Having just returned from Vietnam and enrolled in the University of Kansas in Lawrence, I was appalled and scared by the treatment I was receiving from fellow students. This was in 1970, and I would retreat to my small apartment and listen to Gordon Lightfoot. He's still a respite for me, and it's now 2020. Thanks, Man. I love your twelve-string expertise.
You're not only a survivor but a true liver of life having experienced the good and not so good...it's easier to be kind to others as you already know, keep the faith.
Jack, I was a little over a year from going to Vietnam. Being a Michigander Gordon Lightfoot has always held a special place, also his music has been a retreat for me. Along with Hockey Night in Canada and the Grapes. Thank you for your service.
Somewhere, a child is being born who will love this music and imitate it just like Gordon imitated his mentors. The world is full of good and bad, but it's harder to see the good if you're looking in the mainstream. That's the difference.
@@crabbinmoose8583 Grew up to this and his girlfriend. Lots of good stuff I would lovefriend. I I use to this song and I would be knockin' on your friends.
@@crabbinmoose8583 Who were the mentors, he imitated ? Hopefully there is a child out there that will fulfill the gift given to him or her, by their creator. So many once did and as Gordon, grew up singing in a church setting, as a child. That norm of the music Masters, has been trashed in today’s world. Children brought into a world barren of brotherly and sisterly love, do not flourish.
Me, a punk rock teenager in the 70s buying a ticket to see Gordon Lightfoot in Seattle. I was mesmerized by how wonderful the evening was. I didn't know anyone I could share it with, but I can relive it here. Thanks. :o)
Your post gives me chills. He was a Hometown Hero to me. I never got see him but have known so many that knew him including my Dad, no longer alive. My Dad saw many of his first performances. He played Orillia/Hometown well. The Original Mariposa Festival was in Orillia and attenddd by Folk music's Best. RIP Gordon May 1, 2023. May he Rest in Peace
Lightfoot achieved great acclaim, and we can see it growing exponentially posthumously, but I think it would have been larger, if not for musical fashion. He didn't fit. People from all sorts of musical affiliations listened, learned, and loved his music. But society has this way of compartmentalizing. I think there were a hundred million Gordon Lightfoot fans back in the day when it was glam rock, hair metal or punk or whatever, but they just kept him as a private pleasure. Except for all of us who were always all in.
That's awesome! I never caught Gordon live, but I've also seen great concerts by myself. So I feel ya! Driving a few hundred miles to catch a show and sleeping in my car. I would play guitar along with the album all night by myself in the car. And wake up to a leaf blower in the parking lot at 7am. Haha ✌️
Sundown saw his last sunset last evening. Such a tremendous artist who captured our inner souls on both sides of our shared border. Gordon was a national treasure who we Canadians gladly shared with our southern neighbours. RIP Mr Lightfoot, thanks you for the memories.
Thank you, for lending us your " Beautiful " Countryman to us . He is a Beloved soul in our HEARTS as well , here in the Southern Border of " O Canada" 💔☄🌠🎖🏆⚘🕯🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🌄🇨🇦
All the way in south Carolina and I loved his music when I was a child in the 69 and 70' . I didnt know what he meant a lot of times with his wonderful words but I did know I liked it. The beat the rythym and his voice I was drawn to. Thanks for sharing him. Small town southern usa loved him too
I am 77 and Gordon Lightfoots music took me back to 1968 as I travelled west to Calgary, Alberta. His songs were so meaningful, they told a story, as we sat in the pubs in Banff we listened to every word. Music was a magical part of the 60s and 70s. His voice was so calm, so reassuring. It was a time of love and peace and goodwill. Although many experimented with drugs such as LSD and there was suffering I remember a time when people were not angry, there was happiness, there was music everywhere We had never heard the word terrorism, climate change. As a woman yes I was a secretary and very poorly paid with no thought of career goals. Later I learned how to play guitar and sing and my father loved " Farewell to Nova Scotia." I sang this with enthusiasm as we had lived in Nova Scotia, I loved Gordon Lightfoots songs as he sang about CANADA . His legacy is songwriting about the beauty of Canada. I will never forget.
A great complement to our country and to one of its all time best troubadours! Thank you for this look back memory... I recall going skiing on really cold, freezing days around Montreal, early Saturday mornings with friends; the radio was more Gordy Lightfoot than anyone else. Family from N.S. and I got my degree there too. Here's tear for you too- RIP Gordon.
There''s no pretense with Gordon and his music. It is music from the ebb and flow of time, from the heart, from the emotions we all share. No artifice, no stage theatrics. I'm all for rock & roll, absolutely. But I always get back to this. So grateful for hearing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which led me to learning more of his music. He's been a true old friend for the past 50 years.
Lived in the U.P. In Michigan and remember the storm that caused the Fitz to be lost . The news claimed there may be hope for survivors , but anyone familiar with Lake Superior knew it was a lost cause . His song about the Fitz always brings up memories about that time and place in my life .
I was a waitress at Max's Kansas City, NYC back in 1969/70. We had a jukebox and "if you could read my mind" was played almost nonstop (which was fine...Poppy yet pleasant), still, it never quite edged out Creedence Clearwater's uplifting "Run Through the Jungle" or stifled some wiseass's selecting Yoko Ono's "Mother"...the only tune that ever made me ideate suicidally... Still...Gordon was pleasant and safe... Like a kid a CIA agent would take home to mama.
As an American I've long noticed that our neighbor to the north, Canada, produces a disproportionate amount of musical geniuses, with Mr. Lightfoot possibly standing at the top of the heap. Canada, from the bottom of my heart, this American thanks you!
Thank you for posting this compilation. I can't think of a musician that loved performing live more than Gordon did, he will be sorely missed...RIP Gordon, November 17th 1938 - May 1st 2023.
It's amazing how every audience at a Lightfoot concert sits in absolute silence. Not wanting to miss a single note. It's a unique Lightfoot phenomenon.
I have attended many of his concerts and he never liked the audience to clap along with the songs. Whenever they started he would shake his head. He was a perfectionist when he performed and his loyal audiences respected that. And especially during the 60's and 70's and early 80's, his live performances were often superior to his studio recordings.
@@brucknerian9664 unless one was there, its hard to appreciate how huge If you could read my mind was when it was released. WE don't have musical juggernauts like that any more.
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald is one of the few songs that move me to my soul. I live on Lake Erie, but whenever this song comes on I'm overwhelmed by a feeling of sorrow and reverence I've never felt before in my life.
The Great Lakes are so dangerous and wicked especially during a storm. I’ve seen those big ore ships on Lake Michigan headed to steel mills in Gary, Indiana and the brave men that pilot them.
I'm 66 years young. and when I hear that sad song , I put myself in the shoes of those lost souls.and the tears start to fall..it takes brave people to do that jib of being on the high seas.. no matter how big the ship, mother nature will always make it seem small.
@@markconrad4160 I'm 64 and that is one of the very few songs that can bring a tear to my eye. Such magical storytelling in either prose or music is so rare. Cheers Gordon!😢🥂😭
Bob Dylan,John Denver, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, all different, and all could put lifes paintings into a 3 minute visions coming out of my radio...my songwriters Mount Rushmore. RIP Gordon.
My fav singers! Saw Gordon in concert 2x as well as JD and Bob Dylan! I would also include cat stevens as a fantastic writer and singer as well! Singers like these are so few and far between, Gordon's music lives on now and forever...
@@nedcassley5169 Really Ned , did you sleep better the night you found a mistype on RUclips and called the guy out. Did you brag about it at work the next morning? Here I'll mistype teh so you can do it again. And thank you so much for scouring these pages looking for typos.
Ever go to his concerts?? You can here a pin drop. Nobody ever since or before can equal Gordon. Been following him since 1970…..my longest music hero.❤️❤️
It's easy to see why Canadians are so proud of him. He seemed to conjure all the best of his country. His voice is so damn evocative....haunting. From a nation with less people than California came this monster talent. Canadians are a good and decent people.
When ever I hear this song it reminds me of my late Michigan born wife who brought me to this beautiful state to live. The song, the cabin in the woods, the snow, the lamp on the table. What a beautiful song for the mind.
So sad he's gone. Such a talented songwriter, with a fantastic voice. when I hear "If You Could Read My Mind" it still makes me feel like crying. Such soulful, truthful feeling. What a contribution he has made to music! RIP, Mr. Lightfoot. May you be in light.
My buddy called me up one day and said "You gotta come over and listen to an album I just bought." I did, and over the next 20 years or so we learned to sing and play every song on Gord's first 15 albums. Still remember most of'em too, but . . . . . . . well time got in the way.
