Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown | REACTION/REVIEW 

Sundown was a name Gordon had for the men who were stepping out with his girlfriend at the time. His career was in high gear and when he was busy writing songs, she was stepping out. He finally gave her the boot. Several years later that same woman was arrested and spent time in prison for administering the fatal speedball(heroin/cocaine) combo to John Belushi.

I think I read something years ago that the woman this song is about is the same woman who gave John Belushi the drugs that killed him, Cathy Smith.

Gordon is singing about his relationship with Cathy Smith in this song. He that knew she was sneaking around with John Belushi. Cathy Smith was purportedly with John Belushi at the time of his fatal overdose. I believe she served time for administering the injections that killed him.

Gordon lightfoot was an incredible songwriter storyteller, a Canadian icon! Dude had that hauntingly good voice that was perfect for storytelling

First time I heard this in 1974 I was I South Korea I love this song and I really liked Korea I was in the Army

I was so young when Sundown was released I had no ideal what the song was about but I fell deeply in love it.

Great song! I was so sad to hear of Gordon Lightfoot's passing away recently. Loved his music. One of the best songwriters & storytellers. He was a Canadian legend. My husband & I saw him in concert once. Some of his hits were "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon Of Darkness", "Carefree Highway", "Rainy Day People", "Cotton Jenny", "Black Day In July", "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" etc.

LOVE this swanky, groovy tune by the GREAT Gordon Lightfoot, regardless of who it's about! RIP Gordon ♥️🇨🇦

I think your interpretation is on the money. Love this song and loved your reaction!

Gordon Lightfoot was one of a kind! 🇨🇦❤️✌️

One of the best songs ever written and a good record. RIP Gordon. 💙 If you Could read my mind is another gem. P.S. Biz! If a man is alone in the woods and a woman isn’t around to hear him, is he still wrong?

i read it was a warning to a guy who was sniffing around his girl at the time. the urge to sing along is the most honest of reactions. i really enjoy your channel!

Gordon, Dave Mason, Al Stewart, James Taylor and Jackson Browne are masters at songwriting.

Love the guitars in this one.

1974. I remember hearing it on the radio back then without getting what it was about. Catchy hook. What did he have against sundown??? Heheheh. He's got it so bad for her it's made him jealous, suspicious, and slightly paranoid, paranoid enough to sing a song about it. 😀

Thanks for your reaction! Yes, you were accurate with your reaction about a woman he was involved with at that time. Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song in the 70's about Catherine Smith, a well known groupie and drug dealer that wrecked havoc on a lot of celebrity lives starting in the 60's with her involvement with Levon Helm and other members of 'The Band'. Gordon Lightfoot's fling with her was in the 70's and got him in trouble with drugs, the law, and caused him a very costly divorce from his wife. Cathy went on over the years to create even more havoc with other actors and musicians during that time period ( her story on Wiki is incredible). 10 years later in the 80's, Catherine Smith injected the fatal drugs that killed John Belushi but only served 15 months in prison for that!

Love it when the songs get you singing.

Early Morning Rain, Summer Side of Life, Carefree Highway, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, but there are so many more great songs, too many to list.

Gordon Lightfoot was the real deal. 🙂

Listening to a legend right there. Sundown kinda has a Bluesy feel to it.

A "Sundown" or Sundowner" is a guy that comes calling on your wife when you're not home. Husband has been noticing she's keeping herself looking pretty good, and doesn't always tell the truth anymore. He's got strong suspicions and only feels better when 'he's feelin' no pain'. "Feeling no pain" is an old Canadian euphemism meaning being drunk.

Great choice! So smooth, so light, but...subtly dark undertones. Love it.

A great singer songwriter musician R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot…

Loved that tune since the first time I heard it back in the 70s. Never really tried to figure out what it was about, I just like the music and his voice. Lightfoot has a very distinguished voice, you can usually recognize it immediately. As much as you enjoy lyrics you should listen to John Prine and Steve Earle. They have some interesting songs.

Bought this album in 75, it's all brilliant, discovered him in Canada in 74 on holiday.

Gordon was with someone at the time of this writing who was not good for him. So, he wrote this piece. Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest, right? Great song. There are plenty more songs from this Canadian icon. Enjoy!

It was the lady who overdosed John Belushi.

This is a GREAT song. Grew up in the 70s when Gordon was at his peak. He songs were on the radio a lot.

I was a kid when this was on the radio. It was one of my favorite songs. I still love it.

Dude. You are 100%! Good job brother.

Great song and a great reaction.

One of my Favs great story teller!

Love this tune

Ok Biz, you can sing! Your vocal range fits right in w Gordo's! 🔥 One of the things i love about Gordon, he could write some great sing a long songs. Saw him in concert 3x and the fans loved singing w him on the choruses. Must give a listen to his other masterpieces; The Minstrel of the Dawn, Beautiful, Rainy Day People, and Carefree Highway ❤

If you're singing along it must be a good one!

