8 Comments
User's avatar
Chris Zappa's avatar

This is a beautiful remembrance of one of the most important singer/songwriters ever. His was amongst the first music I remember ever hearing. Late at night, my mom would play AM radio to help soothe me to sleep (or back to sleep) and Gordon’s voice would always put me at ease. Those memories are precious to me now that my mom and Gordon are both gone. 💔

Expand full comment
Jason P. Woodbury's avatar

Yeah, many of my earliest musical memories feature Gordon Lightfoot too. Last year, I went through a phase where I needed to listen to his music to fall asleep. Real primal connection to that sound. I'm sorry to hear that about your mom, Chris, and I really appreciate you sharing this thoughtful comment.

Expand full comment
Chris Zappa's avatar

Thank you so much, Jason. I really appreciate that. Gordon’s music is definitely soothing, his voice comforting. I’m grateful he left us with so much beautiful music.

Expand full comment
Nolan Woodbury's avatar

Gord made road music as well or better than anyone. “ you can’t jump an airplane, like you can a freight train”. RIP to the brother I never met.

Expand full comment
Daniel Chamberlin's avatar

Thinking about the Dylan quote – "Every time I hear a song of his, it's like I wish it would last forever” – and how "Sundown" is packed into any solo road trip emergency kit. It's deployed on infinite repeat for me to sing along with in mangled harmony when I get drowsy. If not forever, at least until I make it a few more miles closer to home.

Expand full comment
Jason P. Woodbury's avatar

It's a perfect roadtrip anthem, no doubt about it. Ever heard Scott Walker do it?Very good, very spooky: https://youtu.be/S2cfhE1VZMU

Expand full comment
Simon Campbell's avatar

Very sad news indeed.

Expand full comment
Lee's avatar

It is a staggeringly great song. I love how it's literal about somebody who hopped trains and also metaphoric. The sour blame in the song goes toward "the bullsh*t." And what does the b.s. mean to GL? The sorrows carried from childhood or addiction or it doesn't matter. He had a piercing way of being able to capture sensations of sorrow.

In a distant way, the lyrics of "Default" by Atoms for Peace (Thom Yorke) reminds me of Watchman's Gone. It's not as epic as "Watchman", but it's also incredibly sad & about someone completely trapped by their life ("I gotta stop/the will is strong/The flesh is weak").

Expand full comment