GORDON LIGHTFOOT ~ The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face ~

[buddhahoodlum1]

This song is as powerful as Black Day in July or the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, but for different reasons. Gordon Lightfoot has a grasp on human emotions that probably no one else today has. In Gord we trust.

[Wahleva]

There is nothing to talk about. It's only LOVE!

[Lostchord1000]

I've always loved this great song, which so many singers have covered. Gordon's version is probably the best of them all. Great job.

[drpegueros]

I was 18 in 1968 the first time ever I heard his voice. Hearing this song again, I am swept away by the beauty of his voice and the memories of my youth.

[simbatj]

The only other version of this song that makes my eyes tear up is that of Mary Travers. Gordon is a North American legend. Canada surely knows how to produce good musicians.

[ichaffee1]

first time I heard his version of it.. beautiful..brought tears to my eyes

[MJSCountry]

this is an artist of the greatest element.... Nothing comes better ...He is super unique talented musician.... thank you

[RoryNights]

Beautiful.. simply beautiful. Thank-you for posting, yes Gordon Lightfoot is one of a kind :) Cheers! 

[Kapaist]

~~beautiful voice; beautiful singing, beautiful song... ~~

[BgMsDangerus]

He sings it beautifully doesn't he?

[rickandbarb1]

we saw Gordon in Burlington VT 2 years ago and he was still as good as ever..packed the Flynn!!

[grayaj23]

OK, so I'm a huge Roberta Flack fan. And a mid-70's era Gord fan. I never heard his version of this song until about 5 years ago. I love Roberta Flack, and her version of this song brings tears to my eyes. But this version is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

[bravo723]

Oh so glad I found Cash singing this. It made me bring out my first poetry book when I first copied this song to give me inspiration and thought then to attribute it to Mr. Lightfoot. Now today I know better but he is still the best version ever.. And finding this song reminds me that I must now look for Pony Man as it will take me back 30+ years to my young teens.

[simbatj]

@bravo723 Did you find Pony Man? I sang that one to my kids, and soon to my grandchild. It is a classic. I wonder if he still does it?

[2dogsaf]

@simbatj Yes he still does it in concert, quite well too.I was at his first concert after the death of Terry Clements,3-15-2011 Greensboro,N.C.the new lead guitarist was not familiar with it when Gordon mentioned it.He was about to skip it when I yelled do it solo it"ll be alright.He did and itwas great.

[simbatj]

@2dogsaf Thank you for the response on "Pony Man." Good to hear!

[aGaArAaDiCt]

I grew up listening to Gordon with my mom and dad, I know nearly all of his songs by heart:) Best childhood memories ever.

[gasmeter1947]

Gordon is a Legend, great guitarist, singer n writer.

[danielh115]

Very nice version...but then, Gordon Lightfoot is always easy on the ear.

[elianerizk5]

amazing !

[grayaj23]

I love this version. It's so heartfelt . I love roberta flack like no one else, but GL is my boy.

[ccdg1066]

This song, never done better. And what a beautiful song it is. Thanks so much for uploading it. My original LP has worn just a bit ;-)

[oldspam]

Goose bumps

[Kenentigern7]

Kirstys dad for the hard of thinking

[JDV92564]

Gordon is the only singer I've heard who sings this song as it was written. He has a great voice. He sang EVERY line as intended. A beautiful song.

[william49365]

@JDV92564 I agree totally. Another really nice version was done by Nancy Ames in 1963 or thereabouts.If anybody can upload her version I would greatly appreciate it.

[stevevandien]

Beyond beautiful. I love Roberta Flack's version, too, but Lightfoot takes this lovely song to another level:) --

[MariposaGirl1981]

i grew up with this as well. My father bought the album in 1966(release year) after meeting Gordon in Ontario when he performed at his junior secondary. I still love this record, scratches and all.

