[charlene]

comments at the site:

Comments
I think Gordon would do a great job on the topic of rich old men sending poor young men off to fight and die for oil.

Possible title ?

"Rich man's war...poor man's battle."

Posted by: John Davies | November 17, 2008 06:58 AM

Happy Birthday Gordon!!
I would love to hear him do another ballad such as Winter's Night because I'm occasionally very homesick for Canada over here in Switzerland. I miss the St. Lawrence and the Gatineau hills even if there are alps here. Canada will always be home and Lightfoot's music is always entwined with it. Is it true that the Railroad Trilogy was going to be considered as he National Anthem at one time? I'm sure I heard that.
MJ in Suisse


Posted by: Mary Jane Kelly | November 17, 2008 09:51 AM

hi tom of the morning of snow! just heard your instructions, so i re-post here. this comment is on the main radio2 blog.


to our cherished mr lightfoot,

democracy availing itself in the united states of america with president
-elect barack obama. through hope, love, faith, laughter and confidence. for these are our infinite ways of questing. the human souls desire knows no boundaries of flesh colours.

with warmth of spirit,
cynthia and family

17.11.08

nb he does have a darn cute, endearing smile that is contagious. ... sing of smiles ! contagious ones. yes. smiles that are contagious. now, that's pretty perfect. -c

nbb happy birthday gordon, onward and upward !

Posted by: cynthia and family | November 17, 2008 10:23 AM

Things 70 year old Gordon Lightfoot should write about:

1. Liver spots, wrinkled skin and hair loss.
2. Getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, over and over.
3. Cataracts and macular degeneration.
4. Loss of hearing.
5. Clinging to your driver's license when you're long past being able to drive well.
6. Kids today have no respect.
7. Dementia and Alzheimer's.
8. Falling and breaking a hip
9. Bathtubs with a door on the side.
10. I've fallen and I can't get up.
11. What was number 1 again?

Posted by: Bill Smith | November 17, 2008 10:45 AM

Sorry I am so late with this post. Out here in the country, the wireless doesn't always work!

Anyway, years ago Lightfoot wrote "The Canadian Railroad Trilogy", which I think is very appropriate today, with its subtle inferences about the impact of our clearing the land etc. It's always been one of my favourites. If you can't play it today, perhaps tomorrow. Lightfoot's Environmental Commentary.

Thanks,

Margaret Blank

Posted by: Marg in Mirror, AB | November 17, 2008 11:55 AM

I'd love to see Gordon hammer out another Canadian tale, something of the epic proportion and feeling of the Railway Trilogy. Something to give us back a sense of ourselves, of who we are struggling to be, and can still be as a nation.

Stan is gone. His "Rise Again" is a song for these times, certainly one Americans need to hear. Gord speaks of Canada mostly in poetic terms, but in the Edmund Fitzgerald and Black Day in July, he turned his thoughts to powerful human struggles.

He can do it again.

Posted by: Helen Walter | November 17, 2008 12:25 PM

Few of us have gone through the wide swings of personal health that Gordon has. Avid outdoors men, sailor,canoeist, smoker, drinker, near death expereince, re-built health and longevity. Perhaps he could write about the trials and tribulations and how it shaped his world view, his enthusiasm for life. I observed his life through all of the above, through his songs and performances. I believe he has some powerful insight into our health and our lives that would come out wonderfully in song.

Posted by: Joe Hewitt | November 17, 2008 12:31 PM

for Joe Hewitt,

What you write of is the same as I, in my earlier comment for Mr Lightfoot.
In 1981 a friend with cancer traveled to be part of a workshop with Norman Cousins author, editor of Saturday Review. [and much more]
"Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient" a book I have referred to for decades now. as recently as november 2007, I traveled to UCLA Brain Institute on the campus of UCLA to learn more, more and more, to bring forward longevity for a musician stricken with cancer. This is the foundation to this day of Norman Cousins Center: "purpose, determination, love, hope, faith, will to live and festivity. Mr Hewitt, your choice of words touched me deeply for the word "longevity" was in daily use as the musician navigated the mountains, swamps and quicksand of devious cancer. For myself, I am an avid "ocean sailor, re-built my health from a near- death" experience in 1993. i echo your desire and request of Gordon to have lyrics to such a song of "longevity"... I do not know it it is "blog" "comment" "post" correctness with CBC radio2, perhaps we could write lyrics, tossling through on this comment post ... ... an idea. No I do not, have not, ever written music, nor am i a musician. I placed this forward for "democracy" after imperialist rule by W. and Cheney. and you are absolutely correct; Gordon,
writing of such "would come out wonderfully in song".