I was saddened to hear of Gordon Lightfoot's passing on May 1, 2023. His golden voice has been silenced, but his musical legacy will live on. RIP Gordon Lightfoot.
That's the proper order. I never cared for the sloppy slobbering emotionally of sun shine on my shoulder" lightfoit made you feel the sunshine he didn't just go on about it.
I was born in '95, and I'm Italian, but this kind of music is pretty much the only stuff I listen to (together with country legends and a few contemporary artists, like Colter Wall, to remain in Canada) and, thanks mainly to my father, what I always listened to from birth. Oh how lucky people were to live during those years. Music, style, clothing, cars...I'm sure the 70s had their big downsides, and yet I know they would be my first destination if I had a time machine
I saw Gordon Lightfoot in Greensboro NC in February 2020 right before the COVID lockdowns He was 82 years old and for 90 minutes plus went from one great song to the next. Great show and a very funny and warm human being. One of the greatest singer songwriters ever.
I'm so jealous. I love him so much. Such a great tone. Beautuful. His poetry brings me to my knees. I saw a recent documentary and he sounds great. A true legend. Canada's best export.❤🇨🇦❤🇺🇲❤
May 2nd, 2023 - 2:56AM EST - RIP to the one of best song writers in music history. His guitar playing was immaculate and his words were perfect. Like John Bonham, there will never be another Gordon Lightfoot. ❤💔❤️ I saw you three times in concert and I remember every moment. You broke your arm in a fall in Aug of 2021 and still showed up to play your songs for us on Dec 6th, 2021. RIP 💔 I found you passed away about four hours ago - listened to about ten of your songs and cried for an hour. Gordon was a treasure to music history, an immaculate guitar player and brilliant lyricist ! ❤
I always was soothed by the sound of his voice and music and the poetry of the lyrics. Such a loss for all the fans who loved and will continue to love this man’s music.
When I am disappointed at the state of affairs, and of remembering I was once a very proud Canadian... I listen to this man ....he is the voice that restores my faith that all will be well.....
Canada is still the best country in the world. Don't let them tell you otherwise, make you angry, and forget to enjoy your life. Gordon will help you, as you say! Welcome back.
In my humble opinion, he's the only singer-songwriter who can hold a candle to Paul Simon, and he holds a huge candle. Paul sometimes holds the candle, actually.
@@belascialoja4812 Yes, Bela. Paul Simon wrote a lot of good poetry set to memorable music. Mostly early on. Then, after financial success, he got a little lazy, too political, full of self-importance. Affected his creativity. Mr. Lightfoot kept his nose to the creative grindstone, producing new works, all the while maintaining a busy tour schedule. So I think overall more faithful to his fans and to his craft.
When I discovered Gordon Lightfoot in the 70s, I couldn't stop listening to his captivating musical accounts. Over 50 years later, I still have the same mesmerization. There's hardly any musicians I can say that about.
I remember the first time I heard that song on the radio. I fell in love with both the song and Lightfoot right then. It’s still my favorite of all of his songs. He has the most beautiful voice. You can’t tell that I love Gordon Lightfoot can you?
@@monicacall7532 My exact sentiment... Gordon Lightfoot became my favourite singer and If You Could Read My Mind my favourite singer the first time I was aware of the song
I walk away like a movie star, who gets burned in a three way script. There are no words for this guy. He's beyond brilliant. And even the great Bob Dylan agrees, now that's the ultimate compliment.
Gordon Lightfoot...The man with the golden voice. I'm always in the mood to hear Mr. Lightfoot sing, and especially "If You Could Read My Mind". What a masterpiece! Gordon was the best thing to come out of Canada since Ginger Ale.🙂
Such a very sad time in his life , upon writing that song. His marriage had ended.... you van almost see the tears in his eyes when he sings it and grits his teeth to keep his composure. Many can absolutely relate to his feelings in this song. . It was a great healing process for Gordon. Thank you for your, in comment. 🕯
Often backed by only a bass and acoustic guitar, Gordon just played acoustic and sang. No gimmicks, special effects. autotune. Kept us entertained with his songs done simply and purely. Who else can do that for an entire concert?
I was blessed to have seen one of his shows in Ohio a few years ago. His voice may not have been what it was, but he gave us a great show, and you could tell he loved playing for us. That means so much to an audience.
My Dad loves to tell the story about taking my Mom on a date to a Gordon Lightfoot show at a dinner club in Los Angeles but only able to afford the cheap seats in the back...but we’re also immediately adjacent to the man himself when he took breaks throughout the live broadcast. 🤗💕
Many commenting mention the chills induced by Gordon's words, style, musicianship.....everything about him. Yes, nothing has changed and the chills are still there from when I first heard him in the 80's as a teen who was massively into heavy metal (and played guitar, bass, and also piano), however, it all came to a cold stand-still when I heard many of Gordon's songs at that time. Now, at the age of 54, I'll pass on the heavy metal and what remains is my forever love of GL, his songs, lyrics, humility, influence, and legend.
I remember thumbing through the mountains of B.C. and hearing this song. Gordon is always on today when I’m driving in the mountains of Alberta or B.C.
Looking at Gordon's face during this performance you can see the laser focus on his craft. Never misses a beat and never a slip. The talent he possesses is such a God given miracle.
Sad, sad day today of the passing of Gordon yesterday. Such a great and beloved talent of millions worldwide. Saw him for the 4th time in concert 2 years ago. Thank you Gordon. Rest now…you are forever in our minds and hearts❤
I believe Gordon Lightfoot (stunning name BTW- sounds like some medieval lord) has left the neural pathways of his music permanently etched in my brain and my heart expanded with love and universal connection. Such a HUGE talent!!!!
Time is cruel. Most of us become dust and fade away, leaving the faintest footprint on the world. Gordon Lightfoot will never fade away. His songs have put him in the human record for all time. His songs will always find people when they need them the most. The melancholy and the loss in his music, the simple feeling of breathing in life through pictures he paints with his words, they all make our lives better and will for generations to come.
Good (and) unique voice. (I) love (the) mellow sounds!!!! (I) used (to) listen (to) (his) albums in (the) 70's, (mostly). (I) just googled (his) music (on) u-tube tonight.
Gordon stuck it out to the end in the most troubling of difficult times with such soothing melodies...He loved us and we loved him. Rip Sir and thank you!
I've seen Lightfoot 27 times live. I have an original music score penned by him. Recorded, but never published and released. This is an awesome frigging clip! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I remember as a kid 1965 at the age of 14, I hitch hiked to Toronto to hear him play. Montreal to Toronto and back before my parents knew I was gone. I had started collecting his music at age 11 and to this day I still follow him.
The best balladeer Canada ever produced! Gordon passed but left his beautiful music for generations to come. My favorite clip here is Song for a Winter's Night. He casts a musical spell on his young audience.
If God had a singing angel, Gordon Lightfoot would be it !! His music is nothing less than an inspiration by God him self !! Very few people are blessed with that much talent and dedication to his music as Gordon Lightfoot !! As we listen to his stories behind the music That set the mood that take us to a special place and moment !! Every time you listen to his songs is like the first time you Heard it !! You Never Ever get tired of listening to his Music over and over !! I’ve been blessed to see Gordon Lightfoot in person as well as listen to his music for over 60 years I could not ask for a greater gift, than his music has provided me all of these years !!! SFJ ❤
Easily one of the greatest songwriters and singers of our time. A true Canadian Icon and a fantastic performer. Few are as good as he and none will ever surpass him.
The CD "Gords Gold" is the one that does it for me. If it's possible to wear out a CD I think I've come close. What a gifted person and amazing backup musicians. Helped me through some tough times. Saw him in person in Concord, New Hampshire some years ago. Peace and beauty abound in his music. Thank you Gordon Lightfoot for making the world a better place.
I wish I had seen him live. Friends have reported through the years that he absolutely delivered the goods, a consummate professional, and I hear that in this video…❤️ “If You Could Read My Mind” is a love song for all time, beautifully written and sung, and filled with a lingering and uneasy sorrow that cannot be explained away. I remember hearing it on AM radio as a kid, finding it so haunting and wondering if the experience it described was something I might eventually go through. Lo and behold…you know how it is🙄😂 But hey, how the hell else are you ever going to write a convincing tragic love song?
I get chills hearing The Edmund Fitzgerald(Wreck of) I'm originally from Maumee Ohio and my dad was a shipbuilder working in Toledo. I was nine or ten when the fitz sank... Gordon Lightfoot did a great service to the families to keep the memories of the lost in our minds.... One of many of his great songs!
