GORDON LIGHTFOOT
DID SHE MENTION MY NAME
(United Artists UAS-6649)
April/1968
1.
DID SHE MENTION MY NAME
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
It's so nice to meet an old friend and pass the time of day
And talk about the hometown a million miles away
Is the ice still in the river are the old folks still the same
And by the way did she mention my name
Did she mention my name just in passing
And when the warning came do you remember if she cried a tear or two
Is the homesteam still on fire do they still win all their games
And by the way did she mention my name
[ ac.guitar ]
Is the landlord still a loser do his signs hang in the wall
Are the young girls still as pretty in the city in the fall
Does the laughter on their faces still put the sun to shame
And by the way did she mention my name
Did she mention my name just in passing
And when the talk ran high did the look in her eyes seem far away
Is the old roof still leaking when the late snow turns to rain
And by the way did she mention my name
[ ac.guitar ]
Did she mention my name just in passing
And looking at the rain do you remember if she dropped a name or two
Won't you say hello for someone there'll be no need to explain
And by the way did she mention my name
**********
2.
WHEREFORE AND WHY
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
When I woke this morning something inside of me
Told me this would be my day
I heard the morning train I felt the wind change
Too many times I'm on my way
Come on sunshine what can you show me
Where can you take me to make me understand
The wind can shake me brothers forsake me
The rain can touch me but can I touch the rain
And then I saw the sunrise above the cotton sky
Like a candy cane delight
I saw the milkman I saw the business man
I saw the only road in sight
Then I got to thinking what makes you want to go
To know the wherefore and the why
So many times now oh Lord I can't remember
If it's September or July
Come on sunshine what can you show me...
[ ac.guitar ]
Then all at once it came to me I saw the wherefore
And you can see it if you try
It's in the sun above it's in the one you love
You'll never know the reason why
Come on sunshine what can you show me...
So much to lose so much to gain
**********
3.
LAST TIME I SAW HER
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
The last time I saw her face
Her eyes were bathed in starlight and her hair hung long
The last time she spoke to me
Her lips were like the scented flowers inside a rain-drenched forest
But that was so long ago that I can scarcely feel
The way I felt before and if time could heal the wounds
I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more
The last time I walked with her
Her laughter was the steeple bells that ring to greet the morning sun
A voice that called to everyone
To love the ground she walked upon those were good day
[ strings ]
The last time I held her hand
Her touch was autumn spring and summer and winter too
The last time I let go of her
She walked a way into the night I lost her in the misty streets
A thousand months a thousand years when other lips will kiss her eyes
A million miles beyond the moon that's where she is
[ strings ]
But that was so long ago...
The last time I saw her face
Her eyes were bathed in starlight and she walked alone
The last time she kissed my cheek
Her lips were like the wilted leaves upon the autumn covered hills
Resting on the frozen ground the seeds of love lie cold and still
Beneath a battered marking stone it lies forgotten
**********
4.
BLACK DAY IN JULY
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Black day in July Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders you can hear it far and wide
The door are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black day in July black day in July
And the soul of Motor City is feared across the land
As the book of law and order is taken in the hands
Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land
Black day in July black day in July
In the streets of Motor City there's a deadly silent sound
And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground
Upon the filthy pavements no reason can be found
Black day in July black day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And the people rise in anger and the streets begin to fill
And there's gunfire from the rooftops and the blood begins to spill
Black day in July
In the mansion of the governor there's nothing that is known for sure
The telephone is ringing and the pendulum is swinging
And the wonder how it happened and they really know the reason
And it wasn't just the temperature and it wasn't just the season
Black day in July black day in July
Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild
They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake
And everyone is listening and everyone's awake
Black day in July black day in July
The printing press is turning and the news is quickly flashed
And you read your morning paper and you sip your cup of tea
And you wonder just in passing is it him or is it me
Black day in July
In the office of the President the deed is done the troops are sent
There's really not much choice you see it looks to us like anarchy
And then the tanks go rolling in patch things up as best they can
There is no time to hesitate the speech is made the dues can wait
Black day in July black day in July
The streets of Motor City now are are quiet and serene
But the shapes of gutted buildings strike terror to the heart
And you say how did it happen and you say how did it start
Why can't we all be brothers why can't we live in peace
But the hands of the the have-nots keep falling out of reach
Black day in July black day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black day in July black day in July black day in July
**********
5.
