“If you could read my mind” and “Edmund Fitzgerald” are my favorites. I loved him and Anne Murray, both from Canada. And Celine Dion, who doesn’t love “My Heart Will Go On”? It’s one of my favorite songs of all time.
“Edmund Fitzgerald” is the only piece of music I know of with just one musical phrase—it just repeats, over and over, ending in a single high note or a single low note—even the instrumental bridge . .
Our favorite Gordon Lightfoot song by far. After we’d been dating a while it hit me that THAT was “our song”, LOL since I thought of him every time I heard it and I still do. We even have a print of the Fitz in our living room.
I’ve seen a few articles since Gordon’s death about his best songs, and “Beautiful” was notably (for me) absent from all of them. I’m with Janis in loving that song. But I like “Edmund Fitzgerald” as well.
Arlo should visit the Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is on a continuous loop. I don’t know how the employees stand it.
Gordon Lightfoot will definitely be missed, along with Leonard Cohen who passed a while back. I think I’ll play “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Hallelujah” later on today.
We saw Gordon in concert just a few months before his passing. Time had taken a toll on his voice, but it couldn’t touch his spirit. For my money, one of his greatest songs is also one of his least noticed: “Wherefores and Whys.” You can check it out on YouTube, but be careful: they get the title slightly wrong.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy! Song for a Winters Night! Softly She Comes!The list just goes on and on. The song Beautiful was the inspiration for my decades long love affair with the acoustic guitar. He was a treasure for sure!Bob Dylan said of Gordon’s music, “I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like, Every song of his, it’s like I wish it would go on forever.” RIP
He was such a masterful storyteller there are too many songs to choose as a favorite. I find it hard to choose but I guess one does stand out to me among all the others… Affair on 8th Avenue. The lyrics could be made into a movie.
The perfume that she wore was from some little store
On the down side of town
But it lingered on long after she’d gone
I remember it well
And our fingers entwined like ribbons of light
And we came through a doorway somewhere in the night
Don’t forget Paul Anka. He had a few hits as they say.
I loved Gordon Lightfoot but I couldn’t stand Edmund Fitzgerald. They kept playing it over and over and over and over and over I got so sick of it. I don’t know how he kept playing it in concert. I don’t know how any artist keeps playing songs over and over. I guess they just think of pleasing their audience.
I saw him in concert in the early 1970s at what is now called David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. My “house plan” (sort of sorority) at college would have a monthly contest and I tended to win a lot of them (so many, I stopped saying I won when I had all the questions answered) and I won tickets to his concert. Since I had not yet started dating my husband I went with my younger sister (by 5 years) – she has no memory of going to the concert.
It was our first concert without our parents -it was a wonderful concert.
Da'Dad 12 months ago
I did like the Edmund Fitzgerald but I think the wife didn’t care for the way he sang Detroit.
C 12 months ago
When the gales of November came early
seismic-2 Premium Member 12 months ago
“Speaking of Canadian singer-songwriters”? Were they? That’s sort of a weird conversation they somehow started up.
SpacedInvader Premium Member 12 months ago
“Sundown” and “Early Morning Rain” are two I particularly like. But, then he was a very prolific writer.
Dirty Dragon 12 months ago
No place for one maritime disaster?
There’s got to be a morning after, and my heart will go on.
Odin 12 months ago
Saw him a few years ago. A fairly small room, we were seated right next to the stage. Sat my beer on the stage.
Macushlalondra 12 months ago
“If you could read my mind” and “Edmund Fitzgerald” are my favorites. I loved him and Anne Murray, both from Canada. And Celine Dion, who doesn’t love “My Heart Will Go On”? It’s one of my favorite songs of all time.
mischugenah 12 months ago
My favorite is Song for a Winter’s Night.
Sephten 12 months ago
Canadian Railroad Trilogy. I first heard it in a folk club in England nearly fifty years ago.
P-B 12 months ago
“Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?”
The Orange Mailman 12 months ago
Janis seems miffed that Arlo changed the subject from romance to wreck so perhaps Arlo could follow up with:
She’s been looking like a queen in a sailor’s dream
And she don’t always say what she really means
snailgate 12 months ago
I easily recall my own recent conversations about Listen to the Hummingbird, Hallelujah, and Leonard Cohen.
ScullyUFO 12 months ago
Are the Great Lakes “maritime”?
ddjg 12 months ago
“Edmund Fitzgerald” is the only piece of music I know of with just one musical phrase—it just repeats, over and over, ending in a single high note or a single low note—even the instrumental bridge . .
maxiesmom2 Premium Member 12 months ago
Our favorite Gordon Lightfoot song by far. After we’d been dating a while it hit me that THAT was “our song”, LOL since I thought of him every time I heard it and I still do. We even have a print of the Fitz in our living room.
DawnQuinn1 12 months ago
TWO maritine disasters Arlo. On the “Sunday Concert” live album, he sings of the Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle"
[Traveler] Premium Member 12 months ago
When it’s time to break up a party, put on The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Works great.
