Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
I'm standin' at the doorway
My head bowed in my hands
Not knowin' where to sit
Not knowin' where I stand
My father looms above me
For him there is no rest
My mothers arms enfold me
And hold me to her breast
They say you been out wanderin'
They say you travelled far
Sit down young stranger
And tell us who you are
The room has all gone misty
My thoughts are all in spin
Sit down young stranger
And tell us where you been
Well, I've been up to the mountain
I've walked down by the sea
I never questioned no one
And no one questioned me
My love was given freely
And oftimes was returned
I never came to borrow
I only came to learn
Sometimes it did get lonely
But it taught me how to cry
And laughter came too easy
For life to pass me by
I never had a dollar
That I didn't earn with pride
'Cause I had a million daydreams
To keep me satisfied
And will you gather daydreams
Or will you gather wealth
How can you find your fortune
When you cannot find yourself?
My mothers eyes grow misty
There's a tremblin' in her hand
Sit down young stranger
I do not understand
And will you try and tell us
You've been too long at school
That knowledge is not needed
That power does not rule
That war is not the answer
That young men should not die
Sit down young stranger
I wait for your reply
The answer is not easy
For souls are not reborn
To wear the crown of peace
You must wear the crown of thorns
If Jesus, had a reason
I'm sure He would not tell
They treated Him so badly
How could He wish them well
The parlor now is empty
There's nothin' left to say
My father has departed
My mothers gone to pray
There's rockets in the meadows
And ships out on the sea
The answers in the forest
Are carved upon a tree
John loves Mary
Does anyone love me?
My head bowed in my hands
Not knowin' where to sit
Not knowin' where I stand
My father looms above me
For him there is no rest
My mothers arms enfold me
And hold me to her breast
They say you been out wanderin'
They say you travelled far
Sit down young stranger
And tell us who you are
The room has all gone misty
My thoughts are all in spin
Sit down young stranger
And tell us where you been
Well, I've been up to the mountain
I've walked down by the sea
I never questioned no one
And no one questioned me
My love was given freely
And oftimes was returned
I never came to borrow
I only came to learn
Sometimes it did get lonely
But it taught me how to cry
And laughter came too easy
For life to pass me by
I never had a dollar
That I didn't earn with pride
'Cause I had a million daydreams
To keep me satisfied
And will you gather daydreams
Or will you gather wealth
How can you find your fortune
When you cannot find yourself?
My mothers eyes grow misty
There's a tremblin' in her hand
Sit down young stranger
I do not understand
And will you try and tell us
You've been too long at school
That knowledge is not needed
That power does not rule
That war is not the answer
That young men should not die
Sit down young stranger
I wait for your reply
The answer is not easy
For souls are not reborn
To wear the crown of peace
You must wear the crown of thorns
If Jesus, had a reason
I'm sure He would not tell
They treated Him so badly
How could He wish them well
The parlor now is empty
There's nothin' left to say
My father has departed
My mothers gone to pray
There's rockets in the meadows
And ships out on the sea
The answers in the forest
Are carved upon a tree
John loves Mary
Does anyone love me?
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Sit Down Young Stranger Lyrics as written by Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
This song is expressly about a draft dodger, come to do to Canada what he was unwilling to do the Vietnam. I hate those complacent, entitled cowards.
"Come to do to Canada what he was unwilling to do the Vietnam"<br /> <br /> So draft resisters went to Canada to kill Canadians? <br /> <br /> As for "complacent" and "entitled" and "cowards": Since many resisters did truly believe that the war in Vietnam was unjust, the truly cowardly and complacent thing to do would have been to just go along with the draft and go to Vietnam anyways.<br /> <br /> For many, dodging the draft was an act of courage. And since it often meant leaving their families and friends for an indefinite period, it was also just about the opposite of "complacent."<br /> <br /> Oh, and as for "entitled" - I'd like to think that every human being has the right to not be forced into involuntary servitude and made to kill in an unjust and immoral war. <br /> <br /> Don't get me wrong, those who did fight should not be in any way blamed for their country's moral failure. But at the same time, many of those against the war were right - the war was an unjust and evil thing, and those who resisted being forced into uniform did not act dishonorably. And it's not like resisting the status quo and ignoring the moral condemnation of many of your peers is an easy or "complacent" thing to do at any time. Even at the height of the "anti-Vietnam" sentiment, a large portion of the country still looked down on anti-war protesters, draft dodgers, etc. It was never an easy choice. I don't condemn those who went along with the draft, and I don't condemn those who fought against it.
@Angus I’ve heard this interpretation before, and I could see GL writing such a song, but haven’t been able to see it in the lyrics. To me it sounds like a conversation between a wandering son having come home, and his parents; a generation gap song like Cat Stevens’ Father and Son.
@Angus I’ve heard this interpretation before, and I could see GL writing such a song, but haven’t been able to see it in the lyrics. To me it sounds like a conversation between a wandering son having come home, and his parents; a generation gap song like Cat Stevens’ Father and Son.
@PHR 'Would love to be wrong. I might get my wish. I can't remember why I was so sure this was the correct interpretation. It may have been from the bio by Maynard Collins, but I can't find such a thing looking a the index. And Collins seemed to get a few other things wrong, too.
@Angus Seeing that he was a Canadian citizen and lived in Toronto his whole life it probably isn't about being a draft dodger. Just my opinion.