May 2, 2023 • 3 mins
In a 2014 concert review by Stephen Cooke, he proclaimed to an exuberant audience "I'm Gordon Lightfoot, and the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated!" And as the tributes pour in, there was another quote from the folk-music icon that resonates, considering how much he gave all of us over the years.
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(00:00):
I remember the first time that I'dheard the Gordon Lightfoot had died mid February
of twenty ten, a classic caseof the falsehood spreading around the world before
the truth even had time to puton a choose. Now, I don't
remember if I heard it on theradio or sought on television or one of
the several mainstream news organizations that hadposted it, because everyone was talking about
the passing of the Canadian folk legend, including Gordon Lightfoot, and some of
(00:25):
the best quotes came from the musicalIcon, who said a dozen years ago
he was on his way to thedentist when he'd heard the news of his
own untimely passing. Just imagine thatfor a minute. He said, I'm
fine, everything is good. Idon't know where it comes from. It
seems like a bit of a hoaxor something. Seventy one years old at
the time, adding this, Iwas quite surprised to hear it myself.
(00:45):
Yeah, clearly a man with akeen wit and a sense of humor.
And he declared he hadn't had somuch radio airplane weeks. Well, today,
I'm sure lots of Gordon Lightfoot's onthe radio because everyone I know in
the music business has posted about thelegend now this time, though it's not
a rumor spilling misinformation along the carefree information super highway. An official announcement
from the really a born singer SongwritersA long time publicist, the eighty four
(01:08):
year old recently had to cancel allof his North American tour dates because of
unspecified health issues. A man whohad an amazing career at a very public
battle with his health, both physicaland mental. In two thousand and two,
he was rushed to hospital with aruptured artery in his stomach, just
moments before he was supposed to goon stage in his hometown. He had
several surgeries, ended up in acoma for about six weeks. He was
(01:32):
just sixty three at that time,well a decade later, so he's still
grateful for the second chances he wasgiven and what a quote he gave to
the Canadian press. I'm fully preparedto go whenever I'm taken. I've been
almost dead a couple of times,once almost for real. I have more
incentive to continue now because I feelI'm not a borrowed time in terms of
(01:52):
age. Aren't we all in away living on borrowed time, and when
someone is prolific and as talented asGordon Lightfoot the soundtrack to Our Lives,
it's not a surprise. So manyother people have offered their memories or reflections.
From Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we'velost one of our greatest singer songwriters.
Gordon Lightfood captured our country's spirit andhis music, and in doing so,
(02:14):
he helped shape canada soundscape. Mayhis music continue to inspire future generations,
and may his legacy live on forever. Horror writer Stephen King, Gordon
Lightfood has died. He was agreat songwriter and a wonderful performer. Sundown,
you better take care if I catchyou creeping around my backstairs. Kind
of fitting. He'd picked that lyricand an older quote from the American Gordon
(02:35):
Lifefoot Bob Dylan. I can't thinkof any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like.
Every time I hear a song ofhis, it's like I wish it
would last forever. He'd been sobersince around nineteen eighty two. He told
George Strombelopolis, he's a reflective manin a state of repentance for years,
and you'd like to be nice,and you'd like to be kind, and
he forgave himself. That's quite agift for a gifted songwriter who gave us
(02:57):
all so much music over the years.
I remember the first time that I'dheard the Gordon Lightfoot had died mid February
of twenty ten, a classic caseof the falsehood spreading around the world before
the truth even had time to puton a choose. Now, I don't
remember if I heard it on theradio or sought on television or one of
the several mainstream news organizations that hadposted it, because everyone was talking about
the passing of the Canadian folk legend, including Gordon Lightfoot, and some of
(00:25):
the best quotes came from the musicalIcon, who said a dozen years ago
he was on his way to thedentist when he'd heard the news of his
own untimely passing. Just imagine thatfor a minute. He said, I'm
fine, everything is good. Idon't know where it comes from. It
seems like a bit of a hoaxor something. Seventy one years old at
the time, adding this, Iwas quite surprised to hear it myself.
(00:45):
Yeah, clearly a man with akeen wit and a sense of humor.
And he declared he hadn't had somuch radio airplane weeks. Well, today,
I'm sure lots of Gordon Lightfoot's onthe radio because everyone I know in
the music business has posted about thelegend now this time, though it's not
a rumor spilling misinformation along the carefree information super highway. An official announcement
from the really a born singer SongwritersA long time publicist, the eighty four
(01:08):
year old recently had to cancel allof his North American tour dates because of
unspecified health issues. A man whohad an amazing career at a very public
battle with his health, both physicaland mental. In two thousand and two,
he was rushed to hospital with aruptured artery in his stomach, just
moments before he was supposed to goon stage in his hometown. He had
several surgeries, ended up in acoma for about six weeks. He was
(01:32):
just sixty three at that time,well a decade later, so he's still
grateful for the second chances he wasgiven and what a quote he gave to
the Canadian press. I'm fully preparedto go whenever I'm taken. I've been
almost dead a couple of times,once almost for real. I have more
incentive to continue now because I feelI'm not a borrowed time in terms of
(01:52):
age. Aren't we all in away living on borrowed time, and when
someone is prolific and as talented asGordon Lightfoot the soundtrack to Our Lives,
it's not a surprise. So manyother people have offered their memories or reflections.
From Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we'velost one of our greatest singer songwriters.
Gordon Lightfood captured our country's spirit andhis music, and in doing so,
(02:14):
he helped shape canada soundscape. Mayhis music continue to inspire future generations,
and may his legacy live on forever. Horror writer Stephen King, Gordon
Lightfood has died. He was agreat songwriter and a wonderful performer. Sundown,
you better take care if I catchyou creeping around my backstairs. Kind
of fitting. He'd picked that lyricand an older quote from the American Gordon
(02:35):
Lifefoot Bob Dylan. I can't thinkof any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like.
Every time I hear a song ofhis, it's like I wish it
would last forever. He'd been sobersince around nineteen eighty two. He told
George Strombelopolis, he's a reflective manin a state of repentance for years,
and you'd like to be nice,and you'd like to be kind, and
he forgave himself. That's quite agift for a gifted songwriter who gave us
(02:57):
all so much music over the years.
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