Gordon Lightfoot: The songwriter Geddy Lee labelled “the greatest Canadian”
When discussing the greatest Canadian artist of all time, there are a lot of options that one can throw into the ring to battle it out. Joni Mitchell is clearly deserving of a nod for her innovative contributions to folk and jazz, Neil Young is perhaps one of the finest examples when it comes to the field of rock, and for his bass and vocal work in prog legends Rush, many people will turn to Geddy Lee as their Canadian idol.
There are so many to choose from, and it’s remarkable that a country that boasts only a tenth of the population of its neighbours in the US can produce so many notable figures in music that have arguably shaped the genres in which they work. Despite being proportionally small compared to most other countries, Canada seems to be a formidable breeding ground for incredible musicians.
While the aforementioned trio are all undoubtedly Canadian heroes to many of their compatriots, it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that they all have different answers to who their heroes from home are, given the enormous pool that they have to choose from. However, one artist that they have all expressed an adoration and sense of worship towards is Gordon Lightfoot; a man who can claim to have inspired an entire generation of Canadian singer-songwriters, and whose influence still runs strong throughout the country today.
Having begun his career as a folk singer in the 1960s, Lightfoot was arguably a contemporary of Mitchell and Young during their early careers, but it was in the ‘70s that he blossomed and became a major proponent of adult contemporary music, earning himself hits with tracks such as ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ and ‘Sundown’. After his passing in 2023, many cited him as having been a beacon of Canadian culture, due to the ways in which he poetically retold stories of his country’s rich history.
Lee was especially effusive in his praise of Lightfoot’s work, and in his obituary to the singer, he revealed that the two of them had actually shared a surprising bond. “A legendary poet, a songwriting inspiration, a gem of a man – I loved him,” began Lee’s heartfelt eulogy. While there might not have been much musical crossover between Lightfoot’s work and what Rush were known for, Lee continued with his exaltations, recalling how he used to bring his daughter along to Rush shows, “getting blasted with volume for three hours.”
This unusual meeting of worlds led the two to become amicable with one another, and prior to Lightfoot’s passing, Lee said that the two had remained in close contact. “A few months back, he phoned me out of the blue for no other reason than to say he’d just watched one of our concert films and he really loved it.” Lightfoot’s passionate investment in Lee’s work didn’t end there either. “Every time I ran into him, the first thing he would ask was how many gigs we’d done that year. He did proudly counter with the fact that he’d played even more.”
Your favourite Canadian might well be Mitchell, Young or Lee, but it’s worth remembering that your favourite Canadian’s favourite Canadian is probably Gordon Lightfoot, or in the words of Lee: “the greatest Canadian.”
