The Untold Truth Of Gordon Lightfoot 

Gordon Lightfoot was our Canadian storyteller and will be missed. RIP Gordon.

I wish I knew you while your book was still a manuscript. I had a one-on-one meeting with Gordon Lightfoot in about 2010 when drunk I wandered into the concert hall late.. and staggeringly drunk. Gordon's band and his stuff packed, he walked off the stage toward me and then gracious as could be aware of my obvious state sat next to me and while I struggled to remain coherent he was SO kind. I am a Christian, and not being drunk, I would have spent an eye opening time with a man I greatly respected as a travis- picking guitarist and singer, but .. alas, it was the first time I had laid eyes on him and all I could blurt was: "my God you're short!' He laughed and sat down on the stage next to me and suddenly, reading his tribute in this video of Nicholas' book "Lightfoot" I can see why he had that humble spirit having suffered as a recovered alcoholic himself. Anyway, I too cleaned up and still pray for my "new hero" even today. Kudos to Gordon, Nicholas and all that shaped this excellent video bio. God bless. tinJesus505

Sounds like Gordon Lightfoot was human like the rest of us. I appreciate him for the beautiful gifts he gave us. His voice, his words, and his music. RIP Gordon Lightfoot, they must be forming one Heck of a band in the afterlife.

I have always liked Lightfoot but the more I know about him the more I actually like him more

One of my favourite singers, I’ve had a lifelong interest in the Edmund Fitzgerald and her sad loss after hearing his song when I was 12. I first heard him singing Sundown. Thanks radio Luxembourg for introducing me to this great musician. Sleep well Gordon ❤️💙❤️

Amazing singer, musician & writer. RIP Gordon Lightfoot.

All great artists have a troubled history. That's why they can write about things that have actually happened. I can't say what my favourite song was, there are too many good ones. That he had a brush with Scientology is news to me. I reckon he dodged a bullet there!

Anybody, who says Christian Island is not a Canadian song hasn’t spent much time between Barrie/Orillia and Sudbury. I would argue that with even himself should we meet in the great beyond! I am an American, but I have spent many wonderful summer days paddling in that delightful wilderness.

What about Canadian Railroad Trilogy? It's got Canadian right in the title.

We had the wonderful experience of seeing Gordon live in Belfast. What a thrill that was.

He lived shortly in Stoney Creek in a trailer park called Pinetops on Highway 8 while he was a dancer. (Behind the Pines Motel) I was 5 at the time. He played around a campfilre and it was the first time I recall hearing a live instument. I play his songs today a long way away from 1960.

I grew up with this man!!! I like to think......... Yes!! An amazing influence on my life!!!!!

An amazing singer, songwriter and musician. I listened to his music since I was young. My Dad came home with the single Me And Bobby Magee. He didn’t know I loved Lightfoot’s music. We listened to that record over and over again! It must have drove the rest of the family crazy. We bonded over a Canadian Icon. I’m glad Lightfoot got his life together before the end.

Gordon was a complicated man suppose we are all the same our lives are driven by insecurities we all experiment with things that can make the road ahead seem easier but one thing he did find out for sure drink is not the solution to anything he was a troubled young man but in the latter years he mellowed into.a much more relaxed easy going person the rashness of youth to.the wisdom of age getting old does have its benefits

Gord was a "pretty big deal" everywhere. That's a gross understatement. I'm reading and enjoying his book. He is missed.

I always wondered where that magical acoustic guitar and voice came from. when I was a little kid . My mom has dementia now but she knows who Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot are....!!!

Gordon Lightfoot is secret hero of mine. when i ws growing up in the '70's his music was telling stories of life as opposed to the then music singing about meaningless romantice encounters and glorifying drug use. i love and miss him.

Excellent, concise mini-documentry on Gordon Lightfoot. I have the book Lightfoot, Canadian music writer Nicholas Jennings. I can't recommend this book enough if you want to know the late Gordon Lightfoot.

Thank you so very much Grunge for telling theses Story, I absolutely Love 💖 your Channel!

Lightfoot was in the hospital right next door to my middle school; I had just started grade 7 when it happened. My music teacher never mentioned anything about it, though.

God i miss that guy so much already.

They should make a movie about him.

In June I had an idea to add a verse to the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald but I knew I would have to look up something newsworthy that happened since 1976, and I just found out that he had unfortunately died a month before. I'll post a cover but here is the verse I wrote (it'll be second to the end): "Now the one who sang this back in '76, was a man that has now passed to glory. The bell that still chimes this it did 30 times for the sailors and he who sang their story"

There would be no Jimmy Buffett without a Gordon Lightfoot.

I have always liked Gordon Lightfoot but I never cared for his song about the Edmund Fitzgerald. My favorite songs of his are “The Last Time I Saw Her” and “Affair On Eighth Avenue”. He had such a beautiful singing voice. A shame he had such a tempestuous personal life. Seems to be the plague of so many musicians.

A true canadian legend❤❤❤

Great singer- song writer!!!🌄🙂

What about Canadian Railroad Trilogy?

I like his writing style like Bob Dylan he makes him a great story teller

So what is the "unknown truth?"...click bait?

I listened to Lightfoot for years before I knew he was from Canada. He sounded more like Texas to me.

Meant to say the title of the book is : Lightfoot, by Canadian authour Nicholas Jennings

I drove from Fairbanks to Anchorage once to attend a Lightfoot concert. He was so obnoxious and complained so much about how the concert organizers had failed to meet his needs, I decided that I would just enjoy his albums henceforth.

I know that I'm late to the party but I just want to bring up the fact that. Prior to doing The Wreck ......, his defining song was Black Day in July at least to me it was. So much so that I'm going to go listen to it.

I liked his songs. Not sure about his personality though. He sounds like a very difficult person to be around, even for a musician.

I call Gordon lightfoot in Spanish ; “Gordo, pie gordo” 😝😅🤣…

please a Gordon Lightfoot movie starring Chris Pratt? they look related.

I hate these to be honest because it's a bunch of over-exaggerated stories that lead to paranoia

This is an annoying video with inaccuracies and the goal of just being negative. Having an experience that can kill you does not make it a near death experience. An artist writes about what they feel and experience. He was a great writer who was extremely disciplined. The only interview I really like was done by a reporter who had known him for decades. That video is the real Lightfoot…without an AI voice!

He was an abuser of alcohol for sure .... what else is speculation .... but, his retreat from pressures and harsh light of celebrity would be soothed by hard liqueur and he became abusive when intoxicated as his devils tormented him in private as well as public - socially really. His ability to WRITE, SING a song play it in front of few or many was second to none ..... there under the spotlight .... he was at peace and in confident mindset. Sadly he looked a hundred by his 60th birthday ...... last years his voice betrayed him. A catalog of incredible popular music though - second to none !!! GBjj

~ GORDON LIGHTFOOT ~

The untold truth nobody addresses is What the hell happened to his voice around 1980? He suddenly lost all his low end. Listen to a 1979 recording and compare it to “I’ll Tag Along,” and you hear a marked change. Did he blow it out performing? Was it all the cigs and booze? A combination?

I have never seen an artist that aged so pathetically. It was scary.

Wonderful artist..... Xcept for his alcoholism and womanizing.... Children with 4 different wives... That's a pity....

Frist

Why show the old Lightfoot ? He looked terrible