[Traveler] Premium Member 12 months ago
And a wave hit the ship and they all drown like rats and their lungs filled up with lake water..
mhlon Premium Member 12 months ago
There’s also Burton C. of the Guess Who.
ahnk_2000 12 months ago
I’ve seen a few articles since Gordon’s death about his best songs, and “Beautiful” was notably (for me) absent from all of them. I’m with Janis in loving that song. But I like “Edmund Fitzgerald” as well.
mourdac Premium Member 12 months ago
At least no one has mentioned Rush, not my favorite rock band ….
Enoi 12 months ago
Arlo should visit the Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is on a continuous loop. I don’t know how the employees stand it.
RonMcCalip 12 months ago
“But my life, my love, and my lady… is the sea.”
KennethPrice 12 months ago
BTO
MuddyUSA Premium Member 12 months ago
Suddenly they have become boring!
ladykat 12 months ago
Gordon Lightfoot will definitely be missed, along with Leonard Cohen who passed a while back. I think I’ll play “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Hallelujah” later on today.
Meg: All Seriousness Aside 12 months ago
My intro to Lightfoot was Black Day in July .
Saddenedby Premium Member 12 months ago
time and songs move ever on until both fade in the mist of yesterday’s memories
jarvisloop 12 months ago
“I’m afraid it’s going to be like this from now on.”
Joseph Heller wrote “Closing Time” about the passing of the World War II generation. Now, we Boomers are facing our own closing time.
raybarb44 12 months ago
Edmond Fitzgerald was always a favorite, along with Sundown…..
Dave Zimny Premium Member 12 months ago
We saw Gordon in concert just a few months before his passing. Time had taken a toll on his voice, but it couldn’t touch his spirit. For my money, one of his greatest songs is also one of his least noticed: “Wherefores and Whys.” You can check it out on YouTube, but be careful: they get the title slightly wrong.
Tetonbil Premium Member 12 months ago
Canadian Railroad Trilogy! Song for a Winters Night! Softly She Comes!The list just goes on and on. The song Beautiful was the inspiration for my decades long love affair with the acoustic guitar. He was a treasure for sure!Bob Dylan said of Gordon’s music, “I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like, Every song of his, it’s like I wish it would go on forever.” RIP
paranormal 12 months ago
The bell rang thirty times for Gordon Lightfoot…
poppacapsmokeblower 12 months ago
Don’t forget the maritime disaster song from Gilligan’s Island.
KEA 12 months ago
I like Don Quixote. …and many others.
alexius23 12 months ago
I saw Lightfoot in concert twice…truly enjoyed both times
alexius23 12 months ago
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald has haunted me from the first time I heard the song.
Wendy Emlinger Premium Member 12 months ago
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a memorial song to those men lost when the ship went down. I dearly love that one. So beautiful.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault 12 months ago
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=2ahUKEwjK2ZiL4ov_AhUHfDABHbgDDEcQ8TV6BAgWEAI&usg=AOvVaw0VTJzWxrN8ZFOD4xbU2nov
BBYMRLCCOTNYouTube·Jan 16, 2010
eced52 12 months ago
Carefree Highway.
geneking7320 12 months ago
I think the ship was discovered a year or two from the release date of the song.
tiomax 12 months ago
He was such a masterful storyteller there are too many songs to choose as a favorite. I find it hard to choose but I guess one does stand out to me among all the others… Affair on 8th Avenue. The lyrics could be made into a movie.
The perfume that she wore was from some little store
On the down side of town
But it lingered on long after she’d gone
I remember it well
And our fingers entwined like ribbons of light
And we came through a doorway somewhere in the night
Her long flowing hair came softly undone
And it lay all around
And she brushed it down as I stood by her side
In the warmth of her love…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCCsk9BXGi0
rugeirn 12 months ago
“The mother of a miner’s child/Waits for me beside the kitchen door.” For me, possibly the most perfect song ever written.
Tina Rhea Premium Member 12 months ago
Pussywillows, cattails, soft winds and roses….
Ignatz Premium Member 12 months ago
Everybody knows the hits. But Don Quixote, The Watchman’s Gone, The Patriot’s Dream, Beautiful, Carefree Highway, etc.etc.etc. Gord was terrific.
ericclayton423 12 months ago
Get obscure and go Stan Rodgers with The Athens Queen.
Charliegirl Premium Member 12 months ago
I LOVE ‘Fitzgerald’ ….. sooo haunting.
The Pro from Dover 12 months ago
Don’t forget Paul Anka. He had a few hits as they say.
I loved Gordon Lightfoot but I couldn’t stand Edmund Fitzgerald. They kept playing it over and over and over and over and over I got so sick of it. I don’t know how he kept playing it in concert. I don’t know how any artist keeps playing songs over and over. I guess they just think of pleasing their audience.
lindz.coop Premium Member 12 months ago
“That’s What You Get For Loving Me….”
dmostroff 11 months ago
Gordon Lightfoot was great. RIP.
mafastore 11 months ago
I saw him in concert in the early 1970s at what is now called David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. My “house plan” (sort of sorority) at college would have a monthly contest and I tended to win a lot of them (so many, I stopped saying I won when I had all the questions answered) and I won tickets to his concert. Since I had not yet started dating my husband I went with my younger sister (by 5 years) – she has no memory of going to the concert.
It was our first concert without our parents -it was a wonderful concert.