Gordon Lightfoot

[fox69]

"Long River"

"Long River"



Where the long river flows
It flows by my window
Where the tall timber grows
It grows 'round my door
Where the mountains meet 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 by 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

Now if only you could see
The closin' 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 wonder
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

 

[fox69]

"Long Thin Dawn"

"Long Thin Dawn"



That long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again
I've seen the hills of Frisco and the streets of Montreal
In every town I've been to I've had someone to call
From Winnipeg to Edmonton, Vancouver to St. Paul
I've had so many good friends I couldn't miss them all

And that long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again

Last night I came to Denver beneath the snow-capped ridge
I thought about my darlin' as I stood beneath the bridge
And there were times I made her cry but I guess by now she's learned
That any time I've wandered I always have returned

And that long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again

Right now I'm on a highway just east of Omaha
Riding shotgun on the biggest rig you ever saw
With forty tons of pig iron and a trucker known as Bill
All the way to Windsor, we've got some miles to kill

And that long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again

While climbin' up a hillside, Bill drops 'er down a gear
And the engine sings so sweetly 'tis music to my ear
I tell him how I long to be just like him if I can
Drivin' like the restless wind across this precious land

Says Bill "the air is clean tonight" as he puffs a big cigar
"And if this rig keeps rollin', my boy you'll travel far
But when you are a trucker you'll come to realize
The only thing a man can do is watch the world go by"

And that long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again

That long thin dawn
That long thin dawn
Is comin' on again

 

[fox69]

"Long Way Back Home"

"Long Way Back Home"



From the railhead to the boatyard
From the factory to the farm
From the mines to the millhouse
I've weathered the storm
From the bar room to the bedpost
I've wasted my days
All I have is my drink
And the time left to think
While time slips away
Just look at my face
As you tell me goodbye
You'll see what I'm after
By the look in my eye
Just walk away
And leave me alone
It's a long way back home

Now in case you should ask me
What it is that I've done
Well I say I'm a soldier
Who once had a son
But my son doesn't know me
That's his right to choose
Oh say can you see
My best friend is me
I'm a friend I could use

Just look at my face
As you tell me goodbye
You'll see what I'm after
By the look in my eye
Just walk away
And leave me alone
It's a long way back home

Now the pages have faded
The story grows cold
And the plot falls to ashes
Like the ruins of old
Those rats in my rafters
They're after my shoes
And anything else
They can find on the shelf
I've said they could use

Just look at my face
As you tell me goodbye
You'll see what I'm after
By the look in my eye
Just walk away
And leave me alone
It's a long way back home
It's a long way back home

 

[fox69]

"Looking At The Rain"

"Looking At The Rain"



Looking at the rain
Feeling the pain
Of love lost running though
My brain
Looking at the wind
Watching it spin
The leaves along the street
You win
Waiting for a line to fall
Telling you it's all a big mistake

Looking at a face
So out of place
Inside that picture frame
Of lace
Looking at the wall
Wishing you'd call
And tell me you're OK
That's all

Wishing this was all a dream
And I'd find you sleeping when I wake

Looking at the trees
So ill at ease
From sleep that will not come
That's me
Looking at the dawn
Knowing it's wrong
Still thinking of your love
That's gone

Wishing this was all a dream
And I'd find you sleeping when I wake

Looking at the rain
Feeling the pain
Of love lost running though
My brain
Looking at the wind
Watching it spin
The leaves along the street
You win

Waiting for a line to fall
Telling you it's all a big mistake
But the words won't come
I know I'd feel the same
Looking at the rain

 

[fox69]

"Lost Children"

"Lost Children"



Down the hall their voices ring, their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky, together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue they're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside but they'll not laugh again

All the games are ended now, their voices have been stilled
Their fathers built the tools of war by which they all were killed
Their fathers made the uniforms showing which side they were on
And the young boys wear the middle name for guns to prey upon

You've seen the fires in the night, watched the devil as he smiles
You've heard a mother's mournful cry as she searches for her child
You've seen the lines of refugees, the faces of despair
And wondered at the wise men who never seem to care

