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.
hey you
Gordon Lightfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have found you bending your own rules
Thank you I don't mind if I do
Dream a while of the lovin' that we knew
There was such a flaming time
I never will forget
It was all so easy then
Hey you my angel in blue
Mother Nature saved her best for you
Green grow the lilacs on the wall
Heaven help them, catch them as they fall
Hey you angel in disguise
What is your angle what is your surprise
Hey you fever that is mine
What is your game plan what is your design
Reality brings mystery
And ne'er the twain shall meet
And all of my wild horses
Cannot pull you off your feet
Hey you angel on my mind
All around me til the end of time
Thank you I don't mind if I do
Dream a while of the lovin' that we knew
There was such a flaming time
I never will forget
It was all so easy then
This is my one regret
Hey you my angel in blue
I'm entangled tell me what to do
Green grow the lilacs on the wall
Heaven help them catch them as they fall
The song "Hey You" by Gordon Lightfoot is a tender ballad that speaks to the yearning for a lost love. The song opens with the singer addressing his former lover on a "ship of fools," and he notes that he has caught her "bending your own rules." Despite this, he expresses gratitude for the opportunity to "dream a while" about the love they once had. The song continues with the singer reminiscing about the wonderful times they had together, noting that he never forgot the "flaming time" they shared, but that at the same time, this is also his "one regret."
The singer continues to describe his former love in different ways - as an "angel in blue," someone for whom "Mother Nature saved her best," and an "angel in disguise." The singer also acknowledges the hold that this person still has on him, saying that he can't get them out of his mind and that he is "entangled" with them. However, even as he expresses his devotion, the singer also acknowledges his confusion about this love, admitting that he doesn't quite understand "what is your angle, what is your surprise." Ultimately, the singer concludes by thanking his former love once again, asking only to be allowed to "dream a while of the lovin' that we knew."
Overall, "Hey You" is a contemplative, bittersweet reflection on a lost love, expressing both gratitude for what was and a sense of wistful regret about what might have been. The lyrics capture the singer's mix of yearning and confusion, as he tries to make sense of his feelings for this person who still holds such a powerful place in his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you upon this ship of fools
Addressing someone who is part of this misguided, lost group of people
I have found you bending your own rules
Noticing that this person is breaking their own guidelines or principles
Thank you I don't mind if I do
Grateful for the opportunity and accepting it willingly
Dream a while of the lovin' that we knew
Recalling fond memories of the romantic relationship they had
There was such a flaming time
Remembering a passionate and intense period in their past
I never will forget
Assuring that this memory will remain with them forever
It was all so easy then
Reflecting on how effortless things seemed at the time
This is my one regret
Expressing remorse over something they wish they had done differently
Hey you my angel in blue
Addressing someone whom the artist views as pure, virtuous, and perhaps even divine
Mother Nature saved her best for you
Describing the beauty and elegance of this person in terms of natural wonders
Green grow the lilacs on the wall
Observing that nature also flourishes around this person, perhaps symbolizing a harmonious relationship with their surroundings
Heaven help them, catch them as they fall
Concerning the safety and well-being of those who may be affected if this person were to falter or fail
Hey you angel in disguise
Addressing someone who may not be revealing their true nature or intentions
What is your angle what is your surprise
Questioning this person's motivations and what they may have in store
Hey you fever that is mine
Addressing a passion or desire within themselves
What is your game plan what is your design
Questioning what steps to take to achieve their objective
Reality brings mystery
Expressing the ambiguity and complexity of daily life
And ne'er the twain shall meet
Implying that some things may never be reconciled or understood
And all of my wild horses
Possibly referring to the concept of 'taming one's wild horses' or reining in their passions
Cannot pull you off your feet
Suggesting that this person is firmly grounded or immovable in their position or beliefs
Hey you angel on my mind
Addressing someone who occupies a significant portion of the artist's thoughts
All around me til the end of time
Expressing the enduring or infinite nature of this person's presence in their life
I'm entangled tell me what to do
Feeling trapped or caught up in a situation and seeking guidance
Heaven help them catch them as they fall
Repeating an earlier line, perhaps to emphasize the importance of looking out for others
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.