Gordon Lightfoot's vocal quality was deceptive. THIS performance shows us why. 

It's hard to see someone like Gordon go. The world is a lesser place without him!

To call Gordon Lightfoot a Canadian icon is an understatement. There are no words to describe the loss of this man to Canada.

I'm a American guy ,68 years old,i don't know why but, Gordon's death has hit me harder than i ever would have thought.Canadian Railroad Trilogy,If you could read my mind, Sundown, Carefree Highway, Song for a Winters Night,Early morning rain and Circle of Steel are among my favorites...Fil ,i could watch and listen to you do this forever...thanks for focusing on his vocals which i always loved...R.I.P. Troubador....

When Bob Dylan says Gordon was his favourite song writer that carries a lot of weight. Gordon Lightfoot was admired by rock and rollers , country music lovers and folk music lovers alike . He was the ultimate wordsmith and many of his songs are stories.

no laser lights, pyrotechnics, flashy lights, smoke machines, scantily clad dance girls, just three guys strumming and Gordon singing, how simple life was back in 1974.

My wife and I, both Canadian, were agreeing that his passing is hitting us pretty hard. Will never forget the time that we flew from Toronto to LA and he was on the flight--and then saw him in concert at Universal Studios. Unique talented storyteller.

Thanks Fil for your tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. Your smile tells it all about your approval for this genuine singer songwriter. The bell was rung yesterday for Gordon at the site where he wrote of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Rest in peace Mr Lightfoot. One of the most gifted songwriters of all time. He's touched many hearts in this world. ❤🙏

Gordon Lightfoot passed away four days ago, and I still have “the morning after blues, from head down to my shoes.” I first listened to Gordon in 1971 and was blown away. He is the reason why I sing and play an acoustic guitar today. He was a big part of my life and millions of others’ lives. I have been working on “If You Could Read My Mind” for 35 years, and I have steadily improved, but his performance is like an asymptotic limit that I will forever approach but never reach. In 2002, he suffered an aortic aneurysm and was in a coma for six weeks. It was a miracle that he survived. But, even more miraculously, he returned to touring and never stopped touring. He achieved the musician’s ultimate goal. He died with a full run of concert dates scheduled. His music lives on for he was one of a kind.

Thank you for featuring Gordon again. One of the last of the troubadors. His voice was like sunlight dappled across water. What a wonderful talent the world has lost. ❤

As a Canadian, I would like to thank you for this. He is one of greatest icons and he loved to tell stories about the Canadian landscape with his songs. He will be missed.

One of life's sharp pleasures is harmonizing with Gordon Lightfoot while driving alone in my car. Beautiful voice, clear diction, perfect melodies, lots of heart, deceptively simple instrumentation. We have lost a jewel.

Sorry for our Canadians neighbors for losing a absolutely, incredible, talented man. Gordon will be missed by the world. Thank you Canada for sharing him w/us.

I could listen to him sing everyday and not grow tired of his vocals.

I'm crushed to hear of Gordon's passing. He was a master craftsman when it came to songwriting and his performances were perfection. Thank you for shining a light on this legendary artist.

Reminds me of when I hitchhiked to Canada in 1974 and this song was all over the radio. Gordon Lightfoot made a huge impression on us, his songwriting, musicianship and singing. We will miss you, Gordon.

Gordon Lightfoot was a giant. He actually transcribed and orchestrated his own songs. He knew how many bpm all the sections of his music was supposed to have. And his lyrics are so evocative. One of the greatest singer/songwriters of his generation.

Very nice tributer to Gordon Lightfoot. He was one of the great storytellers that emerge from the mid to late 1960's and 70's era, Rest in Peace Gordon Lightfoot and thanks for the music.

I was fortunate enough to see him several times in the late 60s and again about 5 years ago. He was a legend for a good reason. RIP Mr Lightfoot.