... although my uncle was on the Lakers back then and I thought my aunt was going to go around the twist with the constant reminders to worry every single time she turned on the radio -
I agree. Poetic imagery. I wonder why nobody has ever thought to use the story for a big-screen movie, like The Perfect Storm. Maybe the families would object.
I amEnglsh but so captivated by what was called folk music back in the later1960S,the truth was told us and during the70s too but only by fearless singer-song- writers such as MR.Lightfoot,he was indeed born to sing his songs to us all.. am-in my early70s now but people like him still inspire me so much..
I would LOVE to hear his opinion on today's crappy music. I mean writing a hit song today is soooo easy. You write down all the curse words you know and say them as music plays behind you ! Voila ! a Hit song ! Ask Cardi B and Nikki Minaj
@@ManlyMan35 As much as I respect Gord, it's obvious in his judgement that he's lost the ear on today's crap. He loves whatever is on the radio these days, which I find extremely concerning. I don't think he knows that mainstream music is basically the antithesis to what his music is intended to project. I'm pretty frightened by the thought of people that listen to music with their eyes and how the person is, instead of the actual music. It's a frightening time to be in the music industry.
When I saw Gordon in concert last summer, there was one or two songs I didn't know while the friend I accompanied only knew one, Edmund Fitzgerald. She claimed to be a lifetime fan.
What a talent. I had forgotten how many of his songs were the background music of my youth when we all sought a better world. I only heard him live once, and it was such a wonderful experience. He is a gift to the ages.
Both my father & I share his name...he was in the foreground of my youth. Even as a child, I was a fan, but, If You Could Read My Mind, forever sealed the deal...it still holds me in it's relentless grasp. 🇨🇦
I saw Gordon tonight live in Collingswood,NJ. He is not the young man in these videos anymore but I was thrilled to see him live and in person doing the thing he has done for over 50 years. I was honored to be in his presence while he sang some of my favorite songs. Unforgettable!
I saw him a few years ago in California. He opened the show with the Mark Twain line “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated!” He told the story of how he was driving in his car when he heard on the news he’d died. Imagine that! I’ve been a fan since the 70’s, and to finally have seen and heard him in person was freaking awesome! His music will live on for many reasons, one of them being he’s one of the best, if not the best, singer/songwriters ever! RIP, Gord!
We lost one of the great musical communicators, someone who could tell a story like few before him. Some people are born to do something specific and Gordon Lightfoot was meant to be a great singer/songwriter who could entertain and teach us something about life at the same time.
I'm an old Carolina soul...but Gordon Lightfoot's songs never grew old.. and pictured an honest life...every verse was a rendition of the human condition...crisp and clean...an enchanting Canadian dream...Southern Cal never ruined Gordon's sound.
I Have Absolutely Been in Love With Gordon Ligktfoot Since The Early 1970's. I Was Lucky Enough to Seen Him In 6 Different Concerts, Throughout Michigan. I Was Devastated When I Heard He Had Passed. Thanks So Much For This Beautiful Tribute To This Wonderful Legend. R.I.P. 💔💔💔 Thank You Gordon For All The Many, Many Years of Beautiful, Meaningful , Serene Music to My Life! ❤❤❤
Big takeaway for me from these clips is the behavior of the audience. No jumping around and screaming. Just quiet realization they are witnessing greatness. It would be disrespectful to interrupt. Besides you don't want to miss one word or one finger pick or strum.
".. Like a movie star that gets burned in a three-way script..." (If You Could Read My Mind) Sorry, I've not yet found a better conveyance of sadness; somehow kept at-bay; intact; yet done so well. He really is a ghost you cannot see, in a sense... And that is why I love him.
I was introduced to Gordon Lightfoot over 50 years ago by a lady friend whom I loved dearly. She is gone now but every time I hear one of Mr. Lightfoot's songs she is with me again.
I am a 65 yo guitarist and singer and Gordon Lightfoot shaped everything I play. I play a lot of Bluegrass these days but always come back to songs like Summer Side of Life, Pony Man, Pussywillows Cattails, Song for a Winter's Night, Talking in Your Sleep, Home from the Forest, Does Your Mother Know, and many others that I play less frequently. Thank you Mr. Lightfoot for your unpretentious genius.
Always been a big fan of Gordon Lightfoot. He’s was a true Canadian legend who never abandoned his country for the bright lights of LA or NYC. I attended many of his concerts at Massey Hall in Toronto. I remember his concerts were always in March and getting tickets was challenging as they sold out fast but I would buy an obstructed view pole seat because I just had to see him perform when he was at Massey. I listen to his music almost every day, it’s timeless and have several of his albums and now I have his music downloaded on all my devices. Rest in Peace Gordon, you will be truly missed. Canada won’t be the same without you. God Bless! 🥰
What a singer, what a writer, and what a guitarist. That strumming is not easy. His Canadian Railroad Trilogy is IMHO one of the greatest folk songs every written. Thanks for uploading this!
I started listening to Gordon Lightfoot when I was in my teens. Now, in my 60's, the joy his music brings me is just as real. His lyrics display a poetic genius and an understanding of the human heart like no other.
I only had the pleasure of attending a Gordon Lightfoot concert once. It was in 76, if I remember correctly, being 18 at the time and still remember the feeling that I had watching him. He has always hit my heart! May he rest in peace and sing with the angels!
I remember the exact moment I heard Gordon and fell in love with his music. Now 50 years later I own several guitars and love playing his music. I saw him in concert in Kansas City in 1990 and it was a wonderful time. I'll miss him dearly. No matter how bad a day the world had you could come home, turn down the lights, and listen to Gordon and somehow the world became a gentler happier place.
Gordon Lightfoot lit the flame inside of me to become a songwriter, singer, guitarist and performer. I had to do ALL FOUR striving for the high bar he set. Granted, I fell far short. Still, I achieved exponentially more than I could have dreamed of without his example (as well as Rick, Red and Terry). Thousands of hours playing, singing, writing, and performing. I do not regret one second. I’ve met him, Rick and the late great Terry Clements several times. They were always hospitable. I stayed out of the way to watch. The attention to tuning. Never taking a performance for granted. Having “nerves” despite decades of brilliant performances to adoring audiences. My words are insufficient to express my gratitude. So, every time I play, write, record or perform I think of his example: be in tune, stay with the tempo, be present to the song and the audience, give them everything you have and then work to be even better the next time.
Thank you. Sir Gordon Lightfoot ,yes he should be Knighted, The best of what was and, will never be again. A true treasure and gentleman. We have lost the ability to recognize honest talent and jewelry of integrity. Gordon Lightfoot represents the best of prose and poetry that sums up the collective pain and beauty of human experience.
The Awakening Heard Well put! I’ve seen him 4 times, in Denver 1977, LA 1979, Modesto 2013, Portland OR 2015. He will turn 81 on 11/17, still touring.... His youngest Meredith Moon Lightfoot sings and plays guitar and banjo. Lots of RUclips videos of her. 🙏🏻🍁🎃
"when the old knight road he was not afraid to bleed If I should shoulder such a task tis more than I should need But from my drift of song shall come some of that spirit there Through the woodland through the Valley ..........." Lightfoot
As a kid, I can remember walking into the kitchen and my parents were dancing, well, my father was holding my mother and they were swaying a bit. Beautiful, was the song that they were dancing to. 63 years for them. Still at it those two. Rest in peace Mr. Lightfoot. Thank you.
Yes...Jim Croce, "Time In A Bottle", Photographs and Memories, Operator, I'll Have To Say I Love You..., I Got A Name; and others rank up there with Gordon. I always wondered what he would have written...if.... However, I still think on a purely poetic basis, no one writes better lines than Gordon.
Dean R. Johansen I agree, on Jim. I have listened to Gordon and revered him for decades, and if Jim Croce hadn't left this world, when he did, I believe there would have been many more gems written and sung, by him.
Jim Croce is " up there " with Gordon . I wouldn't count Paul Simon out either ! Gord is one of my all time song writing and performing favorites , Jim Croce could write novelty songs as well as gripping love songs .
I just want to cry when I hear this song. It takes me back to being young and all my family, Mom, Dad, and all my siblings still being alive. God how I miss all of them. ❤❤❤
I had just turned 14 years old when I first heard of Gordon on my little transistor radio. At the time I was transitioning from grade school to HS. I knew very few. It was tough enough age for many not just me. But when I first heard “If You Could Read My Mind” the lyrics and music captivated me. It melted me. I would go to bed with that transistor playing beneath my pillow and for about a week or so the station would play that song within the same 15 minutes or so every night. It was my lullaby😊. I never forgot that and have been ever connected to Gordon since then. My wife and I have listened to GL together since 1976. He has been our go to therapeutic minstrel. Thank you Gordon. RIP Sir. You are our greatest folk hero.
