Does your mother know
You had to go some day?
Does your mother know
That you would grow so fast, anyway?
That's all you think about.
You'd call her if you could.
But the letters that you write
In the faded winter light
Just tell her, they tell her,
That you've got ten dollars and you'll be alright,
And when you get straight,
You're gonna come back east some day.
Does your mother know
You had a man in the west?
Does your mother know
You drove him from your door, anyway?
That's all you think about.
You'd call her if you could.
Does your mother know
You walked all day in the rain?
Does your mother know
How deep your love could be, anyway?
That's all you think about.
You'd call her if you could.
But the letters that you write
In the faded winter light
Just tell her, they tell her,
That you've got ten dollars and your rent cost eight,
And when you get straight,
You're gonna come back east some day.
But the letters that you write
In the faded winter light
Just tell her, they tell her . . .
I'll say it over and over. Gordon Lightfoot is a national treasure in Canada. It is impossible to be a bigger star than he is. And that's been true for 50 or so years. He's pretty much on the same level as Maurice Richard.
.
I created this transcription myself. After listening to the song a few times, I referred to the booklet with the lyrics that came with the CD. There isn't a lot that differs, nothing significant, anyway.
.
The CD is from a German label named Bear Family Records, BCD 15699. Near as I can tell, the CD was released in 1992. It consists of both of Lightfoot's third and fourth albums, "Did She Mention My Name" and "Back Here on Earth," the former released in early 1968, the latter later that same year, both of which vinyl records I still own, although I have no idea if they are even playable any more. This song is from the former album.
.
Here's a link to Gord's biography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Lightfoot and another to an article about the album http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Did_She_Mention_My_Name.