Live In New York, March 8, 1987 "It's another song about being adrift. Lyrically, it's a very deep song; probably goes as deep as I can go. " - Gordon Lightfoot
Put me somewhere east of midnight West of the turnpike Anywhere I wander is where I'll take my rest As I lie down, toss some thoughts around Dreams I'm told will come true if you Believe in those who love you right now Sea of dreams I long for you Forget about the others This is my hike, you can come if you like To feel good, I would help you if I could But I am out here searching For the things that might have been I need no more reminders Not one love letter have I seen And that's a pretty good start The ocean is where lovers meet again Sea of dreams by all means Float me out of danger until then Forever amen. It's a long long hike We'll be leavin' early travelin' light That's alright Heaven will be ours tonight The road is paved with moonbeams There are faces that I knew They all came back to haunt me But that ain't fair to the folks like me and you It takes a bit of my heart Tonight I shall be watching from the shore Sea of dreams from now on Forget about all the others Back where the line forms Destination sea of storms By all means ever onward sea of dreams Put me somewhere east of midnight Along about daylight Anywhere I wander is where I'll take my rest If we could just lie down, love Toss some thoughts around It's a tough and a dirty long hike You can come if you like If we could just lie down, love Toss some thoughts around
Have loved Gordon Lightfoot since 1972 when I heard songs like "Mother of a Miners Child", "Old Dan's Records" and "Saturday's Clothes". A cousin played him for me and we would try to play along on guitar. His music and words are a part of me and I'm still loving listening to him.
I thought something was wrong with the comment section because it appears to be empty as I listen to this beautiful expressive song. How can this be? Have heard just about all GL's stuff, and this is among the best.
I absolutely agree. There are few Lightfoot fans out there who are very critical of this album as being over-produced. Most notably the song Anything For Love, which was a collaboration with Stephen Foster who wrote the music and Gordon the lyrics. I thought the album oozed sophistication yet still had that undeniable Lightfoot brand with songs such as I'll Tag Along, Stay Loose, Let It Ride. I must say that I love the acoustic version of East Of Midnight with Gordon's golden voice and his impeccable finger-picking. "It's a tough and a dirty long hike. You can come if you like."
I feel I should point out that Foster only produced "Anything for Love". The rest was done by Gord himself, and he has said that he considers it his best album. I prefer this version, but I think EoM is a wonderfully 'comfortable' album to listen to.
I agree. This live performance is so much better than the studio album. Just heard this for the first time today. The East of Midnight studio album has so many good songs but it is so damn over produced with too much noisy crap. If Gordon still had his awesome singing voice, I would love to hear the entire album remade to sound more like this.
On tour in the late 1980s-early 90s, Lightfoot would return alone after the intermission, the band still on break, and sit down with an acoustic, performing the title track and others. He'd say, "I like doing the East of Midnight songs this way." It's no doubt true, after Warner Bros. LA stuck him with David Foster on production in 1986. It didn't work out in the charts for Warner Bros. as they'd hoped, so Lightfoot got to produce his next few Warners CDs on his own.
So glad you put this on youtube - Thank you!! I saw Gordie perform this in Westbury, NY and loved the song. Was so disappointed when I bought the recording and it was so different with all the production effects.
I don't see anything wrong with the production effects; the saxophone solo in particular is wonderful; so is the electric guitar solo. All of them serve to heighten the lyrics of the song. Of course, I heard that version first, so my tastes tend to be biased in that direction.
Joshua Eden My experience was the same as Carter M described, just Gordon and his guitar. Now, instead of playing the tape with the "enhanced" version, I just listen to this youtube original version which takes me back to sitting in the audience at Westbury Music Fair and hearing Gordon perform this wonderful song. I have nothing against the David Foster produced version though but always prefer the original one.
Actually, Gordon himself produced the entire album and did most, if not all of the arrangements, with the exception of 'Anything for Love', for which he wrote the lyrics and David Foster wrote the music and arrangements. When heard with today's ears, East of Midnight does sound horribly overproduced. The reason why the album sounds the way it does is because Gord was looking for a way to remain musically and commercially relevant; folky guitar arrangements and low-key but otherwise moving and meaningful songs just weren't going to sell very well in a world that was awash in synthesizers and electronic drums. Considering that Gord has never been the hip, rocker type and has never really been conversant with producing harder-edged, rockier sounds, East of Midnight was quite an accomplishment for him. To paraphrase an old expression, 'you can take the boy out of folk music, but you can't take the folk music out of the boy.' Well, not completely. East of Midnight might have done much better if Warner Brothers had marketed it more aggressively.
Gordon’s D-18 Martin Guitar is either going through front of house mixer and/or his Fender Twin Reverb amp, or both, that gives this acoustic version it’s rich bass and treble. Lots of chord changes that half-step and whole step bass lines, very melodic and the voice in top form. Bravo!
