Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Gate of Horn
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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In my memory
Red light flickerin' on the tablecloth
Big, dark beer in front of me
How I wish that I was there
Standin' at the bar
Listenin' to Mr. Gibson play
It's a big old twelve-string
And it went like this
Gate of Horn, Gate of Horn
Glad I was Chicago born
Gate of Horn
Meant everythin' to me
I was barely seventeen
Little salty and a little green
Gate of Horn meant everythin' to me
Once in a while they'd play a jig
There was Judy and Peter and Josh and
Odetta
The Clancies and Mary and Paul made it better
Grossman and Tommy and Dickie and Lou
And when one was looking
McGuinn was there too
Then they came and tore it down
Songbirds scattered and we all left town
Gate of Horn
Meant everythin' to me
The lyrics of Roger McGuinn's song Gate of Horn are about nostalgia and longing for a place called the Gate of Horn. The Gate of Horn was a folk music club in Chicago in the 1960s that was known for its welcoming atmosphere and talented performers. The singer of the song is reminiscing about past experiences at the Gate of Horn, specifically listening to Mr. Gibson playing his twelve-string guitar. The singer laments that the Gate of Horn no longer exists and how much it meant to them, and how it was special to them as a young person. The lyrics mention other performers who the singer saw at the Gate of Horn, such as Judy and Peter, Josh and Odetta, and Clancies and Mary, emphasising the importance of this place in the inspirational and influential world of folk music.
The song perfectly encapsulates the feelings of a generation of young people who found solace in the simplicity and beauty of folk music. The Gate of Horn was an important cultural hub in Chicago in the 1960s where talented performers could find an audience and where people who were searching for their voice could find inspiration. The lyrics of the song convey a sense of belonging and community that was integral to folk music culture. The song also serves as a lament to the loss of these important cultural artefacts.
Some interesting facts about the song Gate of Horn include that it was written and performed by Roger McGuinn, who was a founding member of the folk rock group The Byrds. McGuinn was inspired to write the song after visiting the Gate of Horn nightclub in Chicago in the 1960s. The song featured on the album “The Folk Den Project” which was released in 2002. Another interesting fact about the song is that McGuinn played a twelve-string guitar himself, and he used this guitar on the recording of the song, giving the song a more authentic sound. The lyrics of the song are both nostalgic and celebratory, celebrating the vibrant folk music scene of the 1960s.
Chords: The chords to Gate of Horn are unfortunately unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Goin' to the Gate of Horn
I am remembering a time when I went to the Gate of Horn.
In my memory
This is just a memory from the past.
Red light flickerin' on the tablecloth
The light on the tablecloth was flickering red.
Big, dark beer in front of me
I had a big, dark beer sitting in front of me.
How I wish that I was there
I really wish I could be there again.
Standin' at the bar
I wish I was standing at the bar at the Gate of Horn.
Listenin' to Mr. Gibson play
I wish I could hear Mr. Gibson play his fine guitar again.
On his fine guitar
Mr. Gibson was playing a really nice guitar.
It's a big old twelve-string
The guitar that Mr. Gibson was playing was a big old twelve-string.
And it went like this
And this is how the twelve-string went.
Gate of Horn, Gate of Horn
Gate of Horn, the place I remembered and want to revisit.
Glad I was Chicago born
I was happy to have been born in Chicago where the Gate of Horn was located.
Gate of Horn
Gate of Horn was a special place to me.
Meant everythin' to me
This place held a great deal of meaning for me.
I was barely seventeen
I was only seventeen years old at the time.
Little salty and a little green
I was still inexperienced and somewhat naive.
Once in a while they'd play a jig
Sometimes they would play a jig.
There was Judy and Peter and Josh and
There were many performers at the Gate of Horn, including Judy, Peter, and Josh.
Odetta
Odetta was also a performer there.
The Clancies and Mary and Paul made it better
The Clancies, Mary, and Paul were performers who made the place better.
Grossman and Tommy and Dickie and Lou
Grossman, Tommy, Dickie, and Lou were also performers there.
And when one was looking
And when one was watching.
McGuinn was there too
I was there too, a performer among the rest.
Then they came and tore it down
Eventually, they came and tore the Gate of Horn down.
Songbirds scattered and we all left town
The performers scattered and left town after the Gate of Horn was torn down.
Gate of Horn
The Gate of Horn was still special to me even after it was torn down.
Meant everythin' to me
The Gate of Horn will always hold a great deal of meaning for me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACQUES LEVY, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind