gordon lightfoot
This song is a very personal one; it is about Lightfoot divorcing his first wife, but not telling any name it may be performed by almost anyone. People have seen this, and now writing September 2026, 225 covers are registered; by both men, women, groups and orchestras. First recording was by Gord himself, in November 1969.
A prolific songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot has only had a couple of major hits himself - this one (1971) and "Cold on the Shoulder" (1975). Strange, but he's been covered with success by artists from Anne Murray to Elvis Presley. A considerate assortment of his approximately 500 registered titles belong to any busker's songbook, as well as mine.
I once read an interview with Gordon - many years ago, and I don't remember the source - where he admitted that songs didn't come easy to him, and that he often troubled working out the lyrics. That's maybe the reason for the "limited" collection he left us, compared to other songwriters; no name mentioned. He never released anything that was written left-handed. All his songs are thoroughbred, which in a capitalistic musical world is really outstanding.
if you could read my mind love : what a tale my thoughts could tell
just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well
in a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet
you know that ghost is me
and I will never be set free as long as I'm a ghost that you can't see
if I could read your mind love : what a tale your thoughts could tell
just like a paperback novel • the kind the drugstores sell
when you reach the part where the heartache come the hero would be me
but heroes often fail
and you won't read that book again because the ending's just too hard to take
I'd walk away
like a movie star who gets burned in a three way script
enter number two
a movie queen to play the scene of bringing all the good things out in me
but for now love : let's be real
I never thought I could feel this way
and I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where we went wrong but the feeling's gone
and I just can't get it back
if you could read my mind love : what a tale my thoughts could tell
just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well
in a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet
but stories always end
and if you read between the lines you'll know that I'm just trying to understand
the feelings that you lack
I never thought I could feel this way
and I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where we went wrong but the feeling's gone
and I just can't get it back
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D C Cmaj7 D7+9 if you could read my mind love what a tale my thoughts could tell D C Cmaj7 D7+9 just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well D D7 G A7 A7sus4 B#m in a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet Em G D you know that ghost is me G D Em7 A7 A7sus4 D and I will never be set free as long as I'm a ghost that you can't see D ... Dsus2 ... D ... Dsus2 ... D D D7 G A7 A7sus4 B#m I'd walk away like a movie star who gets burned in a three way script Em G D enter number two G D Em7 A7 A7sus4 B#m a movie queen to play the scene of bringing all the good things out in me Em G D but for now love let's be real G D I never thought I could feel this way Em7 A7 A7sus4 and I've got to say that I just don't get it G D I don't know where we went wrong Em7 A7 A7sus4 D but the feeling is gone and I just can't get it back
