Lightfoot FAQ Part III Section B
Wayne Francis
FAQ Part III
------------
Section A:
Books
- Books On Lightfoot
- Books With Text By Lightfoot
- Songbooks
Rolling Thunder Revue 1975
Section B:
Unreleased Songs
1997 Tour Summary
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Unreleased Songs
================
This section lists Lightfoot compositions that were never released
by him. Some may never have even been recorded.
The group of songs which were written in the 60's as part of
Lightfoot's publishing deal with Warner affiliated companies,
had demos recorded for many of them. Other notes added where
appropriate. Many, if not all of the 60's songs were a part of his
live show at that time.
* Indicates lyrics included below.
# Indicates lyrics can be found in FAQ Part VI Section A or B.
1964
----
# Betty Mae's A Good Time Gal - recorded and appears on a Canadian Talent
Library compilation, which was released to
radio stations only.
Dear Brothers And Sisters And Friends
# It's Better That Way
# Prettiest Time Of Her Life
# Red Roses And You
# River Gal
# Sands Of Time
# Sweet Temptation
# The General Store
# Weep Not For Me
# When Spring Was O'er The Land
# Where Are The Martyred Children
1965
----
# An Old Friend
# Anything My Woman Does
# Blue Day
# Don't Be Sorry
# Echoes Of Heroes
# Fox Fire
Goodbye Flo
If You're Leavin'
It's All Over For Me Now
Klandestiny - Lightfoot wrote music only for this one.
Land With No Name - commissioned by CNR for their "Sea To Sea" documentary.
Let Me Die Inland
# Roll On
# Talkin' Freight - commissioned by CN Rail for their documentary "Movin'".
Also included in the film and on the EP were the songs
Movin' and Steel Rail Blues.
Talkin' Silver Cloud Blues - this was a poem, no music.
The Hands I Love - this one is actually Song For A Winter's Night as
it was first titled.
# The Last Hand
They Belong To You
*# Too Much To Lose - this is a UA studio out-take, surprisingly it has not
appeared on one of their many compilations. There was
also a recording of this song for Old Dan's Records,
which mistakingly was put out on some cassettes and
8-tracks which had to be recalled in the early 80's.
1966
----
# A Few Moments Ago
# A Love That's True
# A Ring And A Secret
# Rosey And Me
# Somebody Told A Lie
Talkin' High Steel - Lightfoot often played this at the Riverboat,
according to Ronnie Hawkins.
# That Innocent Look
# Things They Say
# Try To Count The Tears
# Two Kids From Cabbagetown
Until We Meet Again
# Yes I Will
1968
----
* I Can't Make It Anymore - covered by Richie Havens on his Mixed Bag album.
1969
----
Conversation - originally published by Albert Grossman's company, 4th Floor
Music, but returned to Lightfoot when their contract expired.
Cool Persuasion
Country Farewell
* Divorce Country Style - this one has been played live and was to appear
on the aborted 1974 live Massey Hall album.
Doomsday Song - has been performed live.
# Hail Hero - co-written with Jerome Moross. Was included in the film of the
same name.
Just Like Before
Sea Bird Song
Twenty Four Hour Blues
Well Remembered
Where Is The Next One
* You'll Still Be Needing Me - covered by Harry Belafonte.
1970
----
The Ultimate Oil Man
1971
----
No More Lonely Nights - has been performed live.
Station Master
1973
----
Every Man's Desire
Gather No Moss
Nitro Joe
Weeping Willow
Whispers
1975
----
Stone Cold Sober - has been performed live and is possibly an out-take
from Cold On The Shoulder.
* In My Time - has been performed live.
1979
----
Heavenbound
1981
----
Betty Called Me In - an out-take from Shadows.
* Canary Yellow Canoe - has been performed live.
Keep On Yearning - has been performed live.
1982
----
* Forgive Me Lord - has been performed live and is an out-take from
Salute and also possibly East Of Midnight.
* Two Crazy Kids - has been performed live and is an out-take from Salute.
1986
----
Lifeline - an out-take from East Of Midnight.
1992
----
Empty Glass
1993
----
* Drifters - has been performed live at Massey Hall in '93 and on the '96
tour.
1995
----
Much To My Surprise - the much reported song from the '95 shows. Can we
expect to find it on the new album?
My Little Love - performed on opening night of the '96 tour in Chicago.
Athabasca Lady - has been performed live. "She's my Athabasca Lady from the
town of Edmonton; though Gretzky is her hero, I am still
her Number One."
TOO MUCH TO LOSE
Pardon me if I'm leaving in a hurry can't you see
There's too much to lose for me to stay around
I've played your game, obeyed your rules the best that I know how
Gonna get out while the game don't get me down
CHORUS
It's been a long, long day and now it's gone, gone
I won't see you again before the dawn
There's too much to lose for me to stay around
So I'll just cash in the chips and leave this town
Pardon me if I don't turn back or even say goodbye
I surely have enjoyed your cup of tea
Got no more time to gamble on a thing that ain't too sure
And the dust cloud on the edge of town is me
If you ever feel that you should want to get in touch somehow
Forget it, that's all in yesterday
Forgiving is to lovers as trusting is to fools
And of losing there is nothing I can say
CHORUS (Twice)
I CAN'T MAKE IT ANYMORE
I get too low with no reason
You say it's the moon or maybe the season
But something's not the same and I won't let my mind believe
Baby something's wrong, all the feeling's gone
I can't make it anymore, I can't make it anymore
Lately I don't feel much like talking
Instead of going home I just go out walking
And thinking too much and not longing for your touch
Baby something's changed, I don't feel the same
I can't make it anymore, I can't make it anymore
Don't know the reason why, but I just can't lie
When I feel this way, there are things that I must say
Can't make it anymore, I can't make it anymore
I can't make it anymore, I can't make it anymore
Oh anymore
Where did we go wrong, where do I belong
Let me find out when did it all begin
Why I'm leaving you, why our love is through
I can't make it anymore, I can't make it anymore
DIVORCE COUNTRY STYLE
Lost in the waves, tossed by the wind am I
Caught like a ship in the grip of a wave on the blue
Back in the country where the creature is wasting her time
Take me away to the bar room, I'll stay til I'm blind
Now I've told the lawyer that I think that the house should be mine
You take the car and the kids and I'll take the wine
And all of the money that we left down the road at the bank
Must be kept for the bail when they lock me away in the tank
Oh but the love that we tasted is over, 'tis too late to cry
I'll sip on the beer til my body comes through to the rye
I'll kiss all your roses because of the two lips I miss
Then leave by the back door, I'm sorry for parting like this
Lost in the waves and tossed by the wind am I
Like a horse with the heaves or a hired hand corned to the gills
Like a brown-eyed cow that can't find no cud to chew
Like an egg sucking dog on the lam, I'll be thinking of you
Lost in the waves, tossed by the wind am I
Like a goat that gets tangled in the clothesline
In the backyard by the fence
I will leave the back forty like an outhouse blowing away
And live on the money that I get for recording
This song for the rest of my days
YOU'LL STILL BE NEEDING ME
If I had my way, I would say it's over darling
If I could be brave, I would say I'm leaving you
But I must stay on til all hope is gone
'Cause girl I know, anywhere you go you'll still be needing me
If you feel you can't make it on your own my darling
I'll be on your side when you can't find anyone
But for now let's try, just to get by
Let the tide roll out, let the tide roll in, it's time to sink or swim
La la la la la, la la la la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la la la la
If I could be strong, I'd be gone tomorrow morning
Still I play the part, making like a broken toy
But I must stay on til all hope is gone
'Cause girl I know, anywhere I go you'll still be needing me
Let the tide roll out, let the tide roll in, it's time to sink or swim
La la la la la, la la la la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la la la la
IN MY TIME
Fifteen years adrift upon the rising foreign tide
In my time, in my time
With nothing much to show for all the learning that I did
What is mine, riffs of rhyme
Burning up the highway playing shots along the way
Writing letters, painting pictures, loving, what more can I say
Shady ladies
Watching out for the danger signs that loomed along the road
I learned to fly, I give it a try
The devil came to meet me and I told him where to go
I choose to live, he chose to die
He told me to go with him to his pleasures down below
I said, "I do not trust you," anyway, I told him, "no"
That's too easy
One day I saw the beggar lying face down
On the city sidewalk grime, nickels and dimes
The dollar that I gave him was all I had on me then
He said, "Friend, what's the name?"
