Seven Bridges Road (live version) by the Eagles, and Dock of the Bay by Ottis Reading
This is a nice discovery for me, and it's always interesting to read the comments about the background!
If you're interested in discovering a great contemporary pop/folk artist, check out Ondara. All his songs are great but I suggest either "An Alien in Minneapolis", "Saying Goodbye", "Torch Song" or "Lebanon".
Sundown was his nickname for his then GF Kathy Smith with whom he had a very dysfunctional toxic relationship while he was married.
From what I've read they were both drinking, she was a groupie & drug dealer - they eventually split and she went on to become infamous for injecting John Belushi with a lethal speedball
Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind, Beautiful, and Softly are some of my favorites that I still listen to, but that's just the start. He was an extraordinarily prolific song writer his entire life. The Circle is Small is another one about a cheating lover with true story roots.
Our hometown hero shoutout Orillia and a Canadian treasure. Love that you found his music and love your channel!
Canadian Railroad Trilogy, If You Could Read My Mind, Carefree Highway, Alberta Bound are all good. And someone else to check out as a great Canadian singer-songwriter is Ian Tyson. Early stuff is folk and pop (especially the Ian and Sylvia albums) but he then went country. Navajo Rug, Four Strong Winds (this and Lightfoot's Alberta Bound were part of the opening ceremonies to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Alberta and the two performed together), and Summer Wages are all great. And there's an interesting Ian Tyson Corb Lund cover of AC/DC's Ride On.
"Circle of Steel" and "Don Quixote" are two of my favorites that haven't already been mentioned below. And "Old Dan's Records" 👍😁
Circle of Steel is beautiful, so is Seven Island Suite, it's no wonder the whole Sundown Album went #1
RIP Gordon! One of the best songs, so well written and such a vibe. Great story behind this that someone below wrote about so I won't explain it. They said it perfectly!
Love! Love! Love!! His voice gets down into your bones!
For me the best song by Gordon Lightfoot is "BLACK DAY IN JULY". Amazing description of the 1967 Detroit Riots. I also love the music in this one. The drums are great.
Definitely one of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot song.
The safest voice ever. Always makes it alright.
My favorite GL song too. I just started learning the bass and this is one of the first songs I'm trying to learn. That bass riff is SICK.
A sundowner is a drink that you have when the sun goes down. A little bit like Cracklin Rosie by Neil Diamond I have always thought this to be a song about succumbing to drink when you really dont want to. I think the lyrics being presented as a relationship are a metaphor for being being dependent on alchol but not wanting to be.
It's definitely my favorite from Gordon -- the sexy, bluesy funkyness of it.
"Get feelin better when I'm feelin' no pain,' is illustrative of being under the influence of a SUBSTANCE to numb pain causing guilt which is pain.
He said song is addressing a girlfriend out with friends at a bar while he was writing songs at home wondering what she was doing as the feeling in the music. It's illicit as a 'Backdoor Relationship' and she's cheating...Thus, her other lovers CREEPIN' round his back door.
The woman, as reported, was a Canadian backup-singer, groupie, drug distributor who spent time in prison for injecting the substance killing John Belushi.
The Eagles, Bob Dylan, CCR, Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young, Bachman-Turner, Mama's and the Papa's and more...All those people were in the Music Scene at the same time...THE POETRY AND SETTINGS of the music is always a VIBE.
Loved this reaction! You was digging this one!! Loved it!
The song is about Cathy Smith; the same girl who gave John Belushi his fatal speedball.
This was soooo my artsy mother’s vibe. I think she had an outfit exactly like what Gordon is wearing on the album cover there. She was also really into Jim Croce back then, too. If you’ve not checked him out I suggest Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Operator, and I Got A Name. Doesn’t sound anything like Gordon Lightfoot but he’s in that same 70s singer-songwriter genre. This song came out before I was born but my mom was definitely still listening to this music when I was a kid in the 80s.
Hi Black, I agree my favorite Gordon Lightfoot Sundown 11/21/24