My Dad was a fan of Gordon Lightfoot. My Dad passed away in 1977, when I was 16. Sitting here listening tears dripping off my chin. Miss you Dad! Love this so much Jamel!

He wrote this song when he was getting a divorce, so.....yeah. He was pouring out his feelings. It was therapy.

Just Gordon, his guitar and no auto-tune. Priceless talent!

About 15 years ago I was in a restaurant in Toronto. In walked a man whose face I recognized. He sat at a table beside me. I smiled at him. He smiled at me. It took me a while to realize it was Gordon Lightfoot. I didn't want to disturb him to tell him I was an admirer. I just gave him a thumbs-up when I left. He smiled and gave me a wave.

Sadly Gordon passed away today May 1 2023. May he R.I.P. He was 84 .A true music legend , he made all Canadians proud . His music is the music of my youth . His music will live forever . One of the greatest songwriters ever my opinion .

Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian legend & one of the best singer songwriters. He has had many hits through his long career such as "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon Of Darkness", "Sundown", "Carefree Highway", "Rainy Day People", "Canadian Railroad Trilogy", "Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" & many more. I saw him in concert once.

When you had to be truly talented to be famous! The good old days 💚

Gordon wrote this song, after his divorce from his first wife. The first half describes how he felt. The second about the book was what he thought represents his wife. Peace out love the channel. God bless.

You see him there, faded jeans and a denim shirt, singing to a nationwide crowd with nothing but a guitar. What kind of talent do you have to be. He, like his contemporary Jim Croce, was a singer and songwriter, was a great talent but also very humble and could walk into a feed store, for example, and never gain a second look. I greatly admire that about both those men and several more like them.

The 60's and 70's produced so many great singer song writers. It was a golden Era.

This song has been making me sad for as long as I can remember, yet I still love it.

The lyrics "I don't know where we went wrong, but the feelings gone and I just can't get it back" really resonates with me. I've felt this way a few times in my life and had to make hard decisions.

RIP Gordon, thank you for the beautiful music. You painted a picture an told a story like no one else. Peace and love to all those mourning his passing.

One of the great singer - songwriters. A poet who put his poems to music.

such a great singer/storyteller. His recounting of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald with total loss of life is heartbreaking.Proceeds went to the familys' of the lost sailors.

At 80+ years old, he’s still performing…got to see him last year live, and he’s still got it.

The studio version is perfection, with the added strings. But live with just guitar is also perfection. Gordon is perfection.

Nobody tells a story with his music quite the way Gordon Lightfoot does. Very moving.

This song has always haunted me. He touches something deep in the soul.

Love this song. Makes me tear up and smile at the same time

This so was huge when I was a kid❤️ I always remember the lyrics ... The hero would be me But heroes often fail And you won't read that book again Because the ending's just too hard to take

Midnight Special put faces to the music for a lot of us that didnt live near cities with concert venues. Lightfoot was the “Canadian Bob Dylan” in many respects. But he stayed true to form as a folk singer, not going electric and staying closer to the genre. I think every man has felt the words he sings in “If You Could Read…” at least once in his life. It one of those songs that grabs you by the collar and throws you into oncoming traffic.

I am so glad you picked this one to react to. Gordon died last night at 84 years old and i went searching for this particular version of this song. Your comments helped. Gordon was one of many who sang the soundtrack of my childhood, who we are now losing at a faster rate. Music is so powerfully nostalgic.

On release, the song reached No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart and was his first recording to appear in the U.S., reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in February 1971.

This song is perfection, but the studio version is SOOO much better!

Such an amazing song, and such an amazing artist/story teller!

This was one of Gordies really personal songs. It was about the breakup of his first marriage

nice to see you're uploading some of your old videos

He wrote this song about his divorce and it's one of his most personal songs. Many would argue his greatest, and he had a fantastic catalogue.

One of my absolute favourites. Thank you Jamel. Now you have listened to one of the most beautiful voices in music.

I love him. His songs always had so much emotion.