I said, "It does not matter, you might think you heard me singing
On some radio show or playing on the TV
Maybe on the Hollywood Squares"
I gave my name and wondered why I hoped he would not call
I don't know why I did it at all
I go down to his corner to talk to him now and then
I brang the wine, he had the time
He told the most amazing tales of laughter and of trains and jails
Society girls whose plans had failed, the shady deals
The DT's and the pain
On Christmas Eve I went down where the beggar used to be
The man was gone and I walked on
Though the city roared with the sound of yuletide business going on
I heard a sound, I turned around
And it happened though so quickly, in a moment stood the vision
In a flask of light, I saw it was the beggar's angel
Bidding me goodnight
Fifteen years, a thousand dreams and many moons ago
In my time, in my time
In years to come I'll see it like so many times before
Live it again, breathe it again
While burning up the highway playing shots along the way
Writing letters, painting pictures, loving, what more can I say
Shady ladies
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, in my 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, in my yellow canoe
I want to run rivers in my canary yellow canoe
Chebugama, Yellowknife, Ross River too
In my canary yellow canoe
In my canary yellow canoe, in my yellow canoe
I want to go tripping in my canary yellow canoe
Churchill, Assiniboine and Resolute too
In my canary yellow canoe
FORGIVE ME LORD
Make my world a better place to be, remove these chains and set me free
Give my life one reason to begin, forgive me Lord for I have sinned
Take my hand and lead me as you choose, it seems we ain't got much to lose
Give this place one season without shame, forgive me Lord I've sinned again
I been down on my luck, as a matter of fact I've even been chased
Drifting along, singing a song for the whole human race
I been caught in the act, as a matter of fact I'm even well known
(I've even been stoned)
Floating on by with a laugh and a sigh on the road that leads home
I got no more time left to roam, if you love me
Take this world and build it as you please, with a little help from the likes
of me
Keep it safe from harm and make it pure, forgive the rich and save the poor
Like the dust on the wind I've been taken again by my foolish pride
Drifting along, singing a song, that's how I get by
I been caught in the act, as a matter of fact I've even been chased
Floating on by with a laugh and a sigh for the whole human race
(on a sea of bad taste)
I got no more time to waste, if you love me
Make my world a better place to be, remove these chains and set me free
Give my life a different point of view, forgive us Lord if we run to you
(BRIDGE INSTRU)
If you love me
Make my world a better place to be, remove these chains and set me free
Give my life one reason to begin, forgive me Lord for I have sinned
Give my life one reason to begin, forgive me Lord for I have sinned
TWO CRAZY KIDS
On my honor I can say it's true, I had a real good time
Slowing down was not the thing to do
I can't wait until I'm old and gray, I got love on my mind
I'm on a one-way ticket and the lady makes two
CHORUS
Two crazy kids in the world out there
Not much worse for the wear and tear
Anyway, that's where it's at
Vancouver was a beautiful ride and Kalamazoo too
I had a little aggravation in between
We took a ride on the bus one day and we never returned
We got a little mixed up if you know what I mean
CHORUS
Mother told me this would never last, she said it was wrong
She said being lazy would not help
She said I was a problem child, but what can you do
But lighten up your load and tighten up your belt
CHORUS
Let in the dog and let out the cat
Anyway that's where it's at
Let in the dog and let out the cat
DRIFTERS
I don't believe in miracles if it's all the same by you
Your wishes would come true if I had my say
Whether it's right or wrong, the words of every song