What a great post! This is so much better than the album. Actually I first heard/saw this in concert with my good friend who commented about how old he looked. Poor Michael, gone now, but I know he'd accompany me if he was still around to see Gord this October. I'll never miss one of his concerts. Yeah, a rambling comment, but you get the picture.
The consensus is this live, accoustic version is superior, and I wholeheartedly agree. At 2:55 he sings "If we could...just...lie..down love...toss some thoughts around" and you realize the song is very special.
Thought i saw loves beauty within the garden light rarer than the flowers there In memories delight I was wont to seek her out with hastening advance before she fled the garden with just a fleeting glance pretty as a picture fecund and serene gentle as a mother goose inside a childish dream who could hope to win her will she always be just an apparition tempting me to see like a shrinking violet flitting like a lark Lovely as a lilly fading in the dark Echoes of all loveliness when her laughter came lord of all creation must i be so tame excited just to think on her nearly every time shower her with riches, with nickels and with dimes far from loves illusion then how could she beguile not like the old temptations Those arts of woman's wiles purge me of my selfishness and I will grit and grin melding all my golden days till tenderness begins seeing more than eyes could see at every passing glance Grant me for a moment love's fleeting true romance
Blame the 80's for the sound of the East of Midnight record. I agree those are some of Lightfoot's finest songs but it's obvious he tried to fit them into the sounds of the time (too much reverb, big drums, cheesy keyboard sounds etc.) however...I still listen to the original album because the songs are so damn good...
I agree, I don't like his arrangements at all. But it's a testament to Lightfoot's songwriting genius that one of his worst sounding albums contains some of his best songwriting.
Oddly enough no covers of East of Midnight appear on RUclips. When I was just a casual GL admirer, I wasn't aware of the tune. So you are right, either the song is off most's radar, or they don't wanna tackle it.
Rod, I think you are right here. I have tried this and I find it really difficult. It show just how skilled Gordon is on the guitar while singing. The song is just a wonderful floating daydream, unique really.
A very good live version of this fine song!
I love this song and version. Listening nearly every day!
Put me somewhere east of midnight
West of the turnpike
Anywhere I wander is where I'll take my rest
As I lie down, toss some thoughts around
Dreams I'm told will come true if you
Believe in those who love you right now
Sea of dreams I long for you
Forget about the others
This is my hike, you can come if you like
To feel good, I would help you if I could
But I am out here searching
For the things that might have been
I need no more reminders
Not one love letter have I seen
And that's a pretty good start
The ocean is where lovers meet again
Sea of dreams by all means
Float me out of danger until then
Forever amen.
It's a long long hike
We'll be leavin' early travelin' light
That's alright Heaven will be ours tonight
The road is paved with moonbeams
There are faces that I knew
They all came back to haunt me
But that ain't fair to the folks like me and you
It takes a bit of my heart
Tonight I shall be watching from the shore
Sea of dreams from now on
Forget about all the others
Back where the line forms
Destination sea of storms
By all means ever onward sea of dreams
Put me somewhere east of midnight
Along about daylight
Anywhere I wander is where I'll take my rest
If we could just lie down, love
Toss some thoughts around
It's a tough and a dirty long hike
You can come if you like
If we could just lie down, love
Toss some thoughts around
Have loved Gordon Lightfoot since 1972 when I heard songs like "Mother of a Miners Child", "Old Dan's Records" and "Saturday's Clothes". A cousin played him for me and we would try to play along on guitar. His music and words are a part of me and I'm still loving listening to him.
Wow his voice is good here!
I thought something was wrong with the comment section because it appears to be empty as I listen to this beautiful expressive song. How can this be? Have heard just about all GL's stuff, and this is among the best.
I kind of like this "scaled down" version, without all the production effects!
This album is superb and way underrated!
I absolutely agree. There are few Lightfoot fans out there who are very critical of this album as being over-produced. Most notably the song Anything For Love, which was a collaboration with Stephen Foster who wrote the music and Gordon the lyrics. I thought the album oozed sophistication yet still had that undeniable Lightfoot brand with songs such as I'll Tag Along, Stay Loose, Let It Ride. I must say that I love the acoustic version of East Of Midnight with Gordon's golden voice and his impeccable finger-picking.
"It's a tough and a dirty long hike. You can come if you like."
First time hearing this live here.....first got hooked on his music in 1966.
Thank you for all your great music and farewell.
Pure genius, lovely song.
Wow, a favorite of mine and this version is infinitely better than the album version (which I also do like)! Today is Christmas for me!!
I feel I should point out that Foster only produced "Anything for Love". The rest was done by Gord himself, and he has said that he considers it his best album.
I prefer this version, but I think EoM is a wonderfully 'comfortable' album to listen to.
I agree. This live performance is so much better than the studio album. Just heard this for the first time today. The East of Midnight studio album has so many good songs but it is so damn over produced with too much noisy crap. If Gordon still had his awesome singing voice, I would love to hear the entire album remade to sound more like this.
