Monday evening 5-1-23
Gordon Lightfoot died today. He wasn't my favorite but penned some mighty fine stuff. Thank you Canada.
Wednesday morning 5-4-23
Dropped his CD into the player to visit the memories and skipped ahead to my favorite on the disk:
âBeautifulâ At times I just don't know How you could be anything but beautiful I think that I was made for you And you were made for me
And I know that that I won't ever change Cause we've been friends Through rain or shine For such a long, long time
On this morning, this song wrenched open my heart and reduced me to tears. This morning I left the room to hide my pain and fear, to feign strength for my Melody. But she found my secret place, again. Through hot tears she said her love for me is always. I reminded her, she had me at hello. Through a desperate hug we sobbed a wordless goodbye.
Tomorrow morning we go to the cancer center to burn a twenty years demon. We rush to days of chemo and a stem cell transplant. Funny how we counted down the days. Please, no last days, these. Hers deserve days of grandchildren.
The same small town street saw us as kids but not until twenty years later did our stars align under a grown up sky. For 45 years, as a day, her beauty was as the first when she broke open my heart. We were made for each other and have been friends for such a long, long time. Oh, for the rain and the shine.
Gordon, on this morning you captured us in tears. May you go with a Lightfoot to rest with your fathers. If you see my Melody bid her homeward with my heart.
The beauty of your love shines through the pain. I am praying for you both.
Monday evening 5-1-23
Gordon Lightfoot died today. He wasn't my favorite but penned some mighty fine stuff. Thank you Canada.
Wednesday morning 5-4-23
Dropped his CD into the player to visit the memories and skipped ahead to my favorite on the disk:
âBeautifulâ At times I just don't know How you could be anything but beautiful I think that I was made for you And you were made for me
And I know that that I won't ever change Cause we've been friends Through rain or shine For such a long, long time
On this morning, this song wrenched open my heart and reduced me to tears. This morning I left the room to hide my pain and fear, to feign strength for my Melody. But she found my secret place, again. Through hot tears she said her love for me is always. I reminded her, she had me at hello. Through a desperate hug we sobbed a wordless goodbye.
Tomorrow morning we go to the cancer center to burn a twenty years demon. We rush to days of chemo and a stem cell transplant. Funny how we counted down the days. Please, no last days, these. Hers deserve days of grandchildren.
The same small town street saw us as kids but not until twenty years later did our stars align under a grown up sky. For 45 years, as a day, her beauty was as the first when she broke open my heart. We were made for each other and have been friends for such a long, long time. Oh, for the rain and the shine.
Gordon, on this morning you captured us in tears. May you go with a Lightfoot to rest with your fathers. If you see my Melody bid her homeward with my heart.
I recall reading an interview a woman journalist did with Gordon Lightfoot way back in the day. Somewhere in the 1970s I believe. He was arrogant, condescending, sexist.
I didn't think much of it at the time expecting some defensiveness from artists who were constantly in the limelight. I was not aware of his substance abuse issues.
Then he turned it around and he became this incredibly gracious, nice person to not only fellow musicians and song writers but to journalists and fans alike.
I watched him play outside during the beginning of the Covid outbreak online and thought how he looked tired, but still sounded good. To Gordon, your songs gave us mind journey imaginations as you sung.
I have always wondered why there isn't more covers of his song Sundown. It is such a perfection of a song. RIP Gordo
The song was so beautifully suited to his distinctive voice that it's hard to imagine others covering it well. It's also got a slower beat and the lyrics mix jealousy, desire, regret and hints of self-destruction. Sundown's an absolute classic that help define the 70s for me, but I don't who could work with it today. For some reason I associate it with Southern California and stuff that the Eagles did back then.
I read a little about Cathy Smith and her relationship with Lightfoot. Wow, Sundown's a very tidied-up version of that hot mess.
