Gordon Lightfoot - Bitter Green (1969) [HD]

Gordon Lightfoot sings 'Bitter Green' from his 1969 United Artists concert album 'Sunday Concert'. This song was written by Lightfoot and a first studio version released in 1968 as a single and on the UA album 'Back Here On Earth'. He later recorded a second studio version in 1975.

The song concerns a woman who roams the green hills above the town waiting for her lover to return. When he does he finds she has died. The song has some similarity to the folksong 'Pretty Fair Maid'.

This is the third version of this Gordon Lightfoot song I uploaded. The first two were the studio version from 1968 (from vinyl) and the studio version from 1975. Both resulted in the message that the song was "blocked worldwide and could not be viewed on YouTube." So I can in "private" mode view these videos myself but I can't make them "public" for anyone else to view. Maybe in the future the copyright holders will change their minds and allow the use of these songs.

The song lyrics are listed below.


Bitter Green

Singer - Gordon Lightfoot

Upon the bitter green she walked the hills above the town
Echoed to her footsteps as soft as eiderdown
Waiting for her master to kiss away her tears
Waiting through the years

Bitter green they called her walking in the sun
Loving everyone that she met
Bitter green they called her waiting in the sun
Waiting for someone to take her home

Some say he was a sailor who died away at sea
Some say he was the prisoner who never was set free
Lost upon the ocean he died there in the mist
Dreaming of her kiss

Bitter green they called her walking in the sun
Loving everyone that she met
Bitter green they called her waiting in the sun
Waiting for someone to take her home

But now the bitter green is gone, the hills have turned to rust
There comes a weary stranger his tears fall in the dust
Kneeling by the churchyard in the autumn mist
Dreaming of a kiss

Bitter green they called her walking in the sun
Loving everyone that she met
Bitter green they called her waiting in the sun
Waiting for someone to take her hand

Bitter green they called her walking in the sun
Loving everyone that she met
Bitter green they called her waiting in the sun
Waiting for someone
To take her home

Songwriter: Gordon Lightfoot

© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

[Lyrics from LyricFind]

[anderander]

This song puts pictures in my mind...unlike today's music.

[lordofdunvegan]

beautiful song...sad but so true...wonder how many people are like that today...the loneliness. great Lighfoot music.

[trentgeorge]

I love this song I listen to it in the car all the time

[steray]

Great post. Thanks. I have always seen this song set in the dark green spruce forests of Seattle or Vancouver.

[robsgirl]

I'm 53 and still searching for my Bittergreen. 😟

[davidmacgregor]

After Jeff Lynne left The Idle Race to join The Move in 1970, the band reformed with new members, they recorded "Bitter Green" on their 1971 album "Time Is". The Idle Race were criminally under rated, they produced some excellent music with and without Lynne.

[davidbudding]

I always thought this song was about a dog. !!