I grew up with and loved the music of Gordon Lightfoot. What a supreme talent. Not only is Gordon getting old but so am I, hence the feelings of gratitude, joy and sadness.
saw him the first time in Reno....was right next to the stage, about15 feet from him, just to his right. He said, "We've got a new song. This is the first time we've played it in public." Edmund Fitzgerald...
@@randymeyer6482 He was born about an hour north of me in Orillia, Ontario. I grew up in Toronto. I bought and listened to his records since the mid 60's. The "Edmund Fitzgerald" was probably the apex of his career. What a treat it must have been for you to hear him perform that gem live for the 1st time.
@@p.turtle2085 Go Go Round was the first of his songs I ever heard. Fell in love with his music right then. My all time favorite, and the best there has ever been. I drove through Orillia once, on a work trip...really nice little town. All the best to you.
Born in 1966. Thank God. Grew up with this stuff. Riding with my Dad in the 1972 Plymouth Fury III Station Wagon and my aunt in her 1969 AMC Javelin. The radio was one great song after another. God Bless.
Only once in a lifetime does a gem like him come along!!! His music is timeless and full of the travails of ordinary people. He is the last true minstrel.
Such pessimism! I certainly hope music is not dead and gone. Not said to take away from your comment. It is going to be a long time to match his talent.
Was introduced to Gordon as a teenager listening to radio - his lyrics were beyond description & meaning to my searching soul at that time & still resonate today for me in my 60s now. Adored him then & adore him now. Can’t believe he’s gone - Heaven needed him back. Your legacy will live on here forever Gordon ❤❤
![Gordon Lightfoot Greatest Hits (Full Album) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kqA-RLkHLlk/mqdefault.jpg)
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Having just returned from Vietnam and enrolled in the University of Kansas in Lawrence, I was appalled and scared by the treatment I was receiving from fellow students. This was in 1970, and I would retreat to my small apartment and listen to Gordon Lightfoot. He's still a respite for me, and it's now 2020. Thanks, Man. I love your twelve-string expertise.
I remember that treatment of our soldiers. Pitiful! Sorry. A little late, but thank you.
Thank you for your service….
You're not only a survivor but a true liver of life having experienced the good and not so good...it's easier to be kind to others as you already know, keep the faith.
Jack, I was a little over a year from going to Vietnam. Being a Michigander Gordon Lightfoot has always held a special place, also his music has been a retreat for me. Along with Hockey Night in Canada and the Grapes.
Thank you for your service.
Welcome home......you are a hero & those of us from the 60/70'd are proud of you.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Lightfoot. Your songs will live forever.
Go to CT by b by in of
They sure will ...😢
@@melissadavis225I post Gordon lightfoot videos I post sundown 1979 go like it and subscribe
My Canadian neighbors should be so proud of this guy. He could sing the phone book and I'd listen all the way to the end!
Your Probably right thanks for the smile through my tears
We are and are very sad to hear he has passed away
Thanks, we are very proud of him and happy that his music was enjoyed beyond our borders
We are proud of him ! He a Canadian on par with Terry Fox.
A true artist who sang his own pictures
There is a lot less beauty in the world today than yesterday, RIP Gordon Lightfoot. God bless.
Somewhere, a child is being born who will love this music and imitate it just like Gordon imitated his mentors. The world is full of good and bad, but it's harder to see the good if you're looking in the mainstream. That's the difference.
@@crabbinmoose8583 Grew up to this and his girlfriend. Lots of good stuff I would lovefriend. I I use to this song and I would be knockin' on your friends.
❤️👍
@@crabbinmoose8583 grabbing for my my moose
@@crabbinmoose8583 Who were the mentors, he imitated ? Hopefully there is a child out there that will fulfill the gift given to him or her, by their creator. So many once did and as Gordon, grew up singing in a church setting, as a child. That norm of the music Masters, has been trashed in today’s world.
Children brought into a world barren of brotherly and sisterly love, do not flourish.
Me, a punk rock teenager in the 70s buying a ticket to see Gordon Lightfoot in Seattle. I was mesmerized by how wonderful the evening was. I didn't know anyone I could share it with, but I can relive it here. Thanks. :o)
Your post gives me chills. He was a Hometown Hero to me. I never got see him but have known so many that knew him including my Dad, no longer alive.
My Dad saw many of his first performances. He played Orillia/Hometown well.
The Original Mariposa Festival was in Orillia and attenddd by Folk music's Best.
RIP Gordon May 1, 2023. May he Rest in Peace
Lightfoot achieved great acclaim, and we can see it growing exponentially posthumously, but I think it would have been larger, if not for musical fashion. He didn't fit. People from all sorts of musical affiliations listened, learned, and loved his music. But society has this way of compartmentalizing. I think there were a hundred million Gordon Lightfoot fans back in the day when it was glam rock, hair metal or punk or whatever, but they just kept him as a private pleasure. Except for all of us who were always all in.
That's awesome!
I never caught Gordon live, but I've also seen great concerts by myself. So I feel ya! Driving a few hundred miles to catch a show and sleeping in my car. I would play guitar along with the album all night by myself in the car. And wake up to a leaf blower in the parking lot at 7am. Haha ✌️
@@ecstaticist Quality prevails always and everywhere. His songs are for eternity. I have always loved them.
Welcome to the family, friend..."the gales came early" 😅🎶🔥
Sundown saw his last sunset last evening. Such a tremendous artist who captured our inner souls on both sides of our shared border. Gordon was a national treasure who we Canadians gladly shared with our southern neighbours. RIP Mr Lightfoot, thanks you for the memories.
Thank you, for lending us your " Beautiful " Countryman to us . He is a Beloved soul in our HEARTS as well , here in the Southern Border of " O Canada" 💔☄🌠🎖🏆⚘🕯🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🌄🇨🇦
All the way in south Carolina and I loved his music when I was a child in the 69 and 70' . I didnt know what he meant a lot of times with his wonderful words but I did know I liked it. The beat the rythym and his voice I was drawn to. Thanks for sharing him. Small town southern usa loved him too
Lovely words for a truly wonderful person. Thank you.
We loved him in Australia as well. I know he is a National Treasure in Canada. Amazing talent.
What style and class he had. Made that guitar speak to us. God Bless you and your family
I am 77 and Gordon Lightfoots music took me back to 1968 as I travelled west to Calgary, Alberta. His songs were so meaningful, they told a story, as we sat in the pubs in Banff we listened to every word. Music was a magical part of the 60s and 70s. His voice was so calm, so reassuring. It was a time of love and peace and goodwill. Although many experimented with drugs such as LSD and there was suffering I remember a time when people were not angry, there was happiness, there was music everywhere We had never heard the word terrorism, climate change. As a woman yes I was a secretary and very poorly paid with no thought of career goals. Later I learned how to play guitar and sing and my father loved " Farewell to Nova Scotia." I sang this with enthusiasm as we had lived in Nova Scotia, I loved Gordon Lightfoots songs as he sang about CANADA . His legacy is songwriting about the beauty of Canada. I will never forget.
A great complement to our country and to one of its all time best troubadours!
Thank you for this look back memory... I recall going skiing on really cold, freezing days around Montreal, early Saturday mornings
with friends; the radio was more Gordy Lightfoot than anyone else.
Family from N.S. and I got my degree there too. Here's tear for you too- RIP Gordon.
O
well said my friend
There''s no pretense with Gordon and his music. It is music from the ebb and flow of time, from the heart, from the emotions we all share. No artifice, no stage theatrics. I'm all for rock & roll, absolutely. But I always get back to this. So grateful for hearing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which led me to learning more of his music. He's been a true old friend for the past 50 years.
Fantastic words.
Stated ever so Beautifully....💔⚘🕯☄
Song from the heart and soul. Yes indeed!!
Lived in the U.P. In Michigan and remember the storm that caused the Fitz to be lost . The news claimed there may be hope for survivors , but anyone familiar with Lake Superior knew it was a lost cause . His song about the Fitz always brings up memories about that time and place in my life .
So nicely put Deb. I also was introduced to Gordo via The Wreck… at the age of 11 & it started a lifelong love.
