Gordon Lightfoot

[fox69]

"Triangle"

"Triangle"



Oh the gist of it all is the first day of fall is the day when my ship will set sail
The best of all friends will say good-bye again there's still time for one last glass of ale
We'll sail away proudly, our backs to the wall on a southwind and lots of good cheer
And when we've looked over the white cliffs of Dover, We'll be in Bahama next year
From Bermuda on down the Triangle around us will teach us a lesson or two
There's many a mate who unevenyly stated the course he had charted was true
"Don't worry 'bout me," he said "Go down below, give a certified sailor a turn,
Just sip on your rum or I'll give you my thumb and say, son you got something t' learn!"
It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
So hand me my grip from an old sailing ship
Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips
With some luck tonight I might have her at my fingertips

Oh the best of all things is the first day of spring when when the water runs heavy and fast
The mermaids have all gone to Davy Jones' Ball
And it seems their first trip was their last
They had so much fun
They don't wish to return
to the beach where they lay all day long
They'd rather stay under
And boy it's no wonder
When all the rock lobsters roll on
It's a mighty fine way to be found

Triangle Triangle
Oh see my ship dangle
We're bound for Bahama my friend
Like lovers like danger
Like babies like mangers
But that's where my storybook ends
Like soldiers of fortune, believers in God
And all kings without crosses to bear
All sweepers and cleaners
with no misdemeanors
Should try the triangle out there

It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
So hand me my grip
From an old sailing ship
Put the kiss of dawn on my lips
With some luck tonight
I might have her at my fingertips

When she took her last tumble
The sea bottom rumbled
There was no confusion or blame
The captain said "Men we must answer again to the sea so ye may not complain"
And as they lay sleeping down there in the deep
With their faces turned up to the stars
A tuna fish turned
To a mermaid in bed and said
"There goes another sandbar"

It's a mighty hard way to come down
And a mighty fine way to be found
So hand me my grip
From an old sailing ship
Put the kiss of the dawn on my lips
With some luck tonight
I might have her at my fingertips

 

[fox69]

"Uncle Toad Said"

"Uncle Toad Said"



Uncle Toad sittin' by the old south gate
Waitin' them boys they bin stayin' out late
Uncle Toad thinks they're way out of line
Maybe they think he is past his prime
Uncle Toad said better straighten up right
When Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight

Uncle Toad lived in the wood out back
Lived in the shade of a utility shack
He looked in at the big brick housr
At the girls as quiet as a mouse

Uncle Toad said you had best get it right
When Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight

Uncle Toad tucked in the compost pile
Out by the back door look at him smile
He said kid stop drinkin' that brew
Plan while ya can or the joke's on you

Uncle Toad said better straighten up right
When Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight

Uncle Toad sittin' by the swimmin' pool
Sits in the sun when the weather turns cool
Sits in the sun when the girls walk by
Maybe they think he's a little bit sly

Uncle Toad said you had best get it right
When Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight

Uncle Toad sittin' by the cool mill race
All day long with a grin on his face
He said boys you had better not try
Kissin' 'em girls cause I won't stand by

Uncle Toad sittin' by the wrought iron fence
Lookin' at the moon like it don't make sense
We say Toad here's lookin' at you
Hopin' you get your wish too

Sway to the left, sway to the right
When Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight

 

[fox69]

"Unsettled Ways"

"Unsettled Ways"



Forgive me my unsettled ways
Don't linger in time or finger what's mine
Don't make me do
What you wouldn't do yourself
Forgive me the bad things I do
Don't ask me to change or exchange what I am
For something else
You know that wouldn't do

If time gets to heavy and you can no longer bear it
And you need someone to share it
Tell me girl, I'll try to make amends

Forgive me the ways of my heart
Don't try to pretend or lend me your love
Don't ask of me
What you wouldn't ask yourself

If time gets to heavy and you can no longer bear it
And you need someone to share it
Tell me girl, I'll try to make amends

Forgive me my unsettled ways
Don't linger in time or finger what's mine
Don't make me do
What you wouldn't do yourself
Don't make me do
What you wouldn't do yourself

 

[fox69]

"Waiting For You"

