This song was Lightfoot's answer to critics after his well publicized divorce from his first wife. He says "in his fashion, in his own way" he's been a good man and a responsible parent. There's an unusual segue where he talks-sings about "do I look like the kind of fool who had to stand on a stool because of not coming to terms with a slide rule" which I think refers to him failing algebra in HS, so not graduating on time. He says take a look at him now, he's not that different from then (even though a successful singer-songwriter): still human, still prone to failure. However you judge him, he is resigned to being remembered "in my fashion, in my way".
This song was Lightfoot's answer to critics after his well publicized divorce from his first wife. He says "in his fashion, in his own way" he's been a good man and a responsible parent. There's an unusual segue where he talks-sings about "do I look like the kind of fool who had to stand on a stool because of not coming to terms with a slide rule" which I think refers to him failing algebra in HS, so not graduating on time. He says take a look at him now, he's not that different from then (even though a successful singer-songwriter): still human, still prone to failure. However you judge him, he is resigned to being remembered "in my fashion, in my way".