"I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom. I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in quest of the sacred knowing of the ancients." Gustave Courbet
Showing posts with label Lightfoot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lightfoot. Show all posts

20 July 2026

Inspiration.

CANARY YELLOW CANOE

In my canary yellow canoe - my yellow canoe
I want to go tripping in my canary yellow canoe
The Eastmain, Coppermine, Back River too
In my canary yellow canoe

In my canary yellow canoe - yellow canoe
I want to run rivers in my canary yellow canoe
The Desmoines River, Rupert River, George River too
In my canary yellow canoe

In my canary yellow canoe - mellow yellow canoe
I want to go tripping in my canary yellow canoe
Chebugema, Peace River, Resolute too
In my canary yellow canoe

In my canary yellow canoe - my elephant too
I want to go tripping in my canary yellow canoe
Churchill, Yellowknife, Ross River too
In my canary yellow canoe

Gordon Lightfoot

Inspiration ...

07 February 2026

Covers.

Joe Paulik covers a few Lightfoot favorites ...

"Long River"


"Sea of Tranquility"


"Home from the Forest"

16 November 2024

Gordon Lightfoot, "The House You Live In"

When you're caught by the gale and you're full under sail 
Beware of the dangers below 
And the song that you sing should not be too sad 
And be sure not to sing it too slow 
Be calm in the face of all common disgraces 
And know what they're doin' it for 
And the house you live in will never fall down
If you pity the stranger who stands at your door ...

25 October 2024

Satisfied.


Well, I've been up to the mountain,
I've walked down by the sea
I never questioned no one
And no one questioned me

My love was given freely
And oftimes was returned
I never came to borrow
I only came to learn

Sometimes it did get lonely
But it taught me how to cry
And laughter came too easy
For life to pass me by

I never had a dollar
That I didn't earn with pride
'Cause I had a million daydreams 
To keep me satisfied

So, will you gather daydreams?
Or will you gather wealth?
How can you find your fortune?
When you cannot find yourself?

Gordon Lightfoot, from “Sit Down Young Stranger”

10 February 2024

Gordon Lightfoot, "A Painter Passing Through"

If you want to know my secret 
Don't come running after me
For I am just a painter 
Passing through in history ...


20 January 2024

Will.


Last of all you old sea dogs
Who travel after whale
You'd storm the gates of hell itself
For the taste of a mermaid's tail
Who come from long lines of skippers
Whose duty was fulfilled
In the words of a warrior's will
And protocol

Gordon Lightfoot, from "Protocol"

Gordon Lightfoot, "Minstrel of the Dawn"

28 July 2023

Haunting.

An excellent album.  

Haunting ...


And Henley lives on.  Hell of a shame.

01 July 2023

Mighty.

de Maus, Rigging and Sailors, 1903


TRIANGLE (A poem in waltz time)

Oh the gist of it all is the first day of fall 
Is the day when my ship will set sail 
The best of all friends will say good-bye again 
There's still time for one last glass of ale 
We'll sail away proudly, our backs to the wall 
On a southwind and lots of good cheer 
And when we've looked over the white cliffs of Dover 
We'll be in Bahama next year 

From Bermuda on down the Triangle around us 
Will teach us a lesson or two 
There's many a mate who unevenyly stated 
The course he had charted was true 
Don't worry 'bout me, he said "Go down below 
Give a certified sailor a turn 
Just sip on your rum or I'll give you my thumb and say, 
Son you got something to learn" 

It's a mighty hard way to come down 
And a mighty fine way to be found 
So hand me my grip from an old sailing ship 
Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips 
With some luck tonight I might have her at my fingertips 

Oh the best of all things is the first day of spring 
When when the water runs heavy and fast 
The mermaids have all gone to Davy Jones' Ball 
And it seems their first trip was their last 
They had so much fun they don't wish to return 
To the beach where they lay all day long 
They'd rather stay under and boy it's no wonder 
When all the rock lobsters roll on 

It's a mighty fine way to be found 

Triangle Triangle, oh see my ship dangle 
We're bound for Bahama my friend 
Like lovers like danger like babies like mangers 
But that's where my storybook ends 
Like soldiers of fortune, believers in God 
And all kings without crosses to bear 
All sweepers and cleaners with no misdemeanors 
Should try the triangle out there 

It's a mighty hard way to come down 
And a mighty fine way to be found 
So hand me my grip from an old sailing ship 
Put the kiss of dawn on my lips 
With some luck tonight I might have her at my fingertips 

When she took her last tumble the sea bottom rumbled 
There was no confusion or blame 
The captain said "Men we must answer again 
To the sea so ye may not complain" 
And as they lay sleeping down there in the deep 
With their faces turned up to the stars 
A tuna fish turned to a mermaid in bed and said 
"There goes another sandbar" 

It's a mighty hard way to come down 
And a mighty fine way to be found 
So hand me my grip from an old sailing ship 
Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips 
With some luck tonight I might have her at my fingertips 

Gordon Lightfoot

02 May 2023

Gordon Lightfoot, Rest in Peace


Gordon Lightfoot has passed.

Wisdom comes through suffering.
Trouble, with its memories of pain,
Drips in our hearts as we try to sleep,
So men against their will
Learn to practice moderation.
Favours come to us from gods.

Aeschylus

My favorite Lightfoot tune, "Restless"
Like a specter from the past ...