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.
Triangle
Gordon Lightfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will set sail
The best of all friends will say good-bye again there's still time for
One last glass of ale
We'll sail away proudly, our backs to the wall on a southwind and lots
Of good cheer
And when we've looked over the white cliffs of Dover, We'll be in Bahama
Next year
Two
There's many a mate who unevenyly stated the course he had charted was
True
"Don't worry 'bout me," he said "Go down below, give a certified sailor
A turn,
Just sip on your rum or I'll give you my thumb and say, son you got
Something t' learn!"
It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
So hand me my grip from an old sailing ship
Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips
With some luck tonight I might have her at my fingertips
Oh the best of all things is the first day of spring when when the water
Runs heavy and fast
The mermaids have all gone to Davy Jones' Ball
And it seems their first trip was their last
They had so much fun
They don't wish to return
To the beach where they lay all day long
They'd rather stay under
And boy it's no wonder
When all the rock lobsters roll on
It's a mighty fine way to be found
Triangle Triangle
Oh see my ship dangle
We're bound for Bahama my friend
Like lovers like danger
Like babies like mangers
But that's where my storybook ends
Like soldiers of fortune, believers in God
And all kings without crosses to bear
All sweepers and cleaners
With no misdemeanors
Should try the triangle out there
It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
So hand me my grip
From an old sailing ship
Put the kiss of dawn on my lips
With some luck tonight
I might have her at my fingertips
When she took her last tumble
The sea bottom rumbled
There was no confusion or blame
The captain said "Men we must answer again to the sea so ye may not
Complain"
And as they lay sleeping down there in the deep
With their faces turned up to the stars
A tuna fish turned
To a mermaid in bed and said
"There goes another sandbar"
It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
So hand me my grip
From an old sailing ship
Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips
With some luck tonight
I might have her at my fingertips
The song "Triangle" by Gordon Lightfoot is about the Bermuda Triangle, a mysterious area in the western North Atlantic where many ships and airplanes have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The lyrics in the first half of the song describe the excitement and adventure of setting sail, and the optimism of the sailors as they venture through the Triangle. The repeated phrase "It's a mighty hard way to come down, and a mighty fine way to be found" is a reference to the idea that the Bermuda Triangle can be a dangerous place, but it also has a certain allure, and the mystery of what lies within it can be thrilling.
The second half of the song takes a more somber turn, as it describes the fate of those who have been lost in the Bermuda Triangle. The lyrics suggest that the Triangle is a place where people go to be found in some sense, whether it be through death or the discovery of something unknown. The reference to the mermaids going to Davy Jones' Ball is a nod to the idea of the Triangle as a place of mystery and the unknown.
Overall, "Triangle" is a song that captures the sense of adventure and danger associated with the Bermuda Triangle. The lyrics suggest that while the Triangle can be perilous, it also holds a certain fascination for those brave enough to venture into its waters.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the gist of it all is the first day of fall is the day when my ship Will set sail
The singer is excited that their ship will depart on the first day of fall.
The best of all friends will say good-bye again there's still time for One last glass of ale
The singer's friends will bid farewell before the ship departs, but they have time for one more drink together.
We'll sail away proudly, our backs to the wall on a southwind and lots Of good cheer
The ship will sail with confidence and enthusiasm, with a southwind and high spirits.
And when we've looked over the white cliffs of Dover, We'll be in Bahama Next year
After observing the famous cliffs, the ship will head towards the Bahamas, arriving the next year.
From Bermuda on down the Triangle around us will teach us a lesson or Two
As the ship travels through the Bermuda triangle, the sailors will learn some valuable lessons.
There's many a mate who unevenyly stated the course he had charted was True
Some sailors have bragged about knowing the correct course but were incorrect.
"Don't worry 'bout me," he said "Go down below, give a certified sailor A turn, Just sip on your rum or I'll give you my thumb and say, son you got Something t' learn!"
Some sailors have instructed others to take a break and enjoy some rum, warning them that they still have lessons to learn.
It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
It can be challenging to sail through the Bermuda Triangle, but it can also be exhilarating to discover what lies within.
So hand me my grip from an old sailing ship Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips With some luck tonight I might have her at my fingertips
The artist is eager to set sail and have a successful journey with a little help from fate.
Oh the best of all things is the first day of spring when when the water Runs heavy and fast
The artist is also excited about the first day of spring when the water is lively and fast-paced.
The mermaids have all gone to Davy Jones' Ball And it seems their first trip was their last
The mermaids went to a party for deceased sailors, and it seems like it was their last time coming back to the beach.
They had so much fun They don't wish to return To the beach where they lay all day long
The mermaids enjoyed their experience so much that they don't want to go back to their previous life.
They'd rather stay under And boy it's no wonder When all the rock lobsters roll on
The mermaids are happy to stay below the surface, especially considering how chaotic it is above with the rock lobsters.
Triangle Triangle Oh see my ship dangle We're bound for Bahama my friend Like lovers like danger Like babies like mangers But that's where my storybook ends
The singer acknowledges the risks of the Bermuda Triangle and still plans to travel there with their ship, but they recognize it might not have a fairytale ending.
Like soldiers of fortune, believers in God And all kings without crosses to bear All sweepers and cleaners With no misdemeanors Should try the triangle out there
The singer believes that all sorts of people, from the brave to the faithful to the working-class, should journey through the Bermuda Triangle at least once.
When she took her last tumble The sea bottom rumbled There was no confusion or blame The captain said "Men we must answer again to the sea so ye may not Complain"
When the ship sank, the captain didn't blame anyone, but instead reminded his crew that they must respect the sea and its power.
And as they lay sleeping down there in the deep With their faces turned up to the stars A tuna fish turned To a mermaid in bed and said There goes another sandbar
As the sailors lay at the ocean floor, dead, a tuna fish comments to a mermaid that it's unfortunate that another boat is now lost at sea.
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.