That's just how Gordon Lightfoot wrote. Every song was autobiographical. And you just couldn't help but feel how real he kept it.🇨🇦

A Canadian national treasure. Such a great emotional songwriter. This and "Sundown" made his mark in the 1960s, and then he made a comeback in the 80s with "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". So many great songs: "Song for a Winter's Night", "Rainy Day People", "Summertime Dream"... And yes, this one was very personal - he wrote it about his divorce.

Harry Chapin is another great singer-songwriter from that Era worthy of checking out.

Midnight Special was 🔥rarely missed a show ✌♥️

You've been doing reactions to my generation of music 🎶 and I can see you enjoying the music the way we did 🎶 ❤️.

i saw this pop up. instant click. i hear the first few notes. instant goosebumps. he's really something special.

RIP…so glad that generations to come will appreciate the splendour of his voice and lyrics. I was blessed to grow up with his music in the 70’s. What a giant he is…rest easy GL. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Orillia Ontario's own Mr Gordon Lightfoot. So many covers done of this great song he wrote.

my dad's favourite singer,my dad passed away August 2022 and the family played all of his music when my dad took his last breath "Carefree Highway!" was played at his service

What a treat to see one of my all-time favorites Gordon Lightfoot on The Midnight Special, the show that is probably somewhat responsible for my night owl tendencies. 😉 Thank you Jamel. GL is a treasure and one of the purest talents ever. Crossing my fingers and toes that you react to more of his music. 🎶❤️

Absolutely love this song!!

A lot of Gordon's songs are about loss, and he nails it. Some people don't like that, but for me it helps me to connect to the song.

This song is so beautiful and haunting. Every time I hear it I am thrown back to my childhood. My family and I driving in our VW van listening to the radio...

I love Gordon Lightfoot and totally agree with you: Today’s music is crap!!! 😂

Gordon Lightfoot is a true wordsmith.

This song makes me stop everything and listen. It tears apart parts of me and heals others. They just don't write songs like this any more.

This is his greatest song, IMHO, and one closest to my heart. And yes, I know the feeling, and feelings, all too well. He always moves me. The poetry in this is yet another level of beauty and depth. There is good music being made today, but not on the big charts, but in indie sideroads, largely. But the ethic at the time of this song was laudable and authentic and revealing. Peace brother. A perfect day. You hit the Trifecta!

Absolutely one of my favorites. Thank you!

The part you remember is truly unforgettable. The harmonizing in the studio version still makes my eyes well up just like it did in high school in the 70s.

"For now love, let's be real." 😮 That is such a modern expression, I don't remember anyone talking about being "real" in the 70s. We say that a lot more now than back then because there's so much more inauthentic music and people nowadays. Clearly ahead of his time, prophetic. RIP Gordon Lightfoot.

Gordon Lightfoot, A better Singer/Song Writer you will never fine!

I really love the fact that the songs of my youth affect you. Fantastic, that you feel

So delighted that you finally discovered Gordon Lightfoot! In my opinion these three songs that didn’t get mainstream airplay are his finest: Beautiful, Song for a Winter’s Night, and Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

Its just him with his guitar and beautiful voice. And not bad on the eyes also.

Wonderful song! And a beautiful live performance- beautiful vocal.

He performed where I do security in Oakville, Ontario a few months ago, was awesome to see a legend as a 23 year old!

Just a man with his words, his voice and his guitar. It doesn't get any more authentic than that. So cool that you had heard this song somewhere before sometime. R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot. ❤

Ever since i was a kid this brought tears to my eyes. And lots more even now. A song that i will never forget. Thankfully there are lots more songs to always remember. RIP.

So hard to stay up so late when your 13 to watch the artist you loved. Great days.

Such a great singer-songwriter. Thanks Jamel.

Early to Mid 1970s. My first concert was Gordon Lightfoot. Still love his music.

Love this song. Thank you.

