I Wish You Good Spaces: Poetic Selections from the Songs of Gordon Lightfoot

by Gordon Lightfoot, Susan Polis Schutz (Editor), Stephen Schutz (Illustrator )

'Poetic selections from the songs of Gordon Lightfoot. Edited by Susan Polis Schutz with Illustrations by Stephen Schutz.' Paperback with colored pages. 61 pages.

Genres: Poetry

63 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Gordon Lightfoot was a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s.

Reviews

[Rowan MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed Gordon Lightfoot’s music for years. This book collects various lyrics from his songs and presents them as poems. His lyrics paint vivid pictures that reflect Canadian life and people and places along the way.

“The lamp is burning low
upon my table top,
the snow is softly falling.

This collection was published in 1976 – making it feel partly incomplete, as Gord continued to write and perform until his passing in 2023. I can’t help feeling an updated edition, encompassing his full career, would’ve been more satisfying.

The songs played in my head while reading it – there’s no denying the distinctively Canadian spirit. It’s a short book that gives you greater appreciation for the poetic elements of his songs. The entries are accompanied by some basic paintings by Stephen Schutz.

I feel that Gord would’ve disliked the inclusion of some entries in later years, particularly For Lovin’ Me – which seemed more brutal on the page. But I love that many of these lyrics were originally scribbled down on the backs of envelopes and napkins – jottings which transformed into gold records and had lives of their own. Many depict entire stories. It was great coming across some favourites.

“Rainy day people
always seem to know
when it’s time to call;
rainy day people
don’t talk,
they just listen
till they’ve heard it all.”

While this was an enjoyable read, it won’t teach you anything new about Gord, nor give a full appreciation for his lengthy career. For those wanting to learn more about the man and his music, I recommend Lightfoot by Nicholas Jennings.

“If you could read my mind, love,
what a tale my thoughts could tell.”

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gordon Lightfoot! I saw him in concert when living in New York at the height of his career in 1974. Cherished little book I have! "If you cold read my mind, love, what a tale my thoughts would tell."

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Gordon Lightfoot’s songs. This book made me realize, however, that the words alone don’t adequately communicate the feeling of the song. So, each time I read the excerpt of a song in this book, I followed it with a listen of the original song. That was a joy.

[George Kasnic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gordon Lightfoot, seen him six times over five decades. This is a good survey of kid early works, I received it as a gift 43 years ago per the inscription. It contains excerpts from his work - including per a documentary within years of his death his least favorite song “For lovin’ me” which I think he would have approved of, he was nothing if not honest.

He performed his whole life. Did what he obviously lived. His lyrics are personal, intimate, and immortal. I miss him.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

#39 of 120 books pledged to read during 2022

[Calvin]

I saw this as a thrift store for .25 and just had to own it. But alas I was disappointed to fine out it wasnt the poetry of Gordon Lightfoot per se. But instead just selections of his songs passed off as poems. Not quite as cheesy as I had hoped really.

[Sharon Beers · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...what a tale my thoughts could tell..." A slim volume from his songs.