"When I hear a Gordon Lightfoot song I wish it would last forever" * Bob Dylan*
Nice comment my friend 👍
@@aknightwhosaysni2475 I got another notification and came here. I didn't notice your handle before. So may I just say, would you like a shrubbery?
@@42awww 😂😂 yes please, and after that, you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest..... WITH A HERRING 👍
What an amazing songwriter
I was a waitress at Max's Kansas City, NYC back in 1969/70. We had a jukebox and "if you could read my mind" was played almost nonstop (which was fine...Poppy yet pleasant), still, it never quite edged out Creedence Clearwater's uplifting "Run Through the Jungle" or stifled some wiseass's selecting Yoko Ono's "Mother"...the only tune that ever made me ideate suicidally... Still...Gordon was pleasant and safe... Like a kid a CIA agent would take home to mama.
As an American I've long noticed that our neighbor to the north, Canada, produces a disproportionate amount of musical geniuses, with Mr. Lightfoot possibly standing at the top of the heap. Canada, from the bottom of my heart, this American thanks you!
And a salute right back at you!
Dean
America has produced many geniuses too
God bless
Lots of Scottish folks, really. Many remote areas in Canada, music is lifeblood, especially in our Eastern Provinces. Thank you.
Add Anne Murray and Ian & Sylvia..Second to Gordon Lightfoot...but truly great Canadians!!
This Texan loves Canada!!
@@georgealexander8661 Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, KD Lang, Jann Arden, Bruce Cockburn, Leon Cohen and many many more!
Thank you for posting this compilation. I can't think of a musician that loved performing live more than Gordon did, he will be sorely missed...RIP Gordon, November 17th 1938 - May 1st 2023.
Yes, thank you so much for this compilation
Brilliance! Rest well, Mr. Lightfoot.❤
ahhh, I didn't know, thank you for the dates. And indeed, this is a soul and true Voice who will be missed...
My yiyas birthday!
Now he is singing in heaven.❤🎉
It's amazing how every audience at a Lightfoot concert sits in absolute silence. Not wanting to miss a single note. It's a unique Lightfoot phenomenon.
I have attended many of his concerts and he never liked the audience to clap along with the songs. Whenever they started he would shake his head. He was a perfectionist when he performed and his loyal audiences respected that. And especially during the 60's and 70's and early 80's, his live performances were often superior to his studio recordings.
That, or they're bored stiff.
Wonderful, beautiful songs ... 🎶😊❤️💕
its how we were all were disiplined even in the 70s.we went to be entertained not miss the show or make fools of ourselves.
@@aerotuc oh, sure.
I'm 71 years-old now in 2020 and I still get chills when I hear Gordon LIghtfoot sing, just like I did back in the 1970s when I was in my 20s.
Same age ... same appreciation for Lightfoot. Never a better singer/songwriter.
@@brucknerian9664 unless one was there, its hard to appreciate how huge If you could read my mind was when it was released. WE don't have musical juggernauts like that any more.
Same age too
I was doing a workout today and put my iPod on some Gord’s Gold CD and just breezed throug the hour! The man is great!!
@@brucknerian9664 John Denver a nother great
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald is one of the few songs that move me to my soul. I live on Lake Erie, but whenever this song comes on I'm overwhelmed by a feeling of sorrow and reverence I've never felt before in my life.
Probably now more than ever since he just passed on....
The Great Lakes are so dangerous and wicked especially during a storm. I’ve seen those big ore ships on Lake Michigan headed to steel mills in Gary, Indiana and the brave men that pilot them.
I'm 66 years young. and when I hear that sad song , I put myself in the shoes of those lost souls.and the tears start to fall..it takes brave people to do that jib of being on the high seas.. no matter how big the ship, mother nature will always make it seem small.
I live in southern Arizona and this song has the same effect on me.
@@markconrad4160 I'm 64 and that is one of the very few songs that can bring a tear to my eye.
Such magical storytelling in either prose or music is so rare.
Cheers Gordon!😢🥂😭
Bob Dylan,John Denver, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, all different, and all could put lifes paintings into a 3 minute visions coming out of my radio...my songwriters Mount Rushmore. RIP Gordon.
My fav singers! Saw Gordon in concert 2x as well as JD and Bob Dylan! I would also include cat stevens as a fantastic writer and singer as well! Singers like these are so few and far between, Gordon's music lives on now and forever...
You might like James McMurtry.....
All are my favorite :)
and Jim Croce, James Taylor
You created a good picture with your words.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?" A poet extraordinaire.
I absolutely Love his music!
Life is just a flash in the pan, and we are but a vapor...
Does anyone know, where Marie Osmond goes, when she Queefs and disappears, in a Vapor?
I have fallen and i can't reach my keg Congratulations, you have won the RUclips stupid comment of the year award. Way to go buddy.
😢
Gordon Lightfoot is an absolute treasure to the human race. What a wonderful singer and song writter.
Absolutely agree with you wholeheartedly ... 🎶😊❤️💕
@@nedcassley5169 Really Ned , did you sleep better the night you found a mistype on RUclips and called the guy out. Did you brag about it at work the next morning? Here I'll mistype teh so you can do it again. And thank you so much for scouring these pages looking for typos.
@@rikster66jan Did you cry yourself to sleep?
Ever go to his concerts?? You can here a pin drop. Nobody ever since or before can equal Gordon. Been following him since 1970…..my longest music hero.❤️❤️
ruclips.net/video/nu6fhmcqVE0/видео.html
It's easy to see why Canadians are so proud of him. He seemed to conjure all the best of his country. His voice is so damn evocative....haunting. From a nation with less people than California came this monster talent. Canadians are a good and decent people.
Were. Sadly.
“Song for a Winter’s Night”……there are no words to describe its beauty.
Song for a Winter's Night is also Anne Murray's favorite Lightfoot song.
Yep
When ever I hear this song it reminds me of my late Michigan born wife who brought me to this beautiful state to live.
The song, the cabin in the woods, the snow, the lamp on the table. What a beautiful song for the mind.
Red Shea was one of the most overlooked and under appreciated finger picking guitarists. He added a lot to Lightfoot's fantastic songs
He still is
Red Shea was appreciated amongst Canadian folkies.
Absolutely ! Is that a young Rick Haynes on bass , or someone else??
Did Red Shea ever make any recordings. What an amazing guitarist!
@@captainkoo That's Rick.
So sad he's gone. Such a talented songwriter, with a fantastic voice. when I hear "If You Could Read My Mind" it still makes me feel like crying. Such soulful, truthful feeling. What a contribution he has made to music! RIP, Mr. Lightfoot. May you be in light.
I Cry
Everytime
I Listen to Him 🎤Sing.
E v e r y song of his gets to my soul.🌌🌠
That song has a special significantce to me in the history of my life.
One of my very favorites too. Pussywillows and cattails is another.
@@raymondmcisaac893
Yes a mystical , organic Song ,
' pussywillows Cattails ' ...
My buddy called me up one day and said "You gotta come over and listen to an album I just bought." I did, and over the next 20 years or so we learned to sing and play every song on Gord's first 15 albums. Still remember most of'em too, but . . . . . . . well time got in the way.
He somehow always manages to touch the soul with all his music.
For sure!
I was saddened to hear of Gordon Lightfoot's passing on May 1, 2023. His golden voice has been silenced, but his musical legacy will live on. RIP Gordon Lightfoot.
Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce and John Denver were the 70's. You couldn't turn on a radio without hearing one of them.
The best of times.
They are talented singer and songwriters of quality. With only a guitar they could made a show and delight the audience!
That's the proper order. I never cared for the sloppy slobbering emotionally of sun shine on my shoulder" lightfoit made you feel the sunshine he didn't just go on about it.
Add journey to that pile n you got it
I was born in '95, and I'm Italian, but this kind of music is pretty much the only stuff I listen to (together with country legends and a few contemporary artists, like Colter Wall, to remain in Canada) and, thanks mainly to my father, what I always listened to from birth.
Oh how lucky people were to live during those years. Music, style, clothing, cars...I'm sure the 70s had their big downsides, and yet I know they would be my first destination if I had a time machine
I saw Gordon Lightfoot in Greensboro NC in February 2020 right before the COVID lockdowns He was 82 years old and for 90 minutes plus went from one great song to the next. Great show and a very funny and warm human being. One of the greatest singer songwriters ever.
I'm so jealous. I love him so much. Such a great tone. Beautuful. His poetry brings me to my knees. I saw a recent documentary and he sounds great. A true legend. Canada's best export.❤🇨🇦❤🇺🇲❤
@@dinahlee3793 I have loved Gordon Lightfoot since i was a little boy. What was the name of the documentary you watched?