I had the gift of listening to this song being sung by a soulful boy of 16 years on his twelve-string guitar when we were on a high-school Retreat; rain against the mullion windows, the smell of dinner being prepared, fire in the hearth. What your eyes do when you start to smile, Sir... I have no idea how Lightfoot could put a story into a song like that. He will be missed. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

I absolutely love Gordon Lightfoot. One of the best songwriters ever. I'm a Michigan girl so of course I love The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald, but Carefree Highway and Rainy day people get me every time. Ode to Big Blue is great as well, there are so many wonderful songs of his. Lightfoot is an amazing storyteller.

Came here to hear some of Gordon’s songs after learning of his passing. This song is so beautiful and haunting. Love it. Thanks for reviewing it, love to you

Beautiful song!!

Master storyteller .. Iconic singer songwriter. The best of the best... Rest in peace, Gordo

One of a kind! I grew up with this, even with all the other Great music on the radio back then, He Always stood out! Check out his other songs...

He's still kickin' it today although he looks like died a decade ago. He even jokes about the rumours of his demise. An absolute giant of a story teller.

Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian folk artist whose music career began in the late sixties. His songs were mainly acoustic-based, simple melodies paired with poetic lyrics that were often personal. He is known for having an exceptional level of intelligence, as well as having pain and demons within his soul that have never been brought to light. His voice is inimitable, and he is one of a kind.

Gordon Lightfoot......one of the best singer/songwriters. A great storyteller.

I grew up listening to Gordon Lighfoot. My dad loved his singing. I always think of my dad when I hear him.

RIP Gord. Your music has influenced my life for over 50 years, Keep listening Jamel to this incredible talent!

If you've lived long enough, you can relate to this song. Even if you've gotten through the rough spots, you understand.

Thank you for reacting to this song. Gordon Lightfoot is an amazing talent, wonderful singing voice, and great lyrics! This song, the melody is so haunting and melancholy. Incredible songwriting! 🎶🎶🎶👍

RIP Gordon Lightfoot, a true Canadian treasure, our entire country mourns his loss.

Love that song! My dad would play me Gordon Lightfoot and we'd sing his songs together. Good memories of a sad song.

"If you read between the lines you'll know that I'm just trying to understand the feelings that you lack" Used that that on my college girlfriend who didn't know this song. when we were breaking up.

Jamel…I love what you’re doing here on this channel…i pray you never stop bringing joy to your viewers/listeners.

The fact that Lightfoot was performing with just his voice and his guitar and you don't even miss the other instruments that are on the single tells you haw talented performers like him, John Denver etc. really were.

One of the alltime great songs. Serious soul.

A superb songwriter and singer! Love the live performance.

I love when you dig up these great artists on The Midnight Special....takes me back to my teen years 💓🥰 One of my all time favorites

Just heard Gordon died yesterday. So sad. Loved his music. He will be missed. RIP Gordon

His most beautiful song in my opinion.

It’s amazing that, for this reaction, you took down a bunch of wall art and memorabilia, filled in the holes, painted the room, waited for the paint to fully dry, hung a modest amount of art, and recorded this reaction. Such dedication for making it look like it was filmed last year and finally uploaded after the obstacle passed. The illusion is uncannily realistic. I’m very impressed ;-)

thanks Jamel, Gordon is a national treasure north of the border. He was such an incredible singer song writer, even Bob Dylan quoted as his favorite. RIP Gordon,

R.I.P. to Gordon Lightfoot, who passed away yesterday May 1st, I was fortunate enough to see him on May 21st in Elkhart Indiana a year ago and he was still pretty damn good!!!!🙏😪

Great song great singing one best singer of all times

RIP Gordon Lightfoot I loved this song.

RIP Gordon. So magical.

it is so good to see you back on my feed. It touched my heart what you said about it making you feel something

RIP Gordon... I was a teenager when this song came out, and this performance immediately brought me back to that time--with tears in my eyes.

One of my absolute favs is “Softly” - it’s hauntingly beautiful

A thousand listens since it came out in the 70's and I love it even more now...This and The E.Fitzgerald are master songsmith accomplishments...They way Gordon frames a line reaches into your soul...

Rip you'll live on forever through your music.

Gordon Lightfoot just one of the best!

RIP Gordon your music was legendary.

Yes, it's the famous song you thought it was. Great stuff, again!