Remind us of a love we know where love should not go wrong
In yesterdays
Hang on ye drifters now
You got places to go and gamble
Watch out for the shifting sands
Wherever you may ramble
Even now as I look back and see all that's come to pass
I can't remember how it was I got here
Look around this place, there's a smile on every face
Where somewhere in the afterglow out there among the stars
Out there among the bars
Hang on ye drifters now
You got reason to go and people to meet
Watch out for the shifting tide
Wherever you may travel
I know I should not complain because life's been good to me
I don't believe in things that I cannot feel
Be that as it may be, we are what we are
I'll find you in the afterglow out there among the stars
Of yesteryear
Hang on ye drifters now
You got places to go and gamble
Watch out for the shifting sands
Wherever you may ramble
All you drifters now
You got places to go and people to meet
Watch out for the shifting sands
Wherever you may ramble
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This section continues with non-Lightfoot written songs he has performed
in concert over the years, but has never recorded. Songwriter's name
included where known.
*Indicates lyrics included below
Miller's Cave
Six Days On The Road
King Of The Road - Roger Miller?
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Bob Dylan
Blowing In The Wind - Bob Dylan
Four Strong Winds - Ian Tyson
Tennessee Stud
Copper Kettle
The Fox
Children Go Where I Send Thee
We Come Here To Sing
Fast Freight
Sinnerman
Kilgarry Mountain
Calypso Baby
Summer Love
Lord I'm So Weary
Country Boy
New Automobile
Peepin' And Hidin'
Squid Jiggin' Ground
Riddle Song
If I Had A Hammer
Streets Of Laredo
Girl From The North Country - Bob Dylan
1913 Massacre
Ballad Of Hollis Brown - Bob Dylan
Red Velvet Band
* Farewell To Nova Scotia - Traditional
Turn, Turn, Turn
Red Iron Ore
Song For Canada
Foggy Dew
500 Miles
O'Rafferty's Pig
Four Rode By
Jolly Tinker
Dark As A Dungeon
Little Brown Shack
Wabash Cannonball
Wildwood Flower - Carter
Song Of The Groundhog
Get Together
Harbour Le Cou
Cod Liver Oil
I Still Miss Someone
Diamond Joe - Traditional
Gossip Calypso
* Partners - Danny Dill
* The Piddlin' Pup
FAREWELL TO NOVA SCOTIA
The sun was setting in the west
The birds were singing on every tree
All nature seemed inclined for a rest
But still there was no rest for me
CHORUS
Farewell to Nova Scotia that seabound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me
I grieve to leave my native land
I grieve to leave my comrades all
And my aged parents whom I always held so dear
And the bonnie, bonnie lassie that I do adore
CHORUS
The drums do beat and the wars do alarm
Our captain calls we must obey
So farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia's charms
Cause it's early in the morning and I'm far, far away
CHORUS
I have three brothers and they are at rest
Their arms are folded on their breast
Yet a poor simple sailor just like me
Must be tossed and driven on the dark blue sea
CHORUS
PARTNERS
Two partners went in search of gold as friendly as could be
One was young and one was old and the gay young fool was me
Since neither one could write his name, I swore upon my soul
To share the wealth and then shook hands, the hands that dug for gold
Partners
Twas was in the spring we packed our gear, a-northward we did go
We crossed the mountain passes where the swirling rivers flow
All summer long we panned the gold, no nuggets did we find
But faith was great and hope was strong, we'd get the gold in time
Partners
Oh the summer days were gone at last and the winter nights grew cold
The snow had trapped us in the pass when we finally found the gold
We took our fortune to the shack to wait the winter through
But the food ran low so I killed my friend, what else was there to do
Partners
Oh the cabin's covered now with snow, the shelves of food are bare
Satan's waiting for me now but I'm too cold to care