@@wonderrob3225 I'm not Dinah but she prob means ruclips.net/video/Ftmy3xjup8c/видео.html It's streaming on Prime Video, in the US at least
@@cyaneyes79 THANK YOU ! i just found it on Prime !
I saw him in 2009. He reminds me of Jim Croce. They are both great. I believe they were so similar in their styles.
May 2nd, 2023 - 2:56AM EST - RIP to the one of best song writers in music history. His guitar playing was immaculate and his words were perfect. Like John Bonham, there will never be another Gordon Lightfoot. ❤💔❤️ I saw you three times in concert and I remember every moment. You broke your arm in a fall in Aug of 2021 and still showed up to play your songs for us on Dec 6th, 2021. RIP 💔
I found you passed away about four hours ago - listened to about ten of your songs and cried for an hour.
Gordon was a treasure to music history, an immaculate guitar player and brilliant lyricist ! ❤
I always was soothed by the sound of his voice and music and the poetry of the lyrics. Such a loss for all the fans who loved and will continue to love this man’s music.
When I am disappointed at the state of affairs, and of remembering I was once a very proud Canadian... I listen to this man ....he is the voice that restores my faith that all will be well.....
Canada is still the best country in the world. Don't let them tell you otherwise, make you angry, and forget to enjoy your life. Gordon will help you, as you say! Welcome back.
@@ecstaticist not if you don't like cold and snow.
@@carbonking53 Canadian winter builds character, anybody can live in Hawaii!
So sorry about Trudeau....
No pretense, no self hype. Straight-up, no chaser. Not many acts today match classic Gordon Lightfoot
Yes,you said it right. Absolutely the best singer songwriter ever.
. I just love his work, and have since 1969.
In my humble opinion, he's the only singer-songwriter who can hold a candle to Paul Simon, and he holds a huge candle. Paul sometimes holds the candle, actually.
@@belascialoja4812 Yes, Bela. Paul Simon wrote a lot of good poetry set to memorable music. Mostly early on. Then, after financial success, he got a little lazy, too political, full of self-importance. Affected his creativity. Mr. Lightfoot kept his nose to the creative grindstone, producing new works, all the while maintaining a busy tour schedule. So I think overall more faithful to his fans and to his craft.
Bingo!
When I discovered Gordon Lightfoot in the 70s, I couldn't stop listening to his captivating musical accounts. Over 50 years later, I still have the same mesmerization. There's hardly any musicians I can say that about.
Edmond Fitzgerald
Red Shea was so amazing. He never once looked at his fretboard and yet played fantastic backup licks.
We need music like this today.
We have it. Here it is. The music will live forever.
'If You Could Read My Mind' is a simple song, yet among the most beautiful ever written. That is true genius.
I remember the first time I heard that song on the radio. I fell in love with both the song and Lightfoot right then. It’s still my favorite of all of his songs. He has the most beautiful voice. You can’t tell that I love Gordon Lightfoot can you?
@@monicacall7532 My exact sentiment... Gordon Lightfoot became my favourite singer and If You Could Read My Mind my favourite singer the first time I was aware of the song
Agreed!!!!
It is a true work of art and poetry.
I walk away like a movie star, who gets burned in a three way script. There are no words for this guy. He's beyond brilliant. And even the great Bob Dylan agrees, now that's the ultimate compliment.
Rest in peace Gordon
You made my world a better place because you were in it.
Gordon Lightfoot...The man with the golden voice. I'm always in the mood to hear Mr. Lightfoot sing, and especially "If You Could Read My Mind". What a masterpiece! Gordon was the best thing to come out of Canada since Ginger Ale.🙂
AND for me, especially Saturday Clothes (which I just discovered in this video) If You Could Read My Mind and Beautiful. 🥰
Such a very sad time in his life , upon writing that song. His marriage had ended.... you van almost see the tears in his eyes when he sings it and grits his teeth to keep his composure. Many can absolutely relate to his feelings in this song. . It was a great healing process for Gordon. Thank you for your, in comment. 🕯
Often backed by only a bass and acoustic guitar, Gordon just played acoustic and sang. No gimmicks, special effects. autotune. Kept us entertained with his songs done simply and purely. Who else can do that for an entire concert?
I was blessed to have seen one of his shows in Ohio a few years ago. His voice may not have been what it was, but he gave us a great show, and you could tell he loved playing for us. That means so much to an audience.
Music was actually musical in the 1990s and before. What a concept.
He’s still doing it.
That had always been normal.
Just in the early days. In my opinion he was at his best in late 70's early 80s
My Dad loves to tell the story about taking my Mom on a date to a Gordon Lightfoot show at a dinner club in Los Angeles but only able to afford the cheap seats in the back...but we’re also immediately adjacent to the man himself when he took breaks throughout the live broadcast. 🤗💕
Many commenting mention the chills induced by Gordon's words, style, musicianship.....everything about him. Yes, nothing has changed and the chills are still there from when I first heard him in the 80's as a teen who was massively into heavy metal (and played guitar, bass, and also piano), however, it all came to a cold stand-still when I heard many of Gordon's songs at that time. Now, at the age of 54, I'll pass on the heavy metal and what remains is my forever love of GL, his songs, lyrics, humility, influence, and legend.
Gordon Lightfoot is a legend. He is in a special category, an incredible song writer and performer of so much amazing music.
“You can’t jump a jet plane, like you can a freight train.” This line always got to my mom. Every time I hear this song, I’m brought back to her.
I love that line too. So many genious lines throughout his huge repertoire
Lightfoot connects so many of us Gen-X Canadians to our parents, if we lived in a musical household, that is.
I remember thumbing through the mountains of B.C. and hearing this song. Gordon is always on today when I’m driving in the mountains of Alberta or B.C.
@@TheRelger Same
Looking at Gordon's face during this performance you can see the laser focus on his craft. Never misses a beat and never a slip. The talent he possesses is such a God given miracle.
And practice
It's not "god given". He worked his ass off to get there.
Sad, sad day today of the passing of Gordon yesterday. Such a great and beloved talent of millions worldwide. Saw him for the 4th time in concert 2 years ago. Thank you Gordon. Rest now…you are forever in our minds and hearts❤
I believe Gordon Lightfoot (stunning name BTW- sounds like some medieval lord) has left the neural pathways of his music permanently etched in my brain and my heart expanded with love and universal connection. Such a HUGE talent!!!!
Gordon Lightfoot was the greatest balladeer this world ever had the pleasure of knowing! God bless you brother!!!
Canadian railroad trilogy..... truly a beautiful work of art.
Migrated to Canada 50 years ago from England, nothing makes me more proud to be Candian than the Trilogy sung by Lightfoot
It is a masterpiece although Sit Down Young Stranger always touches a nerve.
My favourite Gordy tune
I used to lie on the floor in front of the stereo and put his album on. I'd close my eyes and drift away as he sang to me.
I did the same.
(The) old stereos were awesome!!!! Vinyl is returning(....).
@@jruffino12 😊
@@cristagriffin5562 Yes they were awesome. What goes around comes around!
Unquestionably one of the most gifted musicians to have ever graced this planet and just happened to have a perfect voice on top of all that talent
R I P Gordon Lightfoot. The world has lost an incredible man and artist.
Time is cruel. Most of us become dust and fade away, leaving the faintest footprint on the world. Gordon Lightfoot will never fade away. His songs have put him in the human record for all time. His songs will always find people when they need them the most. The melancholy and the loss in his music, the simple feeling of breathing in life through pictures he paints with his words, they all make our lives better and will for generations to come.
Gordon held the heart and soul of those days... with a message and wink to tomorrow 🎶🎶🎶👌✔️😎🔥
After all these years , he still gets to me ! One of the best ever . Got me through some hard times .
Good (and) unique voice. (I) love (the) mellow sounds!!!! (I) used (to) listen (to) (his) albums in (the) 70's, (mostly). (I) just googled (his) music (on) u-tube tonight.
Gordon stuck it out to the end in the most troubling of difficult times with such soothing melodies...He loved us and we loved him.
Rip Sir and thank you!
I've seen Lightfoot 27 times live. I have an original music score penned by him. Recorded, but never published and released.
This is an awesome frigging clip! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'm jealous
He is one of the few artists whose lyrics were always audibly understandable to me.
Absolutely. I've always appreciated that about him..not to mention his genius lyrics and superb voice
@@barbaragilbert8841And guitar playing.
@@barbaragilbert8841 Gordon enunciated beautifully, a true craftsman with all the aspects of his music.
