Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon of Darkness"—a number one hit on the U.S. country chart with Marty Robbins's cover in 1965—and "Black Day in July," about the 1967 Detroit riot, brought him wide recognition in the 1960s. Canadian chart success with his own recordings began in 1962 with the No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm the One", followed by recognition and charting abroad in the 1970s. He topped the US Hot 100 or AC chart with the hits "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Sundown" (1974); "Carefree Highway" (1974), "Rainy Day People" (1975), and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976), and had many other hits that appeared in the top 40.
Several of Lightfoot's albums achieved gold and multi-platinum status internationally. His songs have been recorded by renowned artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr., The Kingston Trio, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Herb Alpert, Harry Belafonte, Sarah McLachlan, Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, Peter, Paul and Mary, Glen Campbell, The Grateful Dead, Nico, and Olivia Newton-John.
Robbie Robertson of the Band described Lightfoot as "a national treasure". Bob Dylan, also a Lightfoot fan, called him one of his favorite songwriters and, in an often-quoted tribute, Dylan observed that when he heard a Lightfoot song he wished "it would last forever". Lightfoot was a featured musical performer at the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Trent University in Spring 1979 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in May 2003. In November 1997, the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, was bestowed on Lightfoot. On February 6, 2012, Lightfoot was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. June of that year saw his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. On June 6, 2015, Lightfoot received an honorary doctorate of music in his hometown of Orillia from Lakehead University.
As an individual, apart from various awards associated with his albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot has received sixteen Juno Awards—for top folk singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,[67] 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, for top male vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, and as composer of the year in 1972 and 1976. He has received ASCAP awards for songwriting in 1971, 1974, 1976, and 1977, and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. In 1974 Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named pop record of the year by the Music Operators of America. In 1980 he was named Canadian male recording artist of the decade, for his work in the 1970s.
Lightfoot was chosen as the celebrity captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the NHL's 75th anniversary season in 1991–1992.
Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998. In May 2003 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour. Lightfoot is a member of the Order of Ontario, the highest honour in the province of Ontario. In 1977, he received the Vanier Award from the Canadian Jaycees. In 2007 Canada Post honoured Lightfoot and three other Canadian music artists (Anne Murray, Paul Anka, and Joni Mitchell) with postage stamps highlighting their names and images. On June 24, 2012, Lightfoot was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in a New York City ceremony, along with Bob Seger.
Between 1986 and 1988, Lightfoot's friend Ken Danby (1940–2007), the realist painter, worked on a large (60 × 48 inches) portrait of Lightfoot dressed in the white suit he wore on the cover of the album East of Midnight. The picture was backlit by the sun, creating a visually iconic image of the singer.
On June 16, 2014, Lightfoot was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by SOCAN at the 2014 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.
On October 23, 2015, Lightfoot was honoured with a 4-metre tall bronze sculpture in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario. The sculpture, called Golden Leaves—A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, features Lightfoot sitting cross-legged, playing an acoustic guitar underneath an arch of golden maple leaves. Many of the leaves depict scenes from Lightfoot's 1975 greatest hits album, Gord's Gold.
In 2017, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
He was the subject of Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni's 2019 documentary film Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind.
Gordon passed away on May 1st, 2023 at the age of 84.
Knotty Pine
Gordon Lightfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She leans with the wind
She cries turpentine
Sometimes she nettles me
But I don't mind
Only now and then
When her branches lean beneath the snow
She's knotty but nice
She don't like snow 'n ice
To leave things as they stand
Is my advice
She's been good to me
So I tend to go there when I can
She's my knotty pine
Such a pretty scene
She tries to be kind
She gives birds a home
And shelters them
In her coat of green
She's as green as evergreen can be
She's a real delight
When little breezes call
To ruffle up her skin
All her sap runs free
And sticks to me
Hidden deep within
I will be her slave eternally
She's my knotty pine
She leans with the wind
She crys turpentine
Sometimes she nettles me
But I don't mind
Only now and then
When her branches lean beneath the snow
Gordon Lightfoot's "Knotty Pine" is a love song to a tree, specifically a knotty pine. The song describes the nuances of the relationship between the singer and the tree. The first stanza introduces the tree as "knotty but nice," and describes her as "leaning with the wind" and "crying turpentine." The tree is personified as sometimes nettling the singer, but the knotty pine's good qualities outweigh the bad. The second stanza highlights the knotty pine's role as a shelter for birds and her coat of green. The final stanza discusses the singer's love of the tree and serves as a promise to always give the tree affection and care.
Line by Line Meaning
She's my knotty pine
She is the person whom I love and admire most, comparable to a strong and resilient pine tree.
She leans with the wind
She is capable of adapting to changes and challenges that come her way, just like how a pine tree sways with the wind.
She cries turpentine
She exudes an essence of strength and resilience, even when faced with harsh situations, just like when a pine tree secretes turpentine when cut down.
Sometimes she nettles me
Occasionally, she may irritate or annoy me, but I am still fond and committed to her.
But I don't mind
Despite her shortcomings, I still love and appreciate her.
Only now and then
The annoyances are sparse and far between.
When her branches lean beneath the snow
I only worry about her safety and well-being during times of hardship, represented by snow weighing down on her branches.
She's knotty but nice
She may have flaws and quirks, but overall she is a kind and beautiful person.
Reaching for the sky
Striving for the best and always looking up for hope and inspiration, just like how a pine tree grows towards the sky.
She don't like snow 'n ice
She dislikes harsh and frigid conditions that may cause harm to her or those around her.
To leave things as they stand Is my advice
I advise others to accept and appreciate her as she is without trying to change her.
She's been good to me
She has treated me well and brought joy into my life.
So I tend to go there when I can
I try to spend time with her and be a part of her life as much as possible.
Such a pretty scene
Being around her is visually pleasing and delightful, like a picturesque forest of pine trees.
She tries to be kind
She makes an effort to be compassionate and understanding towards others.
She gives birds a home
She is caring and nurturing, like how a pine tree provides shelter and a nesting place for birds.
And shelters them
She goes out of her way to protect and take care of those who are vulnerable.
In her coat of green
Her compassion and nurturing nature can be compared to the lush foliage of a pine tree.
She's as green as evergreen can be
Her kindness and compassion are as steadfast and enduring as an evergreen tree.
She's a real delight
Being around her brings great joy and happiness.
When little breezes call
Even the small and simple things in life bring her pleasure and contentment.
To ruffle up her skin
The gentle winds that blow on her are like a caress, making her feel alive and vibrant.
All her sap runs free
She is invigorated and energized by the little things in life, just as a pine tree's sap runs freely when it is healthy and happy.
And sticks to me
Her happiness and enthusiasm for life are contagious and inspire those around her.
Hidden deep within
She has many layers and complexities that are not immediately apparent upon first meeting her.
I will be her slave eternally
Her love, kindness, and beauty have captivated me completely, and I will be devoted to her for life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GORDON LIGHTFOOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
on Is There Anyone Home
We have now corrected this above
Glenn
on Is There Anyone Home
The note state that this song ("Is there anyone home?") was released in 1998 on the album "A Painter Passing Through". That is not correct, the song doesn't even appear on that album at all. The original release date was 1974 on "Sundown" album. Easily verified on Wikipedia or a hundred other websites.