I saw Gordon Lightfoot live in 2010, front row center. I met him and his band after the show. Gordon Lightfoot is one of our Canadian music icons, and I'm a big fan of his music. A really great songwriter. May Gordon Lightfoot rest in peace. Thanks for sharing this analysis video. Cheers, Fil! ✌️🙏🇨🇦

Very sad to hear of his passing . I so loved his style and gentle voice .

I was so sad to hear of Gordon Lightfoot's passing a few days ago. Loved his music. One of the best songwriters & storytellers. He was a Canadian legend. My husband & I saw him in concert once. Thanks so much for doing a nice tribute to him.

Aw, Gordon Lightfoot. I am so glad I got to see him in the 1990s. My mother drove me to about 5 stores to find a copy of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Gordon Lightfoot was national treasure and his legacy will live on forever. Thank you for beautiful memories at annual April's concerts at Toronto's Massey Hall. R.I.P. Gord. 🇨🇦

Gordon Lightfoot, The Wreck of the Edmumd Fitzgerald, on my 60s off-white tube radio, glowing orange in the back, in my room in the late 70s. I was always haunted by the lyrics, "Does anyone know, where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours." RIP, Gordon, and thank you for the gift of your life.

Thanks for taking time to do this Fil. This is my favourite of all of Gordon Songs. I am of the age where I grew up listening to his music on AM radio. Iv never quit listening to his music and the new of his death comes as blow. Hard to quantify how much Gordon and his music ment to Canadians. He was a national treasure. He will be sadly missed.

Let me tell you... live music from this era was EPIC!! So many bands, songs and concerts. Gordon Lightfoot was as good as it gets! Top shelf!!🎶🎵🎶

It Makes me so happy that you enjoy Gordon's music Fil. We're awfully proud of him here in Canada.🥰 To know he's gotten his message and music to the other side of the world is incredible. Rest in Peace Gordon.

Hard to imagine that was almost 50 years ago. Gord has always been my favourite musician.

The burbling bass line adds a lot to this song too. I always loved that his band stuck together for so long

The passing of beloved musicians sure is painful. Thank you for helping take the sting out of it by looking at what made Gordon so phenomenal. Very enlightening!

I've just been watching a number of the tributes to Gordon Lightfoot on RU-vid today. As someone who grew up in the 60s and 70s in Canada, it wasn't so much that you were a Gordon Lightfoot fan, but that his music was part of the makeup of Canadian culture. If you were into music at all, you heard Gordon Lightfoot. His music was just everywhere. It didn't matter that he was an amazing instrumentalist, or that he had a unique voice, or that he had songwriting skills that even Bob Dylan envied. He had all those things and many more, but uniquely for the time, he was part of the heart and soul of what made you a Canadian.

Thank you Phil in honor of Gordon during our time of grief💔

As a Canadian, thank you Fil for appreciating one of our true icons! Gordon made a huge impression on so many of us, especially growing up to his music.

I was 16 in 1980 and got my first job. Dad would sometimes pick me up. He had Radio 2 on & the “album of the week” was Gordon Lightfoot. Each day they played a song from it. So many songs I knew and loved but hadn’t realised it was him! I bought the album before the end of the week, been a joyous part of my life ever since. RIP Gordon, you’ll be a huge miss x

TY Fil for covering Gordon. He was one of the all time greats, and will be sorely missed.

Good choice Fil. To me some songs are hard to hear lyrics but with Gordon you can't help but absorb everything he says with melody. Loved him.

My grandfather was a Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes, so I appreciate Gordon Lightfoot for writing about the Edmund Fitzgerald. I love his relaxed style of singing. Rest in peace🌹

It’s inevitable that we’re going to be losing a lot more classic rock/ folk country musicians in the near future, but only a handful are as talented as Gordon was ☮️💜🎶

Thank you for Fil for remembering Gordon Lightfoot. I saw him back in the 70's at a dinner show in Reno. It was a memorable show. He has so many wonderful songs. I have always loved his music.

Gordon Lightfoot has been part of my life for over 50 years. I got the vinyl record of Gord’s Gold, then got the CD. Then my daughter put it on my iPhone so I can have it everywhere I go. Thanks, Fil, for your thorough and touching analysis of this great musician!