"Waiting For You"



Say what you will, I will miss you my friends
Let me move along for the road never ends
Vowing to live till the end of all time
All the way to the ends of the earth because I'm
Waiting for you to say you will be mine
Many long days, many long years
Many wrong plays, many wrong fears
I could be tossed in the arms of the sea
I could be caught between decks eternally
Waiting for you to ask what's keeping me

What would we do at the end of the day
When the hours are asleep and the time slips away
Children are all that the earth has to show
Children are all that the earth wants to know
Up here in the northland, up here in the snow

Up in the wilderness, land of our birth
Land of our toil, land of our worth
I could stay healthy and wealthy and wise
For I love the snow other snowbirds criticize
Tell that to a wife and you'll get a surprise

The skies of North America are covered in stars
Over factories and farms, over hamlets and bars
The breeze of North America is breathless at night
Out there in the distance some souls are in flight
Some soft-hearted lovers whose goals are in sight

Here in my on-again, off-again style
Here in my on-again, off-again smile
Here in my off-again, on-again grin
Here in my off-again, on-again skin
Waiting for you to say let us begin

 

[fox69]

"Walls"

"Walls"



I'm not ashamed
To say that I've loved you well
I'm not ashamed
To let you know
I'm just a name that's all
Scratched upon your wall
You've used it well but what the hell
That's what walls are for
I'm not ashamed
To listen to the fast-fallin' rain
In the morning upon my window
I'm not afraid to cry
I'm not ashamed to try
To be your friend once again
'Cause that's what's friends are for

Friends are for sorting out the hang-ups that we hide
Walls are for shutting out the love we feel inside

I'm not ashamed no to talk it over once again
To rearrange my vocabulary
But I can't seem to find
Any words to change your mind
Because I left them all behind
And that's what words are for

Words are for explaining the mistakes we might have made
Names are for calling when there's nothing left to say

I'm not ashamed, no, to say that I've loved you well
I'm not ashamed, and yet I know
I'm just a name, that's all
Scratched upon your wall
You've used it well, but what the hell
That's what walls are for

I'm not ashamed of wearing out my old grey socks
Chasing you around the back woods
I'm not ashamed to darn
Nor to proud to find some yarn
To sew them up once again
'Cause that's what socks are for

 

[fox69]

"Welcome To Try"

"Welcome To Try"



I have been down in the valley of tears
I have stood on the highest peak
For the best part of a week
Battered and bruised I had pulled myself through
Every seen I would never repeat
I have hung out with the beasts of the field
And with them I've spent many long nights
Got in some awful bad fights
I came unstuck, I was down on my luck
And I'm still gettin' over the bites

Sounds of my own heart breaking, not to mention my mind
Nothing can hurt me, a small voice said into a mike, take a hike
No one will lead me astray anymore
You are welcome to try if you like
Welcome to try if you like

I had been down in the valley so long
I had almost run out of respect
Got in right up to my neck
Battered but wise to the truth and the lies
That no layman would ever accept

Reaching for all of the good things in life
Can provide some suprises I guess
It may be the way we are dressed
These threads that you see mean so little to me
They don't count when they put us to rest

Late about dusk I would start to feel
One more day had been lost
Nothing I'd say ever seemed to convey
How I felt with that I have dealt
All of my children are healthy and sane
They may say anything that they like
Say anything that they like

Sitting alone in the Blue Ridge Saloon
Is no place for an angel to be
Ladies make faces at me
Battered but clean I had pulled my machine
Off the road, I was too tired to see

Wearing a smile like the rim of a cup
I will get down to my final point
There is no one left to annoint
And the sowing of seed was it good, yes indeed
It thrills me but only to a point

Use your imagination, try every trick in the book
My mother said with the life that I led I'd be broke
Holy smoke
All of my children are healthy and wise
They may say anything that they like
If they want ta preach and are not within reach
They may say anything that they like
Say anything that they like

 

[fox69]

"Wherefore & Why"

"Wherefore & Why"



When I woke this mornin', 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 candycane delight
I saw the milkman, I saw the business man, I saw the only road in sight
Then I got to thinkin' 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

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
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
So much to lose, so much to gain

