What Makes This Song Great? 'If You Could Read My Mind' Gordon Lightfoot

In this episode of What Makes This Song Great?™ we explore the Gordon Lightfoot 1970 classic "If You Could Read My Mind".

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[alistersutherland]

I'm Canadian. Gordon Lightfoot just died, and I cried watching this. Thank you Rick, for appreciating him so much. I posted it in hope that others will appreciate it too.

[ipadcraig]

I've NEVER commented on YouTube EVER. But this is different. This is Gordon Lightfoot. I was in college in Orange County, CA in 1966 - 68, before I was drafted. I played guitar, but I was a strummer, didn't have the perseverance to learn how to finger pick. But I had a friend, Mike Dulak - he's out there somewhere - who was a seriously dedicated finger picker. He could play Doc Watson tunes that sounded almost like the Man Himself. He was good. And we loved Gordon Lightfoot. But what he loved most about GL, was his sideman, Red Shea. Red was AMAZING. And I know this because during those years Gordon played many dates at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. It was a small club. You could sit a few feet from the stage and watch the details of Gordon's and Red's guitar work. It was amazing. It was a venue that at most would have 75 people in it. We sat at the feet of the Master, attending every night that he played. Gordon was in his prime, as were we. I had a 6 string and 12 string Gibson, sunburst finish on both, and between Mike and me we could do a pretty good rendition of Canadian Railroad Trilogy. Those were the days. I love Ricks deconstruction of "If You Could Read My Mind." Gordon is a TREASURE. Thanks Rick.

[paulmarentette]

Had to revisit this upon hearing of Gordon Lightfoot's passing this evening. How great to slow the melody and melancholy, pause and reflect on the genius and the gifts Gordon possessed, and shared with us all.

[ldhorricks]

I'm not sure there are any Canadians born in a certain time that could look themselves in the mirror and say they don't like Gordon lightfoot. I'm not anyone can listen to Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald and not feel chills down their spine. He is to this day loved and revered by those who live in the Great Lakes region.

[timcooper]

Was lucky enough to meet Gord in about 1975, his Aunt lived next door to my parents in Brantford Ont. When she passed away he came to the funeral and to the lunch afterwards. The local radio station found out that he was in town and decided to show up and try to interview him, very inappropriate, so my father invited him to our house. I was just learning guitar at the time and had an old Gibson Hummingbird. Long story short I had a private 1 hour concert and will never forget when he sung this song, one of the greatest moments of my life. What a kind humble man he is.

[tomcoryell]

When this song came out, my dad had just killed himself and we moved away from my hometown so I had to leave all of my friends. The Vietnam war was raging and this song evoked such incredible beauty and sadness. Gordon played in my town maybe 20 years later and I made some excuse about how I didn’t like his folky style of music and wouldn’t go see him. The truth is more likely that I was afraid of the emotions that I knew his songs would bring back.

[stevefowler]

19:06 “oh! He does that slide AGAIN!” (The sheer joy on Rick’s face when his discovers this😊). Love it!

[natemink]

Welp. He was incredible. You can't hear him without being transported back to the lovely vinyl sounds of the 70s.

[leeturnerkodak]

"I just have something in my eye..." Every. Single. Time.

[raypeal]

I'm a firm believer that this is one of the most beautiful songs of all time!

[msbvan]

After learning of Gordon’s passing tonight I came to watch this wonderful video again.
Rest in Peace Gordon lightfoot.

I would love for Rick to someday do a ‘What Makes This Song Great” with Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. A truly inspired and haunting masterpiece.

[DougMcDave]

Rest in Peace, Gordon Lightfoot. Thank you for your music. You will be missed!

[GM-ljct]

I saw Gordon Lightfoot play two years ago, when he was 79. It was one of the last dates my wife and I had before she passed. He looked older than anyone's grandfather and didn't have much voice left, be he was still Gordon Freaking Lightfoot. I'll never forget that night. I'm glad Rick did this song. It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

[manifestgtr]

The second verse of this song has some of the most soul-crushing lyrics I’ve ever heard. “Heroes often fail” is one of those sentiments that you know, in your bones, to be true…but nobody ever says it. The lyrics to this song are masterful from start to finish but that second verse is completely mind-blowing to me.

[brucebayard]

Back to revisit this video after Gordon passed away. Rick always manages to add to my appreciation for a song, and not only that, the emotional connection to the song doesn't get lost in all the stops and starts of pointing something out. Now, when I hear the song in its entirety, all those subtleties Rick pointed out, are fully present. Gorgeous song by GL, beautifully touching analysis by RB.

[kantlogin]

As a Canadian myself, Gordon Lightfoot is a national treasure. I had the opportunity to see him live and it was truly incredible. Thank you for dissecting this classic.

[dannydoc]

I was driving a taxi in NYC during the summer break from college, when I parked and wet to see Gordon Lightfoot at the Bitter End. Afterwards I walked to the cab, and drove past the venue. Gordon flagged me down, and he and his woman got in. It was a 20 minute drive to his uptown apartment. We spoke, and he was so nice, down to earth, and cool. One of my fondest memories.

[grouchypete]

"Heroes often fail." That lyric has always killed me.

[donaldhall]

I am writing this on the morn of Gordon's passing. I stand with all of Canada in mourning today. Gordon Lightfoot's music is timeless, his lyrics ethereal. I have loved his compositions for 5 decades and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. R.I.P. and know you made a difference.

[jurassicmark_]

RIP Mr. Lightfoot. This was easily my favorite song of his, and this serves as a PERFECT tribute to his memory.