Is that the devil at my door looking for my soul
Or is it just the old man looking for his gold
THE PIDDLIN' PUP
A farmer's dog came into town, his christian name was Rex
A noble pedigree had he, unusual was his text
And as he trotted down the street 'twas beautiful to see
His work on every corner, his work on every tree
He watered every gateway too and never missed a post
For piddling was his specialty and piddling was his boast
The city curs looked on amazed with deep and jealous rage
To see a simple country dog the piddler of the age
Then all the dogs from everywhere were summoned with a yell
To sniff the country stranger o'er and judge him by his smell
Some thought that he a king might be, beneath his tail a rose
So every dog drew near to him and sniffed it up his nose
They smelled him over one by one, they smelled him two by two
And noble Rex in high disdain, stood still til they were through
Then just to show the whole shebang he didn't give a damn
He trotted in a grocery store and piddled on a ham
He piddled on a mackerel keg, he piddled on the floor
And when the grocer kicked him out, he piddled through the door
Behind him all the city dogs lined up with instinct true
To start a piddling carnival and see the stranger through
They showed him every piddling post they had in all the town
And started in with many a wink to pee the stranger down
They sent for piddling champions who were always on the go
Who sometimes did a piddling stunt or gave a piddling show
They sprung these on him suddenly when midway in the town
Rex only smiled and polished off the ablest white or brown
Now Rex was with them every trick with vigor and with vim
A thousand piddles more or less were all the same to him
So he was wetting merrily with hind legs kicking high
When most were hoisting legs in bluff and piddling mighty dry
On and on Rex sought new grounds by piles and scraps and rust
Til every city dog went dry and piddled only dust
But on and on went noble Rex as wet as any rill
And all the champion city pups were pee'd to a standstill
Then Rex did free-hand piddling with fancy flirts and flits
Like "double dip" and "gimlet twist" and all those latest hits
And all this time this country dog did never wink or grin
But piddled blithely out of town as he had piddled in
The city dogs conventions held to ask, "What did defeat us?"
But no one ever put them wise that Rex had diabetes
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1997 TOUR SUMMARY
=================
The 1997 tour opened in Boise, ID on May 20 and concluded on October 18 in
Orillia, ON. One show in June in Santa Fe, NM was cancelled because the
outdoor amphitheatre was flooded by terrential rains. In all, 36 concerts
were performed in 35 cities, with a two month break between mid-July and
mid-September. The shows from May-July will be considered the spring/summer
leg and the September-October shows will be the fall leg for the purpose of
this summary.
The spring/summer leg ran from Boise, ID on May 20 to Baltimore, MD on July
15. The fall leg ran from Indianapolis, IN on September 19 to Orillia, ON on
October 18.
For a detailed tour itinerary, refer to FAQ Part V - Section B.
SPRING/SUMMER LEG (May 20 - July 15)
-----------------
The spring/summer leg of the tour was an interesting mix, with some varied
setlists. While "14 Karat Gold" opened every show and the usual songs such
as "Early Morning Rain"; "Canadian Railroad Trilogy"; "If You Could Read My
Mind"; "A Lesson In Love"; "Restless"; "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald";
"I'll Prove My Love"; "Sundown" and "In My Fashion" made it into every
setlist, there were a number of surprises. Songs such as "Bitter Green";
"Ghosts Of Cape Horn"; "Fine As Fine Can Be" and "Did She Mention My Name".
"Don Quixote", which is usually a standard made it into every show other
than the short Baltimore, MD one set show. "Cotton Jenny", a regular the
last number of years, only got played three times during this leg.