I remember as a kid 1965 at the age of 14, I hitch hiked to Toronto to hear him play. Montreal to Toronto and back before my parents knew I was gone. I had started collecting his music at age 11 and to this day I still follow him.
Sounds like the Carefree HWY, to me. ⚠️
Is absence (of) hitch-hiking (these days) part (of) (a) conspiracy against (the) poor(?)
I have been a fan of Gordon Lightfoot since the sixties. I 've listened to him live twice at Massey Hall in Toronto - I love his songs and music!
Those were great days. Nowadays when I say I hitchhiked to the east coast people think I am a criminal! I guess there was more trust back then.
The best balladeer Canada ever produced! Gordon passed but left his beautiful music for generations to come. My favorite clip here is Song for a Winter's Night. He casts a musical spell on his young audience.
If God had a singing angel, Gordon Lightfoot would be it !! His music is nothing less than an inspiration by God him self !! Very few people are blessed with that much talent and dedication to his music as Gordon Lightfoot !! As we listen to his stories behind the music That set the mood that take us to a special place and moment !!
Every time you listen to his songs is like the first time you Heard it !! You Never Ever get tired of listening to his Music over and over !!
I’ve been blessed to see Gordon Lightfoot in person as well as listen to his music for over 60 years I could not ask for a greater gift, than his music has provided me all of these years !!! SFJ ❤
Easily one of the greatest songwriters and singers of our time. A true Canadian Icon and a fantastic performer. Few are as good as he and none will ever surpass him.
Easy to say that in this era of canned garbage, unknown talent is wasted on video games and cell phones.
I loved his voice when I first heard it forty years ago. I love him more now. A poet and great, moving voice
Well said. 👍
That’s insane! Gordon is indeed a real talent, but in no way does he approach Dylan’s genius as a songwriter, not even close.
@@DBEdwards Like you I have always loved his voice. Unfortunately it's not so good now :(
The man is a true poet who also happens to compose great melodies. A true talent - with very few equals found in performers today.
It doesnt rhyme w crap!
Lest we forget those vocals that go down like a fine cognac. Gord is a true triple-threat.
@@pibarrante6901 Keep listening.
john hiatt
When you look in the Dictionary under Singer/Songwriter you'll see a picture of Gordon LIghtfoot.
The CD "Gords Gold" is the one that does it for me. If it's possible to wear out a CD I think I've come close. What a gifted person and amazing backup musicians. Helped me through some tough times. Saw him in person in Concord, New Hampshire some years ago. Peace and beauty abound in his music. Thank you Gordon Lightfoot for making the world a better place.
Gord's Gold is the only LP I have ever bought twice because I wore the first copy out.
I could not afford many albums but I bought Gord's Gold !
I wish I had seen him live. Friends have reported through the years that he absolutely delivered the goods, a consummate professional, and I hear that in this video…❤️ “If You Could Read My Mind” is a love song for all time, beautifully written and sung, and filled with a lingering and uneasy sorrow that cannot be explained away. I remember hearing it on AM radio as a kid, finding it so haunting and wondering if the experience it described was something I might eventually go through. Lo and behold…you know how it is🙄😂 But hey, how the hell else are you ever going to write a convincing tragic love song?
I get chills hearing The Edmund Fitzgerald(Wreck of) I'm originally from Maumee Ohio and my dad was a shipbuilder working in Toledo. I was nine or ten when the fitz sank... Gordon Lightfoot did a great service to the families to keep the memories of the lost in our minds.... One of many of his great songs!
So do I. Edmund Fitzgerald and Seven Islands.
... although my uncle was on the Lakers back then and I thought my aunt was going to go around the twist with the constant reminders to worry every single time she turned on the radio -
It's a tough song to listen to. It's too real. Absolutely gut wrenching.
I agree. Poetic imagery. I wonder why nobody has ever thought to use the story for a big-screen movie, like The Perfect Storm. Maybe the families would object.
I amEnglsh but so captivated by what was called folk music back in the later1960S,the truth was told us and during the70s too but only by fearless singer-song- writers such as MR.Lightfoot,he was indeed born to sing his songs to us all.. am-in my early70s now but people like him still inspire me so much..
My favorite singer. He is one of those singers who has never penned a bad song in his entire life.. Pure talent. Great Storyteller with song 💞
I would LOVE to hear his opinion on today's crappy music. I mean writing a hit song today is soooo easy. You write down all the curse words you know and say them as music plays behind you ! Voila ! a Hit song ! Ask Cardi B and Nikki Minaj
Gordon Lightfoot
on Justin Bieber and Today's Music Industry: ruclips.net/video/pw4e6R15VIc/видео.html
@@ManlyMan35 As much as I respect Gord, it's obvious in his judgement that he's lost the ear on today's crap. He loves whatever is on the radio these days, which I find extremely concerning. I don't think he knows that mainstream music is basically the antithesis to what his music is intended to project. I'm pretty frightened by the thought of people that listen to music with their eyes and how the person is, instead of the actual music. It's a frightening time to be in the music industry.
You never get to hear the bad songs that great songwriters write. They scrunch em up and toss them in the waste bin!
His music and voice are perfect. The songs are ageless. And big ups to his former Guitarist Red Shea who passed in 2008 RIP
I heard him the first time in 1964 and he impressed me as one of the very best folk singers ever. A modern day Hank Williams. Just Awesome.
I know I’m a hardcore fan when I know the words to 99% of these amazing songs😊❤️.
…. It’s because you’ve listened to these songs over and over and over again! 🎧🎵🎶🎼🎸
When I saw Gordon in concert last summer, there was one or two songs I didn't know while the friend I accompanied only knew one, Edmund Fitzgerald. She claimed to be a lifetime fan.
What a talent. I had forgotten how many of his songs were the background music of my youth when we all sought a better world. I only heard him live once, and it was such a wonderful experience. He is a gift to the ages.
I am humbled by your public appreciation for my work. please kindly message me now on Hangout:gordonlightfoot.connects@gmail.com
Both my father & I share his name...he was in the foreground of my youth.
Even as a child, I was a fan, but, If You Could Read My Mind, forever sealed the deal...it still holds me in it's relentless grasp.
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I saw Gordon tonight live in Collingswood,NJ. He is not the young man in these videos anymore but I was thrilled to see him live and in person doing the thing he has done for over 50 years. I was honored to be in his presence while he sang some of my favorite songs. Unforgettable!
I saw him a few years ago in California. He opened the show with the Mark Twain line “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated!” He told the story of how he was driving in his car when he heard on the news he’d died. Imagine that! I’ve been a fan since the 70’s, and to finally have seen and heard him in person was freaking awesome! His music will live on for many reasons, one of them being he’s one of the best, if not the best, singer/songwriters ever! RIP, Gord!
We lost one of the great musical communicators, someone who could tell a story like few before him. Some people are born to do something specific and Gordon Lightfoot was meant to be a great singer/songwriter who could entertain and teach us something about life at the same time.
The word "legend" doesn't do Gordon Lightfoot justice. I know his health has been poor, so hoping this finds him well.
I'm an old Carolina soul...but Gordon Lightfoot's songs never grew old.. and pictured an honest life...every verse was a rendition of the human condition...crisp and clean...an enchanting Canadian dream...Southern Cal never ruined Gordon's sound.
Absolutely beautiful songs ... 🎶😊❤️💕
I still treasure the KEtel recording ." GORDON lightfoot sings every song ever written."
I Have Absolutely Been in Love With Gordon Ligktfoot Since The Early 1970's. I Was Lucky Enough to Seen Him In 6 Different Concerts, Throughout Michigan. I Was Devastated When I Heard He Had Passed. Thanks So Much For This Beautiful Tribute To This Wonderful Legend. R.I.P. 💔💔💔 Thank You Gordon For All The Many, Many Years of Beautiful, Meaningful , Serene Music to My Life! ❤❤❤
Big takeaway for me from these clips is the behavior of the audience. No jumping around and screaming. Just quiet realization they are witnessing greatness. It would be disrespectful to interrupt. Besides you don't want to miss one word or one finger pick or strum.
".. Like a movie star that gets burned in a three-way script..." (If You Could Read My Mind) Sorry, I've not yet found a better conveyance of sadness; somehow kept at-bay; intact; yet done so well. He really is a ghost you cannot see, in a sense... And that is why I love him.
no one could hold a candle to Gordon LIghtfoot's music and talent. He was one of the one of kind. And the man was drop dead gorgeous.
I will second that!
