GORDON LIGHTFOOT
LIGHTFOOT
(United Artists UAS-6487)
January/1966
1.
RICH MAN'S SPIRITUAL
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
Gonna but me a long white robe yes Lord to help me home
Gonna but me a long white robe yes Lord to help me home
And when I get my heavenly gown and I lay my burden down
I'm gonna get me a long white robe to get me home
Gonna buy me two golden slippers yes Lord to walk me home
Gonna buy me two golden slippers yes Lord to walk me home
And when I get my slippers of gold then the Lord will have my soul
I'm gonna get me two golden slippers to get me home
Gonna buy me two wings of silver yes Lord to fly me home
Gonna buy me two wings of silver yes Lord to fly me home
And when I get my silvery wings then an angel choir will sing
I'm gonna get me two wings of silver to get me home
Gonna buy me a poor man's trouble yes Lord to help me home
Gonna buy me a poor man's trouble yes Lord to help me home
And when I get my trouble and woe then homeward I will go
I'm gonna get a little trouble and woe to get me home
Gonna find me a smiling angel yes Lord to lead me home
Gonna get me a smiling angel yes Lord to lead me home
And when he takes me by the hand I know the Lord will understand
I'm gonna get me a smiling angel to lead me home
I'm gonna get me a smiling angel to lead me home
**********
2.
LONG RIVER
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
Where the long river flows it flows by my window
Where the tall timber grows it grows round my door
Where the mountain meets the sky and the white clouds fly
Where the long river flows by my window
There's a tiny bird that calls and he calls round my window
There's a lonely tear that falls and it falls round my door
But when the sun is high there's no time to cry
Where the long river flows by my window
[ whistle ]
Now if only you could see the closing of the day
If only you could be where the dawn breaks away
By the white cascade oh down in the glade
Where the long river flows by my window
Well when this land was made it was made full of wonders
But one woman's love I can't understand
And I'd give it all to you if her love were true
Where the long river flows by my window
Where the long river flows by my window
**********
3.
WAY I FEEL
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
The way I feel is like a robin
Whose babes have flown to come no more
Like a tall oak tree alone and crying
When the birds have flown and the nest is bare
Now a woman Lord is like a young bird
And the tall oak tree Is a young man's heart
Among its boughs you'll find her nesting
When the nights are cool she is warm and dry
Your coat of green it will protect her
Her wings will grow your love will too
But all too soon your mighty branches
Will cease to hold her she'll fly from you
[ ac.guitar ]
Now the way I feel is like a robin...
When the birds have flown and the nest is bare
**********
4.
FOR LOVIN' ME
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '64 WB Music, ASCAP »
That's what you get for lovin' me
That's what you get for lovin' me
Everything we had is gone as you could see
That's what you get for lovin' me
I ain't the kind to hang around
With any new love that I found
Cause movin' is my stock in trade I'm movin' on
I won't think of you when I'm gone
So don't you shed a tear for me
Cause I ain't the love you thought I'd be
I got a hundred more like you so don't be blue
I'll have a thousand fore I'm through
Now there you go you cry again
Now there you go you cry again
But then someday when your poor heart is on the mend
Well I just might pass this way again
That's what you get for lovin' me...
That's what you get for lovin' me
**********
5.
FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
(Ewan McColl - Peggy Seeger)
« © '62 WB Music, ASCAP »
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies my love
To the dark and the empty skies
The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth turn in my hands
Like a trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command my love
That was there at my command
And the first time ever I lay with you
And felt your heart so close to mine
I thought our joy would fill the earth
And last till the end of time my love
And last till the end of time
The first time ever I saw your face...
**********
6.
CHANGES
(Phil Ochs)
« © '66 WB Music, ASCAP »
Sit by my side come as close as the air
Sharing a mem'ry of grey
And wander in my words and dream about the pictures that I play
Of changes
Green leaves of summer turn red in the fall
To brown and to yellow they fade
And then they have to die trapped within the circle time parade
Of changes
[ ac.guitar ]
Moments of magic will glow in the night
All fears of the forest are gone
For when the morning breaks they're swept away by golden drops of dawn
Of changes
Passions will part to a warm melody
As fires will sometimes turn cold
Like petals in the wind we're puppets to the silver strings of souls
Of changes
[ ac.guitar ]
Your tears will be trembling now we're somewhere else
One last cup of wine we will pour
I'll kiss you one more time and leave you on the rolling river shore
Of changes
**********
7.
EARLY MORNING RAIN
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '62 WB Music, ASCAP »
In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home and I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain with no place to go
Out on runway No 9 big 7-0-7 set to go
But I'm stuck here in the grass where the cold wind blows
Now the liquor tasted good and the women all were fast
Well there she goes my friend well she's a rolling now at last
Hear that mighty engines roar see the silver bird on high
She's away and westward bound far above the clouds she'll fly
Where the morning rain don't fall and the sun always shines
She'll be flying o'er my home in about three hours time
This old airport's got me down it's no earthly good to me
Cause I'm stuck here on the ground as cold and drunk as I can be
You can't jump a jet plane like you can an freight train
So I'd best be on my way in the early morning rain
You can't jump a jet plane...
**********
8.
STEEL RAIL BLUES
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '66 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Well I got my mail late last night
A letter from a girl who found the time to write
To her lonesome boy somewher's in the night
She sent me a railroad ticket too to take me to her lovin' arms
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
Well I bin out here many long days
I haven't found a place that I could call my own
Not a two bit bed to lay my body on
I bin stood up I bin shook down I bin dragged into the sand
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
Uh huh huh...