My favorite G. L. song

It's about alcoholism. Sundown the woman is actually booze. Sailor's Dream=wine, women, and a Royal Flush. "Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake" means every drunkard started w/ their very first drink.

Try "Carefree Highway", "Rainy Day People" and "Don Quixote".

Great pick, great reaction. You asked for the next song by him...I think that you should do "The circle is small".

According to Bob Dylan Gordon Lightfoot was the greatest Storyteller of all time rest in peace Gordo

I remember this song when I was a kid. It was the music that I really responded to. Had no idea what the lyrics meant back then but I loved the chorus.

I laugh out loud everytime u say "shlyrics" -- (so, thanks for that!)

This song is 14 karat gold.

Great song from the summer of 74'. I also liked a tune he did called "The Circle Is Small"

It was about a promiscuous woman. The song was inspired by a real woman named Cathy Smith. I think it was the same woman that injected John Belushi with a lethal dose of cocaine. Gordon dated this same woman briefly in real life. It's been a while so I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I heard an interview with Gordon in which he clarified some often misunderstood parts of the lyrics. I had always thought he was telling the girl not to be creeping round his back stairs. It was actually referring to a guy that wanted to see the girl. He was telling the guy he better not catch him creeping around his back stairs because she was in the house.

Lightfoot Recommendations: Carefree Highway, Rainy Day People, Early Morning Rain, For Lovin' Me and Beautiful -- just to name a few. ❤

……”Classic” track right there ! Mainstay on AM radio in the 70’s ❤️ great reaction Biz 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

YOU FOLLOWED WITH THE SCHLYRRRICCCSSS, RIGHT ON!!!😊

he called this a "back alley", blues song; dude a genius man

The girl he's talking about was his. She's also the one that did time for John Belushi's death.

Great one ❤

CANADIAN RAILROAD TRILOGY, PLEASE

Yep Biz. you 100% right........ The way I heard it, he always thought his lady at the time was cheating on him at the bars when he was at home trying to write songs and making some money. The very 1st line is what he thought his lady was doing at the bars with other men.

Great groove

I've been loving this song for my whole 60 year old life....and we don't know what the hell he is talking about...just a guy you need to run from.

Remember hearing this I seen now who Sundown was had an idea but didn't know for 40 years.

Not only are you right in your interpretation but I think I remember reading or hearing that that this was about a former marriage.

Dude I am totally cracking up at your comments afterwards. About, well you know, it's just so funny. It's true it's true. Our intuition can be screaming at us and we are like, hold up. I need to see something for sure. Lol.

My b my favorite song by him.

This song is about the woman he was dating and she was cheating on him and the woman was the same woman that used to date John Belushi she was his hook up and she was the one that gave him his fatal injection. I forget her name.

Singer song writer when you do two things you win in life the music business

I don't care how cool Gordon Litefoot looks like, run!

Biz you got the best channel on Utube. Thanks brother. You rock

I loved Gordon. Great story telling, marvelous lyrics and the voice - just beautiful 💔. Many good recommendations here in the comments. I thin that for something different, please try the Canadian Railroad Trilogy, an epic story telling song. Also love Rainy Day People, Carefree Highways, Beautiful, etc.... Can't pick a bad song RIP..

❤️‍🔥

Thanks brother

i like you singing along lol.

So good.

I ❤this song

This song is autobiographical, He was on a strong writing spree. His woman was going out parting every night. You were right "Sundown was the man sniffing after his woman.... Who wasn't really his woman anymore.

☮️💙💙💙🔥😎

From Gordon Lightfoot Carefree Highway early morning rain if you could read my mind wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and of course sundown

Next, "Carefree Highway" Please

In the 70s, this was how you said she belongs to the streets.

My understanding of what the song is about is similar to yours, but the lyrics aren't as straightforward as Lightfoot's lyrics often are, so I'm not sure. For your next song by him, I recommend "Carefree Highway".

😊 CAREFREE HIGHWAY

I think its a metaphor for the way one might feel when one is "high" like (from a woman's love) how we feel when on drugs? A warning to the wise. IDK . Love your reactions.

The woman was Kathy Smith (Gordon's girlfriend), she did jail time for the death of John Belushi

tweedley deedley doo, i like your videos

You should do a reaction of The Good Brothers. They was buddies

The only bad thing about this song is that it's so short. And yes, I think he's singing about being suspicious of the woman; he wants her bad, but he knows other men want her too, and he doesn't trust her.

I’ve been listening to this song since it came out. I have no idea what it’s actually about. Lol

If you did a reaction to Lightfoot's Cotton Jenny you would be the first one ever to do so! Everybody would copy you! Guaranteed

Carefree Highway is a good song too. He’s the cheater in that song 😉

A very overrated tune musically. The story is good though Gordon has much better songs like Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Beautiful, Early Morning Rain, and Song For A Winter’s Night! Biz please check those tunes out and I’m sure you’ll agree!