Only three new songs were played during this leg, which was somewhat of a
surprise in that he was doing at least 6 new ones per show last fall. "Ring
Neck Loon" got the most play (13) followed by "A Painter Passing
Through" (10) and "Boathouse" was trotted out once in Casper, WY. Another
surprise was that not one non-original Lightfoot song was played during the
spring/summer leg. In recent years "Farewell To Nova Scotia" and "Ring Them
Bells" were staples of his live shows, but this time around it was pure
Lightfoot!
Several medleys were played, the most unusual being "Spanish Moss/Ode To Big
Blue", the other being "Spanish Moss/Shadows". "Ode To Big Blue" was a
welcome addition to the regular sets, being played part way through the
first half on most nights. "Knotty Pine" was also reinstated, opening the
second half on all but one night. Only one studio album was shut out, as not
a single "Endless Wire" cut was performed.
Only one show did not have at least one new song performed, that being the
Livermore, CA concert. All but three of the concerts were the typical
"An Evening With Gordon Lightfoot" format, that being two sets with an
intermission. Several venues stipulated no intermission, so those nights
were held to one set and therefore somewhat shorter. The one set shows were
in Livermore, CA; Las Vegas, NV and Baltimore, MD.
Lightfoot was less predictable during his encores during this leg as well.
"Old Dan's Records" only got played three times, while "Cold On The
Shoulder" took the honors on many nights. But there were quite a few
summer evenings when Lightfoot and the guys gave the crowd two or even three
encores, with some gems such as "Bitter Green"; Ghosts Of Cape Horn" and
"Alberta Bound" being dusted off and sending the audience home happy.
SONG SUMMARY BY ALBUM
---------------------
In all, Lightfoot played 40 different songs during this tour. By album, the
most popular seemed to be "If You Could Read My Mind"; "Don Quixote";
"Summertime Dream"; "Shadows" and "Waiting For You" with each of them
garnering at least 2 and as many as 4 songs in regular rotation.
Here are how the setlists break down by album.
All of this information is based on a sample of out of a possible 36
setlists that were posted for the tour, so if anyone heard anything that
isn't listed here, I'd be more than happy to add the song to the list. In
brackets following the song is the number of times the song appeared in the
setlists to give you an idea of their frequency.
LIGHTFOOT
=========
Early Morning Rain (16)
THE WAY I FEEL
==============
Canadian Railroad Trilogy (16)
Song For A Winter's Night (2)
DID SHE MENTION MY NAME
=======================
Did She Mention My Name (1)
BACK HERE ON EARTH
==================
Bitter Green (5)
SUNDAY CONCERT
==============
IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND
=========================
If You Could Read My Mind (16)
The Pony Man (2)
Sit Down Young Stranger (14)
Minstrel Of The Dawn (3)
SUMMER SIDE OF LIFE
===================
Cotton Jenny (3)
DON QUIXOTE
===========
Don Quixote (15)
Christian Island (12)
Alberta Bound (4)
Beautiful (4)
Ode To Big Blue (13)
OLD DAN'S RECORDS
=================
Old Dan's Records (3)
SUNDOWN
=======
Sundown (15)
Carefree Highway (14)
COLD ON THE SHOULDER
====================
Rainy Day People (2)
Cold On The Shoulder (12)
Fine As Fine Can Be (1)
SUMMERTIME DREAM
================
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald (16)
The House You Live In (14)
Spanish Moss (3)
ENDLESS WIRE
============
DREAM STREET ROSE
=================
Sea Of Tranquility (12)
Ghosts Of Cape Horn (1)
SHADOWS
=======
14 Karat Gold (16)
In My Fashion (16)
Shadows (4)
Blackberry Wine (13)
Baby Step Back (15)
SALUTE
======
Knotty Pine (12)
EAST OF MIDNIGHT
================
A Lesson In Love (16)
WAITING FOR YOU
===============
Wild Strawberries (2)
I'll Prove My Love (16)
Restless (16)
Fading Away (15)
Waiting For You (15)
UNRELEASED
==========
Boathouse (1)
A Painter Passing Through (10)
Ring Neck Loon (13)
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Wayne