I'm glad you two are featuring this song. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" gets many reactions but the "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is often forgotten. Here again, the pictures that Gordon Lightfoot paints with his words are so vivid, you can almost visualize everything. What a legacy this Canadian bard has left behind...❤Thanks for the fine reaction!👍
First song on CBC Radio at New Year's 1967 to begin the Centennial. Commissioned by the CBC, and they used a lot of orchestra back then. Moncton is a major terminal for CN. Tens of thousands of tons of freight every day, on the line from Quebec City to Halifax. Major container route. Now the Via, that's a different story. The Ocean runs 3 days a week I think, going Montreal - Quebec - Riveire Du Loup - Mont Joli -Campbellton - Bathurst - Miramichi - Moncton - Halifax. I worked for CN in Toronto and my family is from Tracadie
Hi, Chris and Cynthia: Now y'all's talkin'! I don't normally talk like that; that's the last time you'll see it. In 1967, Canada's centennial year, people all over were doing' centennial projects'. Mt dad wrote a poem about prospector friends he knew from the late 30s. I wrote a poem on my experience's at cub camp. CBC wanted Gordon to do a song for the same reason and this is it. There are several different recordings, all good but I'm not sure which is the best. It's a happy day when you see someone hearing a new Lightfoot song. Keep 'em coming. A Minor Ballad is a good one.
Didn’t pull me in like sone of his better known stuff , but having said that , he’s got such a great voice and presence that he could sing the Breakfast menu at McDonalds and I’d listen happily 😃 👍🏴
Like Gordon like the song , it could be Scotland he's singing about , ship building, steel , coal mining, the list goes on 🏴 happy healthy peace ✌️
This song was commissioned by the CBC to commemorate Canada's 100th birthday in 1967. Because my hometown, Montreal, was hosting the 1967 World's Fair (I was 11 years old at the time), this song was indelibly imprinted in me! Here is a more recent (also from CBC) short documentary that explores this song in a wider context: th-cam.com/video/hh7xNDcA6f4/w-d-xo.html
Talking about the labour... The term the 'Navies' is reference to Chinese workers brought across the Pacific Ocean. At that time they were not very well treated. The name Navie was from the Navy blue colour that was traditional for Chinese.
The train STILL runs through Moncton. How else would the train reach Halifax? What they closed down in Moncton was passenger service to the Northwest (Edmundston, Grand Falls, etc.) and, most importantly for Moncton, the CN shops. The work was either ended or transferred somewhere else. This is what REALLY caused many to fear for Moncton’s future. But the city managed to thrive despite this loss and continues to be known as the Hub City.
I (Chris) lived right in between. Chatham Head is right across the bridge from Newcastle. I was raised there. Mostly. Cynthia lived in Newcastle in her early teens. The Whooper became Choo Choo's when I was old enough to go clubbing. But the Opera House was the place to be on the weekends. Especially when I was the DJ. 😉
@@hanierfamilybeen to the Opera House many times, mostly in the 80's and early 90's? It's a bit hard to remember the exact years. If you were DJ then, I've likely heard you.
This is not a song to dance of move to, it is a memorial, in honour, to the mean who built this precious country of Canada. So lady, please stop with the moving of your head and just listen with respect, please.
I'm glad you two are featuring this song. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" gets many reactions but the "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is often forgotten. Here again, the pictures that Gordon Lightfoot paints with his words are so vivid, you can almost visualize everything. What a legacy this Canadian bard has left behind...❤Thanks for the fine reaction!👍
First song on CBC Radio at New Year's 1967 to begin the Centennial. Commissioned by the CBC, and they used a lot of orchestra back then. Moncton is a major terminal for CN. Tens of thousands of tons of freight every day, on the line from Quebec City to Halifax. Major container route. Now the Via, that's a different story. The Ocean runs 3 days a week I think, going Montreal - Quebec - Riveire Du Loup - Mont Joli -Campbellton - Bathurst - Miramichi - Moncton - Halifax. I worked for CN in Toronto and my family is from Tracadie
Hi, Chris and Cynthia: Now y'all's talkin'! I don't normally talk like that; that's the last time you'll see it. In 1967, Canada's centennial year, people all over were doing' centennial projects'. Mt dad wrote a poem about prospector friends he knew from the late 30s. I wrote a poem on my experience's at cub camp. CBC wanted Gordon to do a song for the same reason and this is it. There are several different recordings, all good but I'm not sure which is the best. It's a happy day when you see someone hearing a new Lightfoot song. Keep 'em coming. A Minor Ballad is a good one.