MAY I
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Finders keepers losers weepers
Ring around the rosy and I'll catch you if I can
And if you don't say may I then you'll have to start again
But first you must indulge me and count from one to ten
Let the game begin
I adore you when you touch me
Pin the tail upon the donkey you will surely win
And if you don't say may I then I'll pass the cake around
And I won't give you any but you won't make a sound
You don't eat soap anyhow
Red light green light blue light yellow light
You can take three time steps or a baby step will do
But if you don't say may I then I'll march you out the door
Where you'll be contemplating the numbers one to four
I hope you're keeping score
Cause if you don't say may I then I'll get you with the hose
And spoil your Sunday clothes
Will it please you if I tease you
While you're at the spindry I'll pass the pie around
But you won't make a sound you don't eat blackbirds anyhow
There's four and twenty reasons why it can't be wrong
How long have you been gone
Finders keepers losers weepers Peter Peter pumpkin eater
Wear your sneakers around sound sleepers
**********
6.
MAGNIFICENT OUTPOURING
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
It is said that all the good things must come to him who can pretend
He doesn't have to wait
For as surely as the light of day must come to drive the night away
The needles and the pins that's where the line begins
With your magnificent outpouring of that old familiar story
That's been used a million times to ease a million minds
[ ac.guitar ]
There are times when I have told you that htere must be two of us
To try to work things out
But if I can't see you every day then I must hide my thoughts away
And see you when I can and try to understand
With your magnificent outpouring...
[ ac.guitar ]
So let us treat our love like any game to fan the flames
Would really be a sin
For as surely as the snow must fall I shall be waiting for your call
Pretending it is spring and you'll be mine again
With your magnificent outpouring...
With your magnificent outpouring...
**********
7.
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Does your mother know you had to go someday
Does your mother know that you would grow so fast anyway
That's all you think about you'd call her if you could
But the letters that you write in the faded winter light
Just tell her they tell her
That you've got ten dollars and you'll be all right
And when you get straight you're gonna come back east some day
Does your mother know you have a man in the west
Does your mother know you drove him from your door anyway
That's all you think about you'd call her if you could
[ strings ]
Does your mother know you walked all day in the rain
Does your mother know how deep your love could be anyway
That's all you think about you'd call her if you could
But the letters that you write in the faded winter light
Just tell her they tell her
That you've got ten dollars and your rent costs eight
And when you get straight you're gonna come back east some day
But the letters that you write in the faded winter light
Just tell her they tell her
**********
8.
MOUNTAIN AND MARYANN
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
All is well I've made my peace where highways never end
Yesterday's a memory today is just a friend
For the mountains and Maryann are calling me again
And the red pines will bow their heads
The rivers and the watersheds will swallow up my tears
All is well I left the cold midwestern towns behind
There's a semi up the road ahead I'll take him in my time
For the hot-blooded mountain love is calling me again
And the vagabond within me cries the wind and rain might burn my eyes
But I won't feel the pain
For the mountains and Maryann will greet me there as only she can do
All is well as I swing up to the border bent for hell
And the service station man agreed I didn't look too well
But the mountains and Maryann are calling out to me
And I got my bedroll on my back
And everything that I could pack to see me on my way
All is well I've made my peace and man I'm feeling fine
And the losers that I left behind I'll think about some other time
For the border men were all my friends they couldn't find a dime
And the prairie tales will sailing by
Saskatchewan there's mud in your eye I'm leaving you behind
There'll be hot-blooded mountain love to satisfy my soul
And the red pines will bow their heads
The rivers and the watersheds will carry us along
For the mountains and Maryann will greet me there as only she can do
All is well the foothills are coming into sight
Today is just a memory the future is tonight
And the red pines will bow their heads
The rivers and the watersheds will carry us along
And the mountains and Maryann will greet me there as only she can do
**********
9.
