Rainpools in the woodland, water to my knee.
Shivering, quivering, the warm breath of spring.
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds, and roses.
Catbirds and corn fields, daydreams together,
Riding on the roadside, the dust gets in your eye.
Revelling, dishevelling, the summer nights can bring.
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds, and roses.
Slanted rays and coloured days, stark blue horizons,
Naked limbs and wheat bins, lazy afternoons.
Voicing, rejoicing, the wine cups do bring.
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds, and roses.
Harsh nights and candlelights, wood fires ablazin',
Soft lips and fingertips resting in my soul.
Treasuring, remembering the promise of spring.
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds, and roses.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Gord usually sings songs that tell stories. This one seems far more poetic than even his usual standard. It's just a bunch of images and it leaves it up to the listener to figure out what it all means.