Goodbye you lost children, God speed you on your way
Your little beds are empty now, your toys are put away
Your mother sings a lullaby as she gazes at the floor
Your father builds more weapons and marches out once more

Down the hall their voices ring, their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky, together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue they're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside but they'll not laugh again

 

[fox69]

"Love & Maple Syrup"

"Love & Maple Syrup"



Love and maple syrup goes together
Like the sticky winds of winter when they meet
When lonely lovers come to rest
Beneath the trees they do their best
But still they can't be free
Looking for the world to be
Anything but what they see
Longing to be understood
By the heart that shapes the wood

If you go into the forest, gaze up through the leaves
And see the sky that's almost wild
You must learn to understand
What makes the forest greet the man
Like a mother's only child

In the north when when winter's claw
Relaxes now to keep the laws of nature in control
People come and stand in line
To rob the forest of her wine
But they don't feel the cold

Looking for the world to be
Anything but what they see
Longing to be understood
By the heart that shapes the wood

Love and maple syrup goes together
Like the sticky winds of winter when they meet
When lonely lovers come to rest
Beneath the trees they do their best
But still they can't be free

Love and maple syrup shine like
Embers warm, like thoughts divine
They tell us it is spring
Love and maple syrup stir
The thoughts of people into words
Of songs that they can sing

Looking for the world to be
Anything but what they see
Longing to be understood
By the heart that shapes the wood

 

[fox69]

"Magnificent Outpouring"

"Magnificent Outpouring"



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

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
Of that old familiar story
That's been used a million times
To ease a million minds

So let us treat our love likeany 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
Of that old familiar story
That's been used a million times
To ease a million minds

 

[fox69]

"Make Way For The Lady"

"Make Way For The Lady"



Some life I've been livin'
Like a song in the night
Good sounds every moment
Good news and bright lights
Anytime I get lonesome
I just got to do the things right

Make way for the lady
You can do it my son
Makin' hay with no gravy
Brings the good folk down
Anytime you get lonely
You just got to turn it around

This life I've been given
It don't tell you no lies
Could've been somewhat wasted
How could it be otherwise
When the sound of the laughter
Brought the tears into my eyes

Make way for the lady
You can do it my son
Makin' hay with no gravy
Gets the day's work done
When a blue mood gets rollin'
You just got to turn it around
Turn it around

Shake hands with the father
The son and the holy ghost
The impossible believers
And the heavenly host
If you must do it better
You just got to do it the most

Make way for the lady
You can do it my son
Makin' hay with no gravy
Brings all the good folk down
When a blue moon starts risin'
You just got to turn it around
Turn it around
Turn it around

Make way for the lady
Turn it around

 

[fox69]

"Marie Christine"

"Marie Christine"



Have you seen the lighthouse shining from the rock
For the ship Marie Christine and all her gallant lot
Now have you seen the lighthouse
Oh we are close to land
Cried the brave young captain to his wretched band
Now have you seen the harbor cried Marie Christine
Have you seen the jagged rocks in the waters in between
Now have you seen the lighthouse
Oh save me if you can
For if you do I promise I'll never sail again

Now have you seen the lighthouse shining from the rock
Cried the brave young captain to his wretched lot
Now gather all your photographs
And don your coats of blue
If anyone can save us now, Marie Christine 'tis you

When I first saw Marie Christine the woman that she was
I ssigned aboard toman her sails and honor well her cause
I christened her with old champagne
And I drove her to the west
Of all the men who sailed on her, in truth I sailed her best

Have you seen the lighthouse shining from the rock
For the ship Marie Christine and all her gallant lot
Now have you seen the lighthouse
Oh we are close to land
Cried the brave young captain to his wretched band

Come all ye would be sailors
All ye would be sailors
All ye would be sailors
If anyone can save us now, Marie Christine 'tis you
If anyone can save us now, Marie Christine 'tis you

 

[fox69]

"May I"

"May I"



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 giant 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 blackbird 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