I really like your very interesting interpretation, but, according to a 2008 interview, it is not what Gordon had in mind.
According to what Gordon said in the interview, the song is about his passionate relationship with Cathy Smith. Smith was a groupie, a drug addict, and had, shall we say, "committment problems". She would later become infamous for giving John Belushi the lethal speedball injection (she served 15 months in prison for that).
I do think that the line
"Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain"
is a specific reference to drinking....it works in this song because Gordon was drinking A LOT when he was in a realtionship with Smith.
The line "got me feelin' mean" no doubt is a reference to the time he (according to Wikopedia) punched Smith in the face and broke her cheek bone.
I think it is interesting that two of Lightfoot's biggest hits, "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown" are sort of "book ends". IYCRMM is about being in a relationship with a woman who has lost interest in sex, and Sundown is about being in a realtionship with a woman who enoys a lot of sex, but if you do not keep a close eye on her, she will stray.
@Audiophile65 I know you posted this four years ago but I want to thank you for that. I've always wondered who the hell he was singing about and to me it was obvious it was about his suspicions of her cheating. We've all been there.
@Audiophile65 I know you posted this four years ago but I want to thank you for that. I've always wondered who the hell he was singing about and to me it was obvious it was about his suspicions of her cheating. We've all been there.
Some others have the tone right, and there's one interesting interpretation, but you have it right, Audiophile65. Back in the day it was pretty well known, but for more than one reason (including the tragedy you cited) Gordon avoided talking about Cathy Smith, at least until he was good and ready to do so.
Some others have the tone right, and there's one interesting interpretation, but you have it right, Audiophile65. Back in the day it was pretty well known, but for more than one reason (including the tragedy you cited) Gordon avoided talking about Cathy Smith, at least until he was good and ready to do so.
To TheToner
I really like your very interesting interpretation, but, according to a 2008 interview, it is not what Gordon had in mind.
According to what Gordon said in the interview, the song is about his passionate relationship with Cathy Smith. Smith was a groupie, a drug addict, and had, shall we say, "committment problems". She would later become infamous for giving John Belushi the lethal speedball injection (she served 15 months in prison for that).
I do think that the line
"Sometimes I think it's a shame When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain"
is a specific reference to drinking....it works in this song because Gordon was drinking A LOT when he was in a realtionship with Smith.
The line "got me feelin' mean" no doubt is a reference to the time he (according to Wikopedia) punched Smith in the face and broke her cheek bone.
I think it is interesting that two of Lightfoot's biggest hits, "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown" are sort of "book ends". IYCRMM is about being in a relationship with a woman who has lost interest in sex, and Sundown is about being in a realtionship with a woman who enoys a lot of sex, but if you do not keep a close eye on her, she will stray.
@Audiophile65 I know you posted this four years ago but I want to thank you for that. I've always wondered who the hell he was singing about and to me it was obvious it was about his suspicions of her cheating. We've all been there.
@Audiophile65 I know you posted this four years ago but I want to thank you for that. I've always wondered who the hell he was singing about and to me it was obvious it was about his suspicions of her cheating. We've all been there.
@Audiophile65 -
@Audiophile65 -
Some others have the tone right, and there's one interesting interpretation, but you have it right, Audiophile65. Back in the day it was pretty well known, but for more than one reason (including the tragedy you cited) Gordon avoided talking about Cathy Smith, at least until he was good and ready to do so.
Some others have the tone right, and there's one interesting interpretation, but you have it right, Audiophile65. Back in the day it was pretty well known, but for more than one reason (including the tragedy you cited) Gordon avoided talking about Cathy Smith, at least until he was good and ready to do so.
@Audiophile65 "Smith was a groupie, a drug addict, and had, shall we say, "committment problems". " Uhhhhh, wasn't he MARRIED?!
@Audiophile65 "Smith was a groupie, a drug addict, and had, shall we say, "committment problems". " Uhhhhh, wasn't he MARRIED?!