I was fortunate to see Gordon Lightfoot in concert 3 times in different decades, and he was always awesome. One of a kind, finest songwriter of his time. So sorry to hear of his passing. RIP 🥀

Thank you, Fil. R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot.

So devastated by his passing, he's such an icon and ambassador for our country, Canada

I'm making an omelette and some steamed veggies, and I keep launching into harmony singing because of this video. Gosh I love this channel. This song in particular has meaning for me. Thanks, Fil, keep it coming, please.

Such a instrumental part of my life. I don't know how many times I played Gord's Gold. He's one of my all time favorites. So great to see all the outpouring of love back towards him now. What a mark he left on the world. What an artist he was. Thanks for the tribute here Fil.

How can one not smile throughout the entire performance. Love it!

An utter legend. The world is less without his presence. I will miss him.

Canadian Idol's Gordon Lightfoot week was one of the very best. Idol history was made when all contestants together played an instrument while performing Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

Lightfoot was the reason I learned to play, sing and write songs. He was my hero back in college. I watched this episode of course. I was a junior at the University of Washington.

Thanks for doing this video. His music will live on forever. My 30 and 27 year old boys are taking his death pretty hard. All ages love him

I'm still tearing up at all the accolades for Lightfoot.

Love this classic from Lightfoot . RIP GORDON

A Canadian girl here, who grew up hearing Gordon on the radio all of the time...part of the background to my growing up. Thank you for doing this song.

"If I could read your mind" is an amazing track. RIP

I've always thought that Gordon Lightfoot has perfect pitch. I've seen him in concert 4 times and I've never heard him sing any note off pitch! Love him !❤️❤️❤️

Thank you for this, Fil. RIP Gordon ❤

Gordie came to my hometown many years ago. He played so many small towns in northern Ontario back in the 60s. He was a perfectionist. That’s one thing all Canadians knew about him. He gave his all. That was reflected in his music and his amazing Storytelling and performances. He was sometimes called the Canadian poet Laureate. I think the nickname suited him perfectly. We’ll all miss him very much.

Love it. Music that I grew up hearing. I think I have all or most of his music also. RIP.

I was lucky enough to hear him in 1976 in Washington, DC, and again in Geneva, NY in 2018. The quality of each of his performances was great, even with 42 years between them! So glad I got to see him again. 😢

Thank you Fil, for the excellent analysis and appreciation of Gordon's work! I spent my teen years in Canada not too far from where he was born listening to his every song. He was our Canadian hero- deservedly! All of my friends have been feeling a great sense of loss at this time. Condolences to his family.

I was a teenager then. And Canadian. He was great, Canada was still cool, it was a good time. Im now glad we transplanted to the states (mom was Canuckian, dad was a yank). Gordon's loss has affected a lot of us, music was an entirely different entity back then. It's no wonder todays music struggles for significance and the geriatric tour" is still so popular with musicians in their 70s in bands from the 70s. Take a lesson, all you young, wannabe rock stars. Im proud to have played in many bands with names people would recognize and to have had this type of sound and performers as our influence. Gordon's songs are just as relevant and pleasing today as they were 50 yrs ago because the subject matter is deeply human and timeless and stories like the Edmund Fitzgerald is also something that touched us deeply in our emotions in a way that isn't dated or out of place as time goes by. As for style, keeping it simple yet poignant and accurate is something strived for and seldom realized that fits anytime, anyplace. He also was a singer who realized his vocal range/strengths, the notes that were natural for him and he lived there instead of trying to push past those parameters which ultimately distracts from when the right notes are carried and it takes away from the overall performance. He was very smart/humble/non-egotistical in his vocal work and it paid. Jonie Mitchell was another performer with an amazing vocal quality, good range and the sense to stay within the lines. As a counter example, Janice Joplin did actually have a terrific singing voice when she actually sang. But all the screaming and strained singing thatxwas the "style" she was known for covered up the natural notes and tones she carried with zero effort. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) only sang two notes but,* she sang them *reaally* well. 😊 I was friends with Warren Zevon and he had the same core abilities as Gordon that not many give him credit for because of the particular songs they chose as radio releases. Though fun and exciting to hear, they didn't have the timing, emotions and vocal uniqueness that comes through in his dozen or so albums and the "poison pen" with which he often wrote just didn't make the 3 minute, "short bus" mentality that so many record companies have decided to play. He takes you on journeys, right into the mental space of the songs likecin "Under the eaves" and "Mohammed's radio." Give Warren's music a listen and do try to review some of his other songs, as well as his popular aired tunes like "Warewolves of London," "Lawyers, guns and money" and "Roland the headless Thompson gunner." 😆 Thanks for making our brains work. 😊