Ditto Ditto ♥️♥️♥️🎶🎶🎶
I was introduced to Gordon Lightfoot over 50 years ago by a lady friend whom I loved dearly.
She is gone now but every time I hear one of Mr. Lightfoot's songs she is with me again.
A beautiful permanent live remembrance of one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever.
I am a 65 yo guitarist and singer and Gordon Lightfoot shaped everything I play. I play a lot of Bluegrass these days but always come back to songs like Summer Side of Life, Pony Man, Pussywillows Cattails, Song for a Winter's Night, Talking in Your Sleep, Home from the Forest, Does Your Mother Know, and many others that I play less frequently. Thank you Mr. Lightfoot for your unpretentious genius.
Ditto. I'm 74 and played his ballads for nearly 50 yrs. He is the best of the best as a songwriter and performer of his own music.
Saw Gordon Lightfoot twice in Concert . Got to shake his hand and we talked awhile. A humble, nice, down to earth and a genuine human being!!!
Sure is! A fantastic man, spoke to him on the Jim Bohannon show as he was a guest.
Always been a big fan of Gordon Lightfoot. He’s was a true Canadian legend who never abandoned his country for the bright lights of LA or NYC. I attended many of his concerts at Massey Hall in Toronto. I remember his concerts were always in March and getting tickets was challenging as they sold out fast but I would buy an obstructed view pole seat because I just had to see him perform when he was at Massey. I listen to his music almost every day, it’s timeless and have several of his albums and now I have his music downloaded on all my devices. Rest in Peace Gordon, you will be truly missed. Canada won’t be the same without you. God Bless! 🥰
What a singer, what a writer, and what a guitarist. That strumming is not easy. His Canadian Railroad Trilogy is IMHO one of the greatest folk songs every written. Thanks for uploading this!
My wife and I saw him live in Charlotte, NC. I always loved his music and his band. Rest in Peace Gordon Lightfoot!!
I started listening to Gordon Lightfoot when I was in my teens. Now, in my 60's, the joy his music brings me is just as real. His lyrics display a poetic genius and an understanding of the human heart like no other.
I only had the pleasure of attending a Gordon Lightfoot concert once. It was in 76, if I remember correctly, being 18 at the time and still remember the feeling that I had watching him. He has always hit my heart! May he rest in peace and sing with the angels!
I remember the exact moment I heard Gordon and fell in love with his music. Now 50 years later I own several guitars and love playing his music. I saw him in concert in Kansas City in 1990 and it was a wonderful time. I'll miss him dearly. No matter how bad a day the world had you could come home, turn down the lights, and listen to Gordon and somehow the world became a gentler happier place.
Gordon Lightfoot lit the flame inside of me to become a songwriter, singer, guitarist and performer. I had to do ALL FOUR striving for the high bar he set. Granted, I fell far short. Still, I achieved exponentially more than I could have dreamed of without his example (as well as Rick, Red and Terry). Thousands of hours playing, singing, writing, and performing. I do not regret one second. I’ve met him, Rick and the late great Terry Clements several times. They were always hospitable. I stayed out of the way to watch. The attention to tuning. Never taking a performance for granted. Having “nerves” despite decades of brilliant performances to adoring audiences. My words are insufficient to express my gratitude. So, every time I play, write, record or perform I think of his example: be in tune, stay with the tempo, be present to the song and the audience, give them everything you have and then work to be even better the next time.
Thank you. Sir Gordon Lightfoot ,yes he should be Knighted, The best of what was and, will never be again. A true treasure and gentleman. We have lost the ability to recognize honest talent and jewelry of integrity. Gordon Lightfoot represents the best of prose and poetry that sums up the collective pain and beauty of human experience.
I agree 1000%!
The Awakening Heard Well put! I’ve seen him 4 times, in Denver 1977, LA 1979, Modesto 2013, Portland OR 2015. He will turn 81 on 11/17, still touring.... His youngest Meredith Moon Lightfoot sings and plays guitar and banjo. Lots of RUclips videos of her. 🙏🏻🍁🎃
"when the old knight road he was not afraid to bleed
If I should shoulder such a task tis more than I should need
But from my drift of song shall come some of that spirit there
Through the woodland through the Valley ..........." Lightfoot
Canadians don't get Knighthoods. Gordon is, however, a Companion of the Order of Canada - at least as good, if not better.
The Awakening Heard Wow. Well stated 👏🏻
This amazing entertainer, passed away yesterday. Another legendary voice is gone to Heaven.
We keep losing them... I just don't know who will be able to have the same impact.. I hope Billy Stings.. he's got great potential
As a kid, I can remember walking into the kitchen and my parents were dancing, well, my father was holding my mother and they were swaying a bit. Beautiful, was the song that they were dancing to. 63 years for them. Still at it those two. Rest in peace Mr. Lightfoot. Thank you.
He stands the test of time .. Love these songs from an era sadly gone. Yet in my view Lightfoot remains the soul of Canada.
Gordon and Jim Croce are the two best ever!!!!
Yes...Jim Croce, "Time In A Bottle", Photographs and Memories, Operator, I'll Have To Say I Love You..., I Got A Name; and others rank up there with Gordon. I always wondered what he would have written...if.... However, I still think on a purely poetic basis, no one writes better lines than Gordon.
memnok magee Considering Jim died very young, his talents and legacy were cut very, Short.
Dean R. Johansen I agree, on Jim. I have listened to Gordon and revered him for decades, and if Jim Croce hadn't left this world, when he did, I believe there would have been many more gems written and sung, by him.
Don't put Croce in Gordon's league
Jim Croce is " up there " with Gordon . I wouldn't count Paul Simon out either !
Gord is one of my all time song writing and performing favorites , Jim Croce could write novelty songs as well as gripping love songs .
I just want to cry when I hear this song. It takes me back to being young and all my family, Mom, Dad, and all my siblings still being alive. God how I miss all of them. ❤❤❤
I had just turned 14 years old when I first heard of Gordon on my little transistor radio. At the time I was transitioning from grade school to HS. I knew very few. It was tough enough age for many not just me. But when I first heard “If You Could Read My Mind” the lyrics and music captivated me. It melted me. I would go to bed with that transistor playing beneath my pillow and for about a week or so the station would play that song within the same 15 minutes or so every night. It was my lullaby😊. I never forgot that and have been ever connected to Gordon since then. My wife and I have listened to GL together since 1976. He has been our go to therapeutic minstrel. Thank you Gordon. RIP Sir. You are our greatest folk hero.
you are talking about my transistor, pillow, radio station playing If You Could Read My Mind within the same time period every night!!!(CKLW Windsor)
I grew up with and loved the music of Gordon Lightfoot. What a supreme talent. Not only is Gordon getting old but so am I, hence the feelings of gratitude, joy and sadness.
saw him the first time in Reno....was right next to the stage, about15 feet from him, just to his right. He said, "We've got a new song. This is the first time we've played it in public." Edmund Fitzgerald...
@@randymeyer6482
He was born about an hour north of me in Orillia, Ontario.
I grew up in Toronto.
I bought and listened to his records since the mid 60's.
The "Edmund Fitzgerald" was probably the apex of his career. What a treat it must have been for you to hear him perform that gem live for the 1st time.
@@p.turtle2085 Go Go Round was the first of his songs I ever heard. Fell in love with his music right then. My all time favorite, and the best there has ever been. I drove through Orillia once, on a work trip...really nice little town. All the best to you.
Lightfoot was blessed early on with the incomparable "Red" Shea as accompanist on guitar. I loved to hear Red play.
Born in 1966. Thank God. Grew up with this stuff. Riding with my Dad in the 1972 Plymouth Fury III Station Wagon and my aunt in her 1969 AMC Javelin. The radio was one great song after another. God Bless.
RIP 2023. We've lost one of the greats but will treasure his music forever.
Only once in a lifetime does a gem like him come along!!! His music is timeless and full of the travails of ordinary people. He is the last true minstrel.
Such pessimism! I certainly hope music is not dead and gone.
Not said to take away from your comment. It is going to be a long time to match his talent.
"But the feelings gone, and I just can't get it back"; He's a poet with an artist's pick.
Incomparable. A true folk singer. His lyrics are amazing. One of Gods gifts to us all.
Was introduced to Gordon as a teenager listening to radio - his lyrics were beyond description & meaning to my searching soul at that time & still resonate today for me in my 60s now. Adored him then & adore him now. Can’t believe he’s gone - Heaven needed him back. Your legacy will live on here forever Gordon ❤❤
Gordon Lightfoot - one of the best voices of all time.