Well I bin up tight most every night
Walking along the streets of this old town
Not a friend around to tell my troubles to
My good old car she done broke down cause I drove it into the ground
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
Well I look over yoden cross the plain
The big drive wheels a poundin' along the ground
Gonna get on board and I'll be homeward bound
I ain't had a home cooked meal and Lord I need one now
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
Uh huh huh...
Now here I am with my hat in my hand
Standin' on the broad highway will you give a ride
To a lonesome boy who missed the train last night
I went in town for one last round and I gambled my ticket away
And the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love
Uh huh huh...
**********
9.
SIXTEEN MILES
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
Early in the morning when the dew is on
Each and every rosebud you will find me gone
So knock me down and pick me up and knock me down again
Break my heart and steal my gold and slander my good name
Seven lonely hours on a morning train
Take me to a place where I won't come back again
Seven lonely Pullmans speedin' down the line
Takin' me away from an old love of mine
[ ac.guitar ]
Sixteen miles to Seven Lakes way up among the pines
In some hidden valley where the twirling river twines
Where the fish swim up and down and sparklin' waters fall
Where the thunder rolls and the lonely puma calls
Somewhere on the mountain I'll take another name
Rid my mind of memories and start my life again
Somewhere in the wilderness I'll build a cabin small
Then forget so I won't remember you at all
**********
10.
I'M NOT SAYIN'
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
I'm not sayin' that I love you
I'm not sayin' that I'll care if you love me
I'm not sayin' that I'll care
I'm not sayin' that I'll be there when you want me
I can't give my heart to you
Oh tell me that I'll sing you name up to the sky
I can't lay the promise out
But I'll always be around when you need me
I may not be alone each time you see me
Along the street or in a small cafe
But still I won't deny you or mistreat you
Baby if you let me have my way
I'm not sayin' I'll be sorry
For all the things that I might say that make you cry
I can't say I always do the things you want me to
I'm not sayin' I'll be true but I'll try
Now I may not be alone each time you see me
Or show up when I ppromised that I would
But still I won't deny you or mistreat you
Baby if you love me like you should
I'm not sayin' I'll be sorry...
I can't say I always do the things you want me to
I'm not sayin' I'll be true but I'll try
**********
11.
PRIDE OF MAN
(Hamilton Camp)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
Turn around go back down back the way you came
Can't you see that flash of fire ten times brighter than the day
And behold a mighty city broken in the dust again
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again
Turn around go back down back the way you came
Babylon is laid to waste Egypt's buried in a shame
Their mighty men 're beaten down the king have fallen in the ways
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again
Turn around go back down back the way you came
Terror is on every side though the leaders are dismayed
Those who put their faith in fire in fire their faith shall be repayed
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again
Turn around go back down back the way you came
Shout a warning to the nations that the sword of God is raised
On Babylon that mighty city rich in treasure wide in fame
It shall cause thy tower to fall make it be a pyre of flame
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again
Oh I've looked well on many waters rich in treasure wide in fame
Bowing to a God of gold thy pride of might shall be Thy shame
Oh God the pride of man broken in the dust again
And only God can lead the people back into the earth again
Thy holy mountain be restored on Thy people Lord
**********
12.
RIBBON OF DARKNESS
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '66 Early Morning Music, SESAC »
Ribbon of darkness over me since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before ribbon of darkness over me
Clouds are gathering o'er my head they kill the day and hide the sun
And shroud the night when day is done ribbon of darkness over me
Rain is falling on the meadow where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow my love goodbye
Ribbon of darkness over me where once the world was young as spring
Where clouds're blooming birds did sing ribbon of darkness over me
[ whistle ]
Here in this cold room lying don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dying to forget you
How I wish your heart could see my mind just takes the breaks of day
Come on home and take away this ribbon of darkness over me
Yes come on home and take away this ribbon of darkness over me
**********
13.
OH LINDA
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
Oh Linda you done me wrong I'm gonna sing you a goodbye song
Sing the song that's most unkind
I ain't even gonna try to change your mind
Oh Linda you made me grieve I feel like I could die
Look out baby the moon is falling down from your sky
Oh gal don't you say goodbye
Now that I need you by my side love me now or be on your way
If you go be gone to stay
I saw Linda late last night dressed for town she looked all right
Painted eyes and lips like wine walkin' on down with a friend of mine
Oh gal don't you say so long I feel like I could die
Look out baby the moon is falling down from your sky
Oh gal don't you be unkind
I ain't even gonna try to change your mind
Love me now or be on your way if you go be gone to stay
Oh Linda you made me grieve...
Now that I need you by my side you can have everything I own
Take everything but a come on home
Oh gal don't you say so long I feel like I could die
Look out baby the moon is fallin' down from your sky
Oh gal you doin' me wrong I'm gonna sing you a goodbye song
Sing the song that's most unkind
I ain't even gonna try to change your mind
**********
14.
PEACEFUL WATERS
(Gordon Lightfoot)
« © '65 WB Music, ASCAP »
The dead leaves of autumn that cling so desperately
Must fly before the cold October wind
Their simple life is ended must they be born to die again
O may the light of freedom shine for all the world to see
And peace and joy to all mankind through all the years to be
For soon the leaves will die and the long hard wind will blow
May this world find a resting place where peaceful waters flow
**********