thank you,
Cynthia

n.b. this is from the UCLA site:

"The Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology is dedicated to carrying on in the tradition of its founder, Norman Cousins (1915-1990). Norman Cousins came to UCLA in 1978 at the invitation of UCLA School of Medicine’s Dean Sherman Mellinkoff to join the faculty as Adjunct Professor of Medical Humanities."

'What brought him to UCLA was the quest for proof that a patient’s psychological approach to illness could have an effect on biological states and health. He was particularly interested in the impact of positive emotions and attitudes, such as purpose, determination, love, hope, faith, will to live and festivity.

If the brain played an active role in the healing process, might it be consciously directed for that purpose? What would the implications of such findings be on the treatment of serious illness? Cousins came to believe that a good vehicle for making such discoveries was the emerging field of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).'

Posted by: Cynthia | November 17, 2008 01:49 PM

What should Gordon Lightfoot be writing about today?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

This man's work is done and he's paid his dues.
The days for him going back and chaining himself to a desk are in the past. He's talked about this in public, about how it's taken it's toll on his personal life and presently he's enjoying himself touring, greeting his fans and spending time with his family.

There's still a hope of course from many os us long term fans that some of the material he wrote that never made onto a recording might find it's way in there, especially with the advanced technology we have these days.

Ih his song "A Painter Passing Through," the last verse opens up with the opening line:
"Now that I am old, let me rest a spell,"
Then it ends with:
"If you want to my secret don't come runnin' after me,
For I am just a painter passing through in history.


Posted by: Ron Jones | November 17, 2008 02:18 PM

Happy Birthday Gordon.
I saw Gordon Lightfoot with my husband so many years ago. My husband and I were dating and Gordon was just starting out. We saw him in a small town on a small stage and we had the incredible good fortune to talk with him afterwards. We have followed his career and attended many concerts at Massey Hall. We always take his cd's on a road trip, because Gordon Lightfoot is the one artist we both can agree on.
What to write about in all that is going on in this world today? Love! Peace!

Posted by: Kathy | November 17, 2008 02:32 PM

Happy Birthday, Gordon. How about another song similar to Leonard's line: "democracy is coming to the USA". Are we now able to have some hope for the world?

Posted by: Connie | November 17, 2008 02:39 PM

Gordon,

Happy birthday. The chords and lyrics of your music continue to ring in my head every day and I have been listening to your music for over 35 years.

Since we live more and more in our heads (or cyber space), I would hope you would continue to write about our connection to nature and the land. Our biggest challenges and for our children will be to learn to live in balance with what nature can sustain. Thank you for your gift and craft of music. Happy Birthday.

Posted by: Barry Adams | November 17, 2008 03:11 PM

Gordon Lightfoot should be writing and singing today about inner peace and fulfillment. It took a lifetime to find it in his life as well as in most of ours. His music is the finest of poetry. He is one of the greatest artists of all time. I love you Gordon and have a very happy birthday!

Posted by: Ivy | November 17, 2008 07:47 PM

What books do you and your girlfriend agree on?
She liked Vampire Romance, I read quantum Theory but
Farley Mowat was the author my sweetheart and I had in common.
I heard him interviewed on radio 1;
and he's still such a hoot.
Gordon should write 2 songs about him, a song for his cause and a comical song.
But he would have to have Tanya Tagaq at his side.
Names of the songs:
The Seige of the Farley Mowat,
The Man Who wouldn't Be.