Thank you for your great analysis Fil. May Gordon Lightfoot RIP.

The first song that I can remember hearing performed personally by Gordon was his "If You Could Read My Mind" from the early 70s. Before that I probably didn't realize that he had written the song, but was being performed by another artist(s) (example: "Early Morning Rain" from Peter, Paul and Mary").

I live an hour from his home town; worked in Orilla for a few years. Canada is mourning this tremendous loss ( as is the world ). You really bring a fresh light on just how talented Gordon Lightfoot was.

Thanks Fil for this tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. As a lifelong resident of Michigan his “ The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” has a special and personal meaning to me. I visited Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior when I was a young man. This is where the ore freightor went down during a severe Windstorm in November of 1975. Gordon’s lyrics told the story of this tragical history poignantly. He mentions”in a rusty old church in Detroit they pray”. He was singing of The Old Mariners Church on Jefferson Ave in Downtown Detroit right on THE DETROIT Riverfront across from his native Canada. It still stands today as a historical marker. 29 sailors lost their lives in the shipwreck and Gordon’s song is a great tribute and eulogy to these men. Once again Fil,thanks for this post.

For many musicians hailed as geniuses and whose work is dubbed "immortal" in their own time, their reputation actually proves to be ephemeral and fifty years after their passing, they have become footnotes in the chronicles of popular culture. Among the pathbreaking generation of the 60s/70s, Canada has gifted us with two songwriters who will absolutely never suffer this fate: Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell. People will be listening to their finest creations for as long as we have ears to hear.

I was 14 when this song came out I loved it in 1974 and love it more today then when it came out. Is that possible oh Ya wish the world was like it was in 1974.

His version of “Song for a Winter’s Night” is amazing! So smooth and soft. He will live on forever in his music.🇨🇦🥹

God Speed..Gordon..Love your Music..thanks Fil

My recently passed mama took me to see him. Portland, Oregon 1975. I was ten. I remember he stopped a few bars into a song, fairly angry, and yelled at the lighting crew guy operating the spot. Something about he didn’t care where he put it but to choose a place and lock it down ! I miss you mom.

I’m just discovering Gordon after his death and I’m really blown away. What a brilliant singer/songwriter. So many melancholy, beautiful tunes. Shouldn’t he be S celebrated as Van Morrison and James Taylor? Is he and I just missed out? RIP to this brilliant writer/performer.

I was so glad to have to opportunity to see him live at the grand re-opening of Massey Hall in November 2021 in my home town of Toronto ( his 168th show at the Hall since the 1950's! ). He was much older and fragile, in his early 80's, but he never waivered, and he never missed a beat. The music just poured out of him so effortlessly. No one else could capture the spirit of Canada though music like Gordon Lightfoot. RIP.

"He has this conversational space where his vocal always sits" For me, a finely crafted story will always beat out production values. Brilliant song and artist R.I.P. Thank you.😔

Only a master performer can, with a glance and a nod, get the entire audience to start clapping along.

Thank you so much. He meant so, so much to us ... he was the soundtrack to our lives, so many significant personal moments punctuated by hearing one of his songs on the radio, or covered by a band - weddings, proms, family get togethers, days at the cottage, driving from somewhere to anywhere in this massive country ... He will be missed.

