Life is naturally full of ups and downs, and yesterday was a perfect example of this.
No sooner had I finished publishing my post on The Big Moon’s fun, vibrant and uplifting “Your Light” did I see a news segment announcing that Canadian guitarist and singer Tim Bachman (b. 1951), a founding member of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, a world-famous band from my city of Winnipeg, Manitoba had died. Then, near bedtime, I saw an news headline telling that Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Gordon Lightfoot (b. 1938) had also passed. He was and is a “national treasure,” as the Canadian-born musician Robbie Robertson (b. 1943) dubbed him.
It was a sad day for the Canadian music industry and fans who have listened to these two men’s music for many years. And, it’s alarming to think of all the many artists of the 1960s and ’70s from around the world who have crossed over from this existence in recent years, gifted people who created so much beauty and inspiration in their lives and are now gone.
Lightfoot was another standard in the “playlist” of my childhood home, popular with the whole family, and all his songs always take me back to that time. I remember his music as a steadying kind of influence, and a reliable friend in solitude.
A leading figure in Canadian folk, folk-rock and country music, Lightfoot is known for advancing the folk-pop sound of the ’60s and ’70s. And biographer Nicholas Jennings said of him, “His name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness.” Lightfoot’s 1970 hit “If You Could Read My Mind,” the lyrics of which were inspired by his divorce, speaks of that latter emotion (please see my post from two years ago on that song). It’s a beautiful and poignant piece, a favourite of Sweety’s and mine.
Jennings’ statement on the emotions Lightfoot wrote and sang of is represented so masterfully in his song, “Beautiful.” This morning I sat with the Apple Music playlist, Gordon Lightfoot Essentials, and this slow-tempo piece again captured my heart and soul with its pure, soft, gorgeous melody and sentiments on deep, abiding love.
“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 I won’t ever change
‘Cause we’ve been friends
Through rain or shine
For such a long, long time
Laughing eyes and smiling face
It seems so lucky just to have the right
Of telling you with all my might
You’re beautiful tonight
And I know that you will never stray
‘Cause you’ve been that way
From day to day
For such a long, long time
And when you hold me tight
How could life be anything but beautiful
I think that I was made for you
And you were made for me
And I know that I won’t ever change
‘Cause we’ve been friends
Through rain or shine
For such a long, long time
And I must say it means so much to me
To be the one who’s telling you
I’m telling you
That you’re beautiful”
“Beautiful,” by Gordon Lightfoot.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com.
“Beautiful” is the closing track on Lightfoot’s seventh studio album, Don Quixote (1972).
At times like these, realizing that such a vital and enriching voice is gone forever isn’t easy. However, the music of Gordon Lightfoot lives on in his many recordings and the memories of those fortunate to witness him perform.
Farewell, faithful troubadour.
Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here. Here’s the audio from the Gordon Lightfoot YouTube channel:
With love,
Steve
Song of the Day for Today 
A postscript: here’s an essay by Canadian author Michael Barclay on Gordon Lightfoot. It silently arrived to my inbox just as I was finishing this post. The odd title is explained in the excellent piece. https://michaelbarclay.substack.com/p/gordon-lightfoot-is-not-at-the-dentist
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Oh my…what sad news. This certainty made my cry as I recall listening to his music all throughout my life. Every one of his songs seems to be my favourite! Thanks for your sensitive post.
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This song in particular was touching for me today, thinking of a lover perhaps left alone by a death. xo
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I thought the same…sigh…xo
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❤️💔❤️
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I heard the news of Gordon Lightfoot’s passing as I was driving to work, it hit me pretty hard. When I got in I went to my office, closed the door, and for the rest of my work day I listened to Gordon Lightfoot music. And with his music playing the entire day I didn’t, to the best of my knowledge, repeat a song. He has left quite a body of work.
I can’t remember exactly when I discover Gordon Lightfoot but I know I was young, and I have been listening to his music ever since. I’ve driven this country (Canada) from coast to coast, St. John’s, NL to either Vancouver BC or Dawson Creek BC, six times, and Gordon Lightfoot has always provided the soundtrack, as he does with all of my roadtrips.
I had tickets to see him perform in November of 2019, but he had an accident and broke his foot, I believe, and the concert had to be postponed. The show was supposed to be rescheduled for the spring, then COVID hit. The show never got rescheduled.
R.I.P. Gordon. Thank you for the music.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to share your memories. That’s a pretty heavy blow to take in driving to work… wow. It’s like, “where were you when you heard Gordon Lightfoot died?”
With so many of the greats of that era passing, one might almost become immune, but I felt it hard too, seeing the piece on the news. It hit like a freight train, churning up all those times I heard his wonderful voice on his records, as if singing to me, when I was a kid. He was just so damn reliable, right? Reliable is good. We need that.
That’s so unfortunate about the concert that never was. It must hurt in particular in this time of our collective grieving over our loss of this great musical wonder. All the shows he wanted to do that will never happen.
A closed-door office day seems about right under the circumstances. I could totally picture doing that, and I feel like my former staff would’ve understood. I hope it helped you process.
Indeed, thank you for the music, Gordon. And for all those memories attached to it, and those to come on road trips, kitchen dances, campfire sing-alongs, and all the places made much more beautiful with that voice. 🙏🏼
Take care, Stephen.
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What a tragic day for the Canadian music industry. Losing two great musicians. I couldn’t play the video but I’ll look for the song online since it seems like one I would enjoy.
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Yes, it was tragic. I hope you find a version that works in Africa as its a wonderful song.
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