Sometimes I think its a shame

[Kittyblue]

yes it is but Sundown is so dark, I like that

I was listening to just a few of his songs this morning, many of them seem dark

 

[LuvOrlando]

Jim Croche's "New York's not my home" is up there.

 

[kimblebee]

when we started talking about it, i got interested, here is what I also found out

. But Lightfoot didn’t write the song about his ex-wife. Instead, the song came out of his long affair with Cathy Smith, the notorious groupie and ex-drug dealer who would later do prison time for shooting John Belushi up with the speedball that killed him.


The night Lightfoot wrote “Sundown,” he was sitting at home, stressing out. Smith was out at a bar with her friends, and he was worried that she’d hook up with someone else. He put all his most immediate feelings into the song, which he literally wrote as the sun was setting.


“Sundown” is a pretty atypical piece of mid-’70s folk-rock. It’s not soft or fluffy or reassuring. Instead, it’s ugly and sweaty and driven. That’s what’s interesting about it. It’s one of the reasons why the song works as well as it does. Lightfoot might’ve been contemporaries with people like John Denver or Cat Stevens, but he carried a darkness that those guys didn’t have.

He’s fixated on her, on possessing her. He knows that he’s leading himself down a dark path: “Sometimes, I think it’s a shame / When I get feeling better when I’m feeling no pain.” He spends his nights worrying about catching someone creeping ’round his back stairs. And there’s no resolution; he ends the song stuck in that simmering-rage fugue state.

Interesting. Did this come from an article? I’d love to be able to read the whole thing, if there’s more.

 

[low-key]

Interesting. Did this come from an article? I’d love to be able to read the whole thing, if there’s more.

yes it did and guess what, he is a Canadian , I found it really interesting to

https://www.stereogum.com/2044755/t...s-sundown/franchises/columns/the-number-ones/

 

[kimblebee]

yes it did and guess what, he is a Canadian , I found it really interesting to

https://www.stereogum.com/2044755/t...s-sundown/franchises/columns/the-number-ones/

Anyone with a Canadian passport knows he’s Canadian lol

I’m glad you learned about him

 

[low-key]

Anyone with a Canadian passport knows he’s Canadian lol

why is that ?

 

[kimblebee]

why is that ?

He’s pretty famous up here.

 

[mommasita]

Anyone with a Canadian passport knows he’s Canadian lol

I’m glad you learned about him

My first job was in a law firm, the top partner LOOOVED him, so much so, he recorded a tape (remember those), and at our Xmas party gave those out as gifts . We were all . WHERE IS MY BONUS, but he did slide in the bonus envelope. Hey 2000$ bonus was a lot at 21 years old. And boy he was horrible, and to this day he is still recording Gordon Lightfoot lol

 

[chickapin parterre]

yes it did and guess what, he is a Canadian , I found it really interesting to

https://www.stereogum.com/2044755/t...s-sundown/franchises/columns/the-number-ones/

OH MY GOODNESS.....Leonard Cohen is also Canadian.....if we are still on the dark side of lyrics?? Must be a constant craving thing in Canada , ehh?

 

[littlejimmy]

you know whats a bigger shame???? driving that train, high on cocaine

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

yes it is but Sundown is so dark, I like that



oh to be young again

My uncle who was only 9+ years older than me, gave me a record player and a cool radio when I was about 11 or 12. They were cherished. Always listening to AM back then. Chicago WLS or WCFL

 

[low-key]

you know whats a bigger shame???? driving that train, high on cocaine

well played

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Who’s seen Gordon in concert? (One of the few who didn’t croak shortly after our togetherness! )

 

[mommasita]

Who’s seen Gordon in concert? (One of the few who didn’t croak shortly after our togetherness! )

Never had the pleasure. I have seen Leonard Cohen In a few jazz places around this city, his hometown.. and I consider myself fortunate .

 

[Kittyblue]

Bumping. RIP Gordon Lightfoot.

 

[E&Cmom]

RiP Gordon Lightfoot. I grew up hearing his songs. My favourite one

Not sure how I missed this thread back then. Entertaining read.

 

[lisaviolet]

Sundown was written about the woman who was charged in association with John Belushi's death.

Lightfoot dated her.

EDIT: I should have read first, I see Jason already explained the song..in depth!

-------------------

I was a child with a Lightfoot two record album & I have no clue why. I had that and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. The latter I got from my sister for my birthday, God love her to introduce that album.

Gordon I have no clue.

To think I was there singing , In a room where you do what you don't confess.

No wonder Jason loved him! Laughing, loudly.

Such a crazy good songwriter.

 

[Disneylover99]

Loved him. So many great songs.
RIP

 

[Dan Murphy]

Bumping. RIP Gordon Lightfoot.

Thanks, KB, for sharing GL's passing this way. Very fitting.

I never went looking for a Lightfoot song, but he sure had some wonderful ballads of life over his so many years. I enjoyed one of his early ones, Early Morning Rain, done by Ian & Sylvia, as well as Lightfoot. Rest In Peace, Gordon, God speed. (you also, Jason).

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thanks, KB, for sharing GL's passing this way. Very fitting...

Very glad to see this thread revived. I was hoping to see something connected to low-key today. You're right, Dan, it is very fitting.