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.
Waiting For You
Gordon Lightfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me move along for the road never ends
Vowing to live till the end of all time
All the way to the ends of the earth because I'm
Waiting for you to say you will be mine
Many long days, many long years
Many wrong plays, many wrong fears
I could be tossed in the arms of the sea
Waiting for you to ask what's keeping me
What would we do at the end of the day
When the hours are asleep and the time slips away
Children are all that the earth has to show
Children are all that the earth wants to know
Up here in the northland, up here in the snow
Up in the wilderness, land of our birth
Land of our toil, land of our worth
I could stay healthy and wealthy and wise
For I love the snow other snowbirds criticize
Tell that to a wife and you'll get a surprise
The skies of north america are covered in stars
Over factories and farms, over hamlets and bars
The breeze of north america is breathless at night
Out there in the distance some souls are in flight
Some soft-hearted lovers whose goals are in sight
Here in my on-again, off-again style
Here in my on-again, off-again smile
Here in my off-again, on-again grin
Here in my off-again, on-again skin
Waiting for you to say let us begin
In "Waiting for You" by Gordon Lightfoot, the singer reflects on his own mortality and the passing of time as he waits for his beloved to commit to a relationship. He bids farewell to his friends and vows to live until the end of all time, expressing a sense of longing for his significant other through a series of metaphors. The passage of time is inescapable and the singer is determined to make the most of it, even as he waits for his lover.
The lyrics are steeped in imagery such as "tossed in the arms of the sea" and "caught between decks eternally", as the singer contemplates the inevitability of death. He contrasts this with the simplicity and purity of children, who are "all that the earth wants to know". This juxtaposition highlights the beauty of life, even as it is contrasted against the harsh realities of death.
Ultimately, the singer is "Waiting for you to say let us begin", emphasizing his desire for his lover to commit fully to their relationship. The song is both a reflection on the passage of time and a plea for companionship, as the singer recognizes the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the time we have with loved ones before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Say what you will, I will miss you my friends
No matter what anyone else may think or say, I will miss you, my friends.
Let me move along for the road never ends
I must keep moving forward because life is an ongoing journey.
Vowing to live till the end of all time
I promise to live my life to the fullest until the end of time.
All the way to the ends of the earth because I'm
I will travel to the far corners of the earth because I am driven to find what I seek.
Waiting for you to say you will be mine
I am eagerly anticipating the moment when you will agree to be with me.
Many long days, many long years
I have experienced and endured many long periods of time.
Many wrong plays, many wrong fears
I have made many mistakes and had many fears in my past.
I could be tossed in the arms of the sea
I could be swept away by the unpredictable forces of the ocean.
I could be caught between decks eternally
I could be trapped in a never-ending limbo between two different worlds.
Waiting for you to ask what's keeping me
I am waiting for you to inquire about what is holding me back from being with you.
What would we do at the end of the day
What activities or actions would we engage in when the day is over?
When the hours are asleep and the time slips away
When the night comes and time seems to pass by unnoticed.
Children are all that the earth has to show
Children represent the future and hope for the planet.
Children are all that the earth wants to know
Our focus should be on nurturing and caring for the next generation.
Up here in the northland, up here in the snow
In the frozen northern regions of the world where snow is abundant.
Up in the wilderness, land of our birth
In the vast wilds where we were born and raised.
Land of our toil, land of our worth
This is a place where we have worked hard and proven our value.
I could stay healthy and wealthy and wise
I could be successful and knowledgeable in all aspects of my life.
For I love the snow other snowbirds criticize
Despite the criticism of others, I delight in the snow that blankets the land.
Tell that to a wife and you'll get a surprise
I may face unexpected reactions from my partner when expressing my feelings.
The skies of North America are covered in stars
The nighttime sky in North America is a breathtaking sight, filled with sparkling stars.
Over factories and farms, over hamlets and bars
The stars shine bright over all sorts of places, from industrial areas to rural communities.
The breeze of North America is breathless at night
The night air in North America is often still and calm.
Out there in the distance some souls are in flight
In the distance, there may be individuals who are traveling or exploring.
Some soft-hearted lovers whose goals are in sight
Among those who are out there, there may be loving individuals who are working towards their aspirations.
Here in my on-again, off-again style
I have a tendency to be inconsistent in my actions or behavior.
Here in my on-again, off-again smile
My moods can fluctuate between happy and sad.
Here in my off-again, on-again grin
Sometimes, I exhibit a lopsided or crooked smile that appears and disappears.
Here in my off-again, on-again skin
There may be times when my skin looks pale or sallow and other times when it appears bright and healthy.
Waiting for you to say let us begin
I am waiting for you to agree to start a new journey or venture together.
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.