 

[fox69]

"Whisper My Name"

"Whisper My Name"



Travel with me if you choose
Into a land of notions
Through the ruins of yesteryear
Set yer mind in motion
Be beside me win or lose
I will no forsake thee
I must do, so must you
Now will you go with me
I will build a home for you
To keep you warm each winter
Lemon lilies at your door
To give you in September
I will take you as you stand
I promise to defend thee
I must do, so must you
Now will you go with me

Whisper my name as you pass through my life
Whisper my name when you fall
I'm just a dusty old mem'ry ya trust
I'll be close by when you call

Give and take ain't always so
Seeing is believing
Down and out don't stop the show
Staying is not leaving
What we say ain't always so
But I won't deceive thee
I must do, so must you
Now will you go with me

Talk to me, run to me, whisper my name
Don't waste your love makin' friends
We've both had enough of that wonderful stuff
It's too easy to sin

Travel with me if you choose
Into a land of notions
Through the ruins of yesteryear
Set yer mind in motion
Be beside me win or lose
I will no forsake thee
I must do, so must you
Now will you go with me

Travel with me if you choose
I promise to protect thee
I must do, so must you
Now will you go with me
Now will you go with me

 

[fox69]

"Whispers Of The North"

"Whispers Of The North"



Whispers of the north
Soon I will go forth
To that wild and barren land
Where nature takes its course
Whispers of the wind
Soon I will be there again
Bound with a wild and restless drive
That pulls me from within
And we can ride away
We can glide all day
And we can fly away

Whispers of the north
Soon I will return again
To those endless afternoons
In sunshine and in rain
Whispers of my love
Days and weeks on end
I will share my thoughts of her
In prayers that I will send

And we can ride away
We can glide all day
And we can fly away

Whispers of the north
The river and the shore
In the land that tested Eskimos
Ten thousand years before
Whispers of my heart
In the tracks of animals
I will leave my footprints there
To lie beneath the snow

And we can ride away
We can glide all day
And we can fly away

Whispers of the wind
I will feel it sting
I will see it rise and fall
I will hear it sing
The sound is like a song to me
It takes away the pain
The river is the melody
And sky is the refrain

And we can ride away
We can glide all day
And we can fly away

And we can ride away
We can glide all day
And we can fly away

Whispers of the north
Soon I will go forth
Whispers of the north
Soon I will go forth

 

[fox69]

"Wild Strawberries"

"Wild Strawberries"



If I had a dollar, if I had a cent
I would play most anywhere if it would pay my rent
I'd be livin' on the downside in my old apartment
For the rest of my days
People always ask why the world is on the run
People like you and like me
Is it really true you can really never win
Movin' to the upside, tell me when does the fun begin

Deep as the see and as wild as the weather
We will go just you and me to pick wild strawberries together
Or be livin' on our own, in a cabin in a meadow
Or meanderin' alone, we can face the world forever or we'll
Hit the bounding main or be on a railroad train
Hit the boundless tide or be on a steamboat ride
Hit the bounding main or be on a midnight plane
Hit the pounding tide or be on a rainbow ride

People often ask me just the way it must feel
To be standing up here with you down there
Let it now be known that throughout all of these years
I have been wearing polka dot underwear

Deep as the sea and as wild as the weather
We will go just you and me to gather crabapples together
And be wandering along toward a cabin in the meadow
Or meandering alone, we can face the world together or we'll
Hit the bounding main or be on a railroad train
Hit the boundless tide or be on a steamboat ride
Hit the bounding main or be on a midnight plane
Hit the pounding tide or be on a rainbow ride

People always ask why the world is on the slide
People like you and like me
Is it really true there will be no peace left to hide
Turning to the upside, when does the fun begin

Deep as the sea and as wild as the weather
We might go just you and me to pick wild strawberries together
Or be livin' on our own in a cabin in a meadow
And the cows will come home
They can face the world forever and we'll
Hit the bounding main or be on a railroad train
Hit the boundless tide or be on a steamboat ride
Hit the bounding main or be on a midnight plane
Hit the pounding tide or be on a rainbow ride
Hit the bounding main or be on a midnight plane