This is a great song and performance by Gordon Lightfoot. Thank you Fil for this analysis tribute and may Gordon Rest In Peace.

I live in South Africa and grew up in the 1970's with his music. If you could read my mind is my favourite. His passing affected me more than I expected it to. RIP Gordon.

Great analysis and playing Fil!!! R.I.P Gordon, he was amazing in his style!!!

Great tribute. His song “If you can read my mind” is so poetic & heartfelt. Great videos. Thank you!

I weirdly "rediscovered" this song last fall and have listed to it more in the last 6 months than the last 30 years combined. Thanks for another great one, Fil!

Thank you Fil. This is so sad. I played his music over and over in the 70s and 80s. I saw him perform in the late 70s in Cincinnati. I waited around afterward, wanting his autograph on my program. He told me “I don’t give autographs, except for this” -and he kissed me! What a surprise!!

What a great storyteller and he could turn a phrase like no other. I visited his very small hometown back in the late 60’s because I was such a fan. He just paints that visual picture that draws you into the story.

Gordon is one of my musical heroes and to think that earlier this year he was still performing live and entertaining people. I even love some of his lesser known works like "Rainy Day People" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy". Rest in peace Gordon. You will be sorely missed.

He was a consumate musician studying composition...he wrote his own musical charts ....eg, he read and wrote the notes musicians follows.

I’m from Victoria, Australia and love, love, love this song. I consider myself so fortunate to have grown up in the 70’s. I will always maintain that was the best decade of music. Thank you Gordon Lightfoot for your contribution to the wonderful songs of my youth. RIP.

Superb video and a fitting tribute to a wonderful singer songwriter, poet and gifted musician. What a legend of a man RIP Gordon light foot. Thanks for the video Phil.

I may be ancient already but Gordon is someone I will always miss because he was a part of my life for as long as I can remember. ❤😢

Back then, no autotune. Good analysis! 👍 Bryan Adams tweeted in his tribute, "The world is a lesser place without him." RIP Gordon Lightfoot.

One of our greatest storytellers....Sadly missed already.

Thank you very much for doing this tribute. I'm grateful he was part of my musical heritage. I always loved his storytelling ability and had a particular soft spot for Gordon's "Minstrel of the Dawn."

We all lost so much with his passing; we are all so enriched that he shared his talents so generously!

@Wings of Pegasus you are truly the best Fil thank-you for all that you do for us ❤❤❤

Very glad you did this reaction video. Gordon was considered a mentor and a standard to rise to to many iconic artists like Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffett. My goodness! Who was this man? And he wasn't puffed up about it because I saw him live about 12-13 years ago when he finally went back on tour after some health issues. He started giggling like a big kid and said, "Elton is in town tonight and I still sold out." He was shocked that he sold out in minutes and had to add a second show. We weren't shocked. He seemed to not realize how loved he was.

LOVELY tribute to the late, great Gordon Lightfoot, Fil. THANK You!💕

Thank-you Fil for always giving us such a clear picture of these icons and their amazing talent. Got to see Gordon in live performance around 2010.. he was older then, but still hitting all his notes, and engaging the audience. Everyone knew all of the words to these songs, but didn’t sing along bc it would be such a dishonor of his amazing story-telling, and presentation. BTW… great t-shirt!❤️👑

I love the breakdown of this song. Gordon Lightfoot and he music was a treasure.

I had the great fortune to see Gordon Lightfoot perform at the NAC in Ottawa. He absolutely owned the stage. Every song was a little masterpiece.

Rick Beato shared a quote from Bob Dylan? Bob cited Gordon Lightfoot as his all-time favorite singer/songwriter... IMO, only fitting praise from one of the other best songwriters EVER... 🙏 RIP Gordon..."thanks for sharing your amazing songwriting and playing and singing and arranging with us...God truly had a hand on your shoulder while you were writing and performing, now he wants a personal concert..."♥️🎶🎵

I came to see if you had ever done an analysis of Gordon Lightfoot and here it is! Thanks for this. He was one of the poets of my generation.