Didn’t pull me in like sone of his better known stuff , but having said that , he’s got such a great voice and presence that he could sing the Breakfast menu at McDonalds and I’d listen happily 😃
👍🏴
Best song of the day. The man has enormous depth and gives all of his songs gravitas
One of the all time best folk stories!
Like Gordon like the song , it could be Scotland he's singing about , ship building, steel , coal mining, the list goes on 🏴 happy healthy peace ✌️
We in Canada are so fortunate to have such a treasure as the legacy of Gordon Lightfoot's music. He may have passed but his gifts just keep on giving.
Saw Gordon live in Northern Michigan in 2006 & he was excellent 👌
This song was commissioned by the CBC to commemorate Canada's 100th birthday in 1967.
Because my hometown, Montreal, was hosting the 1967 World's Fair (I was 11 years old at the time), this song was indelibly imprinted in me!
Here is a more recent (also from CBC) short documentary that explores this song in a wider context:
th-cam.com/video/hh7xNDcA6f4/w-d-xo.html
Talking about the labour... The term the 'Navies' is reference to Chinese workers brought across the Pacific Ocean. At that time they were not very well treated. The name Navie was from the Navy blue colour that was traditional for Chinese.
Wrong. I twas short for Navigator.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navvy
On this song Mr. Lightfoot pulled a Paul McCartney and combined two- or three- songs into one! (And I am glad you used the 1975 Reprise version.)
Love me some vintage Gordon Lightfoot.
Yeehaw lads ! 😅
👍🏴
"Drinkin' BAD whiskey"
This song was first performed on January 1, 1967 to kick off Canada's Centennial. The railway was incredibly important to the establishment of Canada.
The train STILL runs through Moncton. How else would the train reach Halifax?
What they closed down in Moncton was passenger service to the Northwest (Edmundston, Grand Falls, etc.) and, most importantly for Moncton, the CN shops. The work was either ended or transferred somewhere else. This is what REALLY caused many to fear for Moncton’s future. But the city managed to thrive despite this loss and continues to be known as the Hub City.
I remember the train to the east.
Along with Ian Tysons "Four Strong Winds"this is the the best ever from Canada.
Also just about anything from Blue Rodeo.Cuddy total legend.
Stan Roger
C'mon & Ride It ! The Train 🚆 !!
You lived in Miramichi? Chatham or Newcastle? I lived in Bathurst a long time. Had a few wild times at the Whooper in Chatham.
I (Chris) lived right in between. Chatham Head is right across the bridge from Newcastle. I was raised there. Mostly. Cynthia lived in Newcastle in her early teens. The Whooper became Choo Choo's when I was old enough to go clubbing. But the Opera House was the place to be on the weekends. Especially when I was the DJ. 😉
@@hanierfamilybeen to the Opera House many times, mostly in the 80's and early 90's? It's a bit hard to remember the exact years. If you were DJ then, I've likely heard you.
Name I recognise from way back, only song I know of his is ‘If you could read my mind’
Sundown and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald were also big international hits 👌
👍🏴
If You Could Read My Mind is played in the closing credits of the underrated Wonderland film about the John Holmes murders in Los Angeles.
.....AMAZINGLY though, Steve Goodman & Arlo Guthrie AUGMENTED Gord's MASTERPIECE well a half-decade later with their "City Of New Orleans".....
I have never heard a Gordon Lightfoot song that I didn't like
.....DON'T imagine there will EVER be another LIKE him (OR John Denver.....BOTH, put me in a MUCH-more peaceful place : )
Boss Man, Boss Man, what do you say?
I gotta get you alone in the mine some day.
Push your face down in the coal!
I like that one, especially the live version
Probably Canada's best ever singer. Far superior to Bubbles
.....'Bubbles' = 'BIEBER', I'm presuming (and, PARSECS so.....)
@@ogam5 NO, Micky Bubbles
hello from Grand Falls NB, Great song but Gord never had a bad song did he?
This is not a song to dance of move to, it is a memorial, in honour, to the mean who built this precious country of Canada. So lady, please stop with the moving of your head and just listen with respect, please.
If you guys are Canadian, how on earth have you not heard of this classic Lightfoot song. Shame!
It's no bad but he has better.
Aye def ✊
👍🏴