Gordon Lightfoot The Troubadour
'Did She Mention My Name Just in Passing',
Kept running through my mind;
It was the first Gordon Lightfoot song I ever heard,
Way back in Nineteen sixty-nine.
Gordon Lightfoot has passed away,
In Toronto just last night;
With his friends and family by his side,
He had put up a very good fight.
Gordon passed away at the age of eighty-four,
He made music all of his life;
Some of the best songs ever written,
About everyday struggles and strife.
He was the favorite singer of many,
Who all loved to sing his songs;
Marty Robbins, Glen Campbell and Elvis,
Were just a few who used to sing along.
Gordon began his career in Orillia,
A small Northern Ontario town;
He would soon become world-famous,
Singing his songs of renown.
Gordon performed all over the world,
And many times at Massey Hall;
He was there more than any other singer,
It was his favorite place of all.
He sang his songs about Canada,
And all of the Great White North;
About the Canadian Railroad Trilogy,
As the big train went charging forth.
He sang about the Edmund Fitzgerald,
And the lives of twenty-nine men;
Who were lost on the lake when their big ship went down,
He was always busy with his pen.
Gordon had some serious health problems,
About twenty years ago;
He was in hospital for a couple of months,
Before he could once again come and go.
But then very soon he was back on the road,
Performing just like before;
He had concerts all over the country,
As all his fans cried out for more.
But then his workload took its toll,
And he had to once again slow down;
And try to recover his health again,
At his home in Toronto town.
It was only about a few weeks ago,
That he needed to rest once again;
He cancelled all of his concerts,
As he tried to get his health on the mend.
He passed away early last night,
But he put up a valiant fight;
His illness finally got the best of him,
And extinguished this bright shining light.
Bob Dylan was a friend of Gordon,
And he liked to sing Gordon's songs;
He never heard a song he didn't like,
Of this great Canadian Icon.
But Gordon's music will live forever,
And it's sad that he is gone;
But I'm glad he was here for so many years,
As he performed his beautiful songs!
Bob Bartlett,
North Bay
