Forget Justin Bieber (heaven knows I’ve tried). Forget Celine Dion. Forget even Neil Young (well, don’t forget Neil Young, but just go with me here, I’m trying to make a point). When it comes to Canadian musical exports, the absolute greatest of them all is Gordon Lightfoot. Don’t even start with me on this, I will fight you. Politely, of course, as befits my Canadian identity, but still. When it comes to Canadian singers/musicians, Gordon Lightfoot is pretty much as awesome as it gets.
As you might have guessed, I love Gordon Lightfoot. Love, love, love. He’s a troubadour in the truest sense of the word, a singer-songwriter whose songs are poetry put to music. If you haven’t heard The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald or The Canadian Railroad Trilogy recently, I highly recommend giving them another listen!
Since we have officially moved into winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, and have had our first snowfall of the year here in Raincity, today I offer you a beautiful Gordon Lightfoot song that is perfect for a wintery Poetry Friday.
Song For A Winter’s Night
The lamp is burnin’ low upon my table top
The snow is softly fallin’
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly callin’
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you
The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon the page
The words of love you sent me
If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you
See the rest of the song – and hear Gordon Lightfoot perform it! – here.
Have a great weekend, friends, and a very Merry Christmas to those who will be celebrating!
Jane, I have always loved Gordon Lightfoot’s music. I’ve never heard “Song for a Winter’s Night.” It is lovely. Thank you for sharing it. Happy holidays!
And happy holidays to you, too!
I heard Gordon Lightfoot in concert many years ago and have been a fan ever since. Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Oh, you lucky duck! I’m glad you’re a fellow fan!
I also love Gordon Lightfoot. I grew up in Rochester, NY, on the Great Lakes. I listened to the Wreck as a kid. Always gives me chills.
Oh, me too, that song has one of my favourite lines of poetry: “Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours” – chills!
What a beautiful gift you’ve given in this blog post. I’ve heard of Gordon Lightfoot but have never given him special attention. It’s time to fix that. Thank you! Happiest of Holidays to you. I hope you get some rest and time with loved ones….maybe a new book or two.
Definitely give “The Canadian Railroad Trilogy” a try, and “If You Could Read My Mind”, and “Carefree Highway” – so many great songs!
Lovely to start the morning with a song, Jane. Merry Christmas!
And the very same to you!
Thanks for the lovely music and words by Gordon Lightfoot Jane, I’ve always liked his music, and was humming along the the “Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald” after you mentioned his name. I enjoyed all the images on the video too, especially the snow path. Happy Holidays!
Still one of my absolute favourites!
I may be a bit younger than his normal fan base, but I LOVE his music. My mom listened to him all the time when I was growing up and I have a bunch of his CDs. Song For A Winter’s Night is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.
I think I’m probably quite a bit younger than his normal fan base, too.
But great music knows no age limits, right? 
I don’t know that song! Beautiful!!!! Happy everything!
And the very same to you!!
We had our first snow here last week and with the dark and coldness, a sense of melancholy has set in. I’m happy people like Gordon Lightfoot can turn such melancholia into beautiful music. Merry Christmas!
It’s quite a gift, isn’t it?
My husband’s uncle introduced us to The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald not long after I married into the family. I haven’t thought of that song in years! Enjoy your first snow. We are hoping to receive our first accumulating snow for Christmas!
Gordon Lightfoot is a treasure! Such a great story-teller and musician! Thanks for a song to start my Christmas Eve!
Hurray, always glad to meet another fan! Alas he seems to be less popular among my peer group, but I’m working to change that.
I’ve always loved The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald but I’m embarrassed to admit, I didn’t know that Gordon Lightfoot was the singer/songwriter. I’m off to listen to Song For A Winter’s Night now–Love the lyrics you shared!
Yes indeed – and Canadian, to boot!
“Troubadour” is such a lovely word! Thanks for sharing a songwriter dear to your heart with us.
Isn’t it just!
My husband and I are enormous Gordon Lightfoot fans! We have seen him many, many times over the years, though his voice is so weak now, I wish he would just do Q&A and talk about his songs instead of trying to perform them. He is the ultimate poet/songwriter, in my opinion. And my husband’s birthday is Dec. 22, which often is the solstice, too, so this song is extra special to us. How fun to meet a fellow fan. Most of my favorite songs of his are not his hits. Thanks for sharing this!
How lovely to meet a fellow fan! I agree, though – I would much rather now listen to his older recordings, and remember him as he was in his prime. It would have been so neat to see him perform live back then!