On tour in the late 1980s-early 90s, Lightfoot would return alone after the intermission, the band still on break, and sit down with an acoustic, performing the title track and others. He'd say, "I like doing the East of Midnight songs this way." It's no doubt true, after Warner Bros. LA stuck him with David Foster on production in 1986. It didn't work out in the charts for Warner Bros. as they'd hoped, so Lightfoot got to produce his next few Warners CDs on his own.
To be honest song was forgotten for a long time good to see more people enjoy
I love this song! Listening every day
i was at this show. It was one of Pete Fornatale's (WNEW FM) benefit events
So glad you put this on youtube - Thank you!! I saw Gordie perform this in Westbury, NY and loved the song. Was so disappointed when I bought the recording and it was so different with all the production effects.
I don't see anything wrong with the production effects; the saxophone solo in particular is wonderful; so is the electric guitar solo. All of them serve to heighten the lyrics of the song. Of course, I heard that version first, so my tastes tend to be biased in that direction.
Joshua Eden My experience was the same as Carter M described, just Gordon and his guitar. Now, instead of playing the tape with the "enhanced" version, I just listen to this youtube original version which takes me back to sitting in the audience at Westbury Music Fair and hearing Gordon perform this wonderful song. I have nothing against the David Foster produced version though but always prefer the original one.
Actually, Gordon himself produced the entire album and did most, if not all of the arrangements, with the exception of 'Anything for Love', for which he wrote the lyrics and David Foster wrote the music and arrangements. When heard with today's ears, East of Midnight does sound horribly overproduced.
The reason why the album sounds the way it does is because Gord was looking for a way to remain musically and commercially relevant; folky guitar arrangements and low-key but otherwise moving and meaningful songs just weren't going to sell very well in a world that was awash in synthesizers and electronic drums.
Considering that Gord has never been the hip, rocker type and has never really been conversant with producing harder-edged, rockier sounds, East of Midnight was quite an accomplishment for him. To paraphrase an old expression, 'you can take the boy out of folk music, but you can't take the folk music out of the boy.' Well, not completely.
East of Midnight might have done much better if Warner Brothers had marketed it more aggressively.
Carla Powers
Gordon’s D-18 Martin Guitar is either going through front of house mixer and/or his Fender Twin Reverb amp, or both, that gives this acoustic version it’s rich bass and treble. Lots of chord changes that half-step and whole step bass lines, very melodic and the voice in top form. Bravo!
Awesome!
What a great post! This is so much better than the album. Actually I first heard/saw this in concert with my good friend who commented about how old he looked. Poor Michael, gone now, but I know he'd accompany me if he was still around to see Gord this October. I'll never miss one of his concerts. Yeah, a rambling comment, but you get the picture.
Perfect shopping mall song
Was there a cd made of this live performance? It is a treasure. He sounds great![
Love this song
Just my opinion of course, but Gord should have recorded this as more of an acoustic arrangement like this-- So much better!
The consensus is this live, accoustic version is superior, and I wholeheartedly agree.
At 2:55 he sings "If we could...just...lie..down love...toss some thoughts around" and you realize the song is very special.
Agree Chuck
Yea too over produced.
Classic example of “less is often more!”
No way I love the album version
Thought i saw loves beauty within the garden light
rarer than the flowers there In memories delight
I was wont to seek her out with hastening advance
before she fled the garden
with just a fleeting glance
pretty as a picture
fecund and serene
gentle as a mother goose
inside a childish dream
who could hope to win her
will she always be
just an apparition tempting me to see
like a shrinking violet flitting like a lark
Lovely as a lilly fading in the dark
Echoes of all loveliness when her laughter came
lord of all creation must i be so tame
excited just to think on her
nearly every time
shower her with riches, with nickels and with dimes
far from loves illusion then how could she beguile
not like the old temptations
Those arts of woman's wiles
purge me of my selfishness
and I will grit and grin
melding all my golden days
till tenderness begins
seeing more than eyes could see
at every passing glance
Grant me for a moment
love's fleeting true romance
Very nice Patrick. Good to know you're still around.
❤️
His voice here Is best than the récord studio
Blame the 80's for the sound of the East of Midnight record.
I agree those are some of Lightfoot's finest songs but it's obvious he tried to fit them into the sounds of the time (too much reverb, big drums, cheesy keyboard sounds etc.) however...I still listen to the original album because the songs are so damn good...
WHFWorth1
This is actually my favorite Lightfoot song, but only this version. I don't like the arrangements on the studio version at all.
I agree, I don't like his arrangements at all. But it's a testament to Lightfoot's songwriting genius that one of his worst sounding albums contains some of his best songwriting.
Don't even think about doing a cover of this amateurs...good luck if you do.
Oddly enough no covers of East of Midnight appear on RUclips. When I was just a casual GL admirer, I wasn't aware of the tune.
So you are right, either the song is off most's radar, or they don't wanna tackle it.
Rod, I think you are right here. I have tried this and I find it really difficult. It show just how skilled Gordon is on the guitar while singing. The song is just a wonderful floating daydream, unique really.
Alan "A floating daydream" wow how perfect 💜🎶