PUSSYWILLOWS CAT-TAILS
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Pussywillows cat-tails soft winds and roses
Rainpools in the woodland water to my knees
Shivering quivering the warm breath of spring
Pussywillows cat-tails soft winds and roses
Catbirds and cornfields daydreams together
Riding on the roadside the dust gets in your eyes
Reveling disheveling the summer nights can bring
Pussywillows cat-tails soft winds and roses
Slanted rays and colored days stark blue horizons
Naked limbs and wheat bins hazy afternoons
Voicing rejoicing the wine cups do bring
Pussywillows cat-tails soft winds and roses
Harsh nights and candlelights wood fires a blazing
Soft lips and fingertips resting in my soul
Treasuring remembering the promise of spring
Pussywillows cat-tails soft winds and roses
**********
10.
I WANT TO HEAR IT FROM YOU
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
I want to hear it from you
I want to hear it from someone who knows how it is
All the second-hand words seem to get in my way
I want to hear it from you
I want to hear it again
I want to know if the soft scented touch of your lips
Must be taken away like a mother's first kiss
To the life that she gives
I want to hear it from you
I've got a right to get it straight from you
To give my life a different point of view
To find a way to keep from losing you
If you don't know what to say
To understand is my life and the question is why
You should cry in the night while your eyes look away
Every time that I speak and there's nothing to say
I want to hear it from you I want to hear it from you
Let me know how you feel you've got to make up your mind
Tell me where can I run when my roof tumbles in
I want to hear it from you I want to hear it from you
**********
11.
SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
She was something very special to me the kind of girl you'd like to see
In a movie or a rosary
She could be straight-laced or homespun or free and easy on the run
She could be meek and mild or full of fun
She liked country lanes and aeroplanes and cigarettes would make her strange
And when she wanted you she made it plain
She would never say where she came from it didn't seem that she had anyone
To answer to or dwell upon
She liked candlelight and good wine and I would call her any time
Of day or night she didn't mind
The was nothing that I wouldn't do to prove to her my love was true
And she gave to me a dream or two
There were times when she would never appear for days and then she'd disappear
But now the days have turned to years
I was something she could use like a good friend or a pair of shoes
Or any kind of good news
Now the eastern sky is crimson and red as I lie here in my lonely bed
And think about the things she said
She said darling there will come a day when I must run far away
I will go my love and you must stay
She departed in the early spring she didn't leave me anything
To follow or to find her
She was something very special to me the kind of girl you'd like to see
In a movie or a rosary
**********
12.
BOSS MAN
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '68 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Boss man boss man what do ya say
I gotta get you alone in the mine some day
Boss man boss man turn it around
If you don't look away how can I sit down
Look at this load upon my back
Gotta get this wheel back on the track
I can't hold on but I can't let go
And I can't say yes I can't say no
Holes in my pockets and holes in my shoes
If you're ready for me I'm ready for you
The company plan takes all my pay
Got a child in July and another last May
Boss man boss man what do you say
Gonna get you alone in the mine some day
Push your face down in the coal
Cause you got no heart you got no soul
Country life's the life for me
In ten more years I'll a pensioner be
The younger lad knows when the girls are out
But you might say he's a rural sprout
Boss man boss man what do you say
Gonna get you alone in the mine some day
Boss man boss man clear the track
You're gonna tear the skin right off my back
Boss man boss man what do you say
If you can't lend a hand then get out of my way
It'll be murder in the first degree
If you ever lay your hands on me
Boss man boss man pay my rent
A dollar I've earned is a dollar I've spent
The company plan takes all my check
For breaking my back and risking my neck
Boss man boss man what do you say
I gotta get you alone in the mine some day
I can't hold on but I can't let go
And I can't say yes I can't say no
**********