[swiftjeff]

Beautiful

[zutal0rs]

Thank you for loading this song so I could hear it once more. I remember listening to it as a child in Canada- my father bought the record when it first came out. Now I live on the other side of the world.yet you have allowed me to hear Gordon's lovely rendition of this song once more. By the way, Gordon Lightfoot gave guitar lessons, way back when, to one of my mother's friends! (We come from Ontario.)

[Scout4Me1]

Oh, I didn`t know that about Gordon giving guitar lessons! She probably didn`t know he was going to be famous! Take care and have a good new year!

[zutal0rs]

That's right- her friend was a student of his before his first album (the one this song was taken from) came out. Once that album appeared, to such great success, no doubt he didn't need to earn his living by giving guitar lessons anymore. Once again, thanks so much!

[cullivoebhoy]

@zutal0rs - Nice to know that I am not alone in appreciating the great talent that was, and still is Gordon Lightfoot - I have lots of great memories of him singing at Mariposa in Orillia. I too was 'from' Ontario (I previously emigrated from the U.K. with my family in 1957)

And after 37 wonderful years in Canada, I was finally drawn back to the land of my birth. Now I enjoy a peaceful and quiet life in the beautiful Shetland Islands 60 derees north, 1 degree west. Truly Priceless

[zutal0rs]

@cullivoebhoy Wow, the Shetlands. I envy you! I did spend a couple of years in England, way back when. Remember 3 kids in ponchos sitting up on hay bales they put at the side of the stage during one of his Orillia concerts? My sisters and I climbed up for a better view. Concert was taped for CBC and when we watched it later on TV, there was a shot of my youngest sister, aged 3 or 4, dancing at the edge of the stage. Being the youngest, she had no inhibitions about joining in!

[2329250]

saw gary moore in april last year he was rubbish all he did was tell the bass player to fuck off home and swear at fans

[2329250]

if he was half as good as this lad is he be ok this lad can sing all best from north yorkshire .

[terrafirma91]

What? I had no idea that this timeless classic was written by another composer, a man named Ewan MacColl. I had always believed it was Gordon who wrote this. I stand corrected. I like Gordon's rendition of this song the most. Consider the many songs Gordon wrote that many other artists made popular. What a gifted musician Lightfoot truly is. Thanks for the upload.

[2329250]

hi and ewan maccoll had a daughter called kirsty maccoll who did fairytale of new york with The pogues

[SparklyMusicGoddess]

Well..well, I never knew that, either.

I prefer Gordon's version over Roberta Flack's version, too. Hers was good, but she was too "breathy" for me.

Gordon's is sweeter.

[welfy]

This is the only song that I played at my wedding. I didn't need anything else. Gordon Lightfoot has such a touching voice. I saw him perform at the Bel Terra in Indiana April 2009 and he still sounds great. Thanks for sharing this song with others to enjoy!

[Scout4Me1]

Thank you for your comment! Take care and have a nice Christmas! Yes, Gordon Lightfoot has a beautiful voice!

[URLy2Rise]

This is the best version sung by anyone, anywhere, anytime. What a voice! He's just out there, alone with his guitar, no chin-wobbling or shouting or tunelessness such as so many performers today get away with. His voice and how he uses it convey deeply touching emotion--this apart from the lyrics, which themselves are poetry. This man is a fine artist.

[musicalrich1]

Roberta Flack's later version was very good, but this one puts the emphasis differently as meant by the author Ewan McColl... Not bad for Gordon who expresses himself as both a singer of others' tunes & songwriter of many dozens of original compositions. Canada's finest!

[Scout4Me1]

Yes, I especially loved Gordon`s early stuff. He has a beautiful voice which made him my favorite male folksinger. Thank you for your comments. Take care!

[2622horses]

Love this rendition. He was one of Canada's best. Thanks for posting

[Scout4Me1]

I agree. Gordon Lightfoot was such an underrated writer and singer. His singing is so beautiful.

[ckwc5]

YES! and he's singing it at the correct tempo....as it was written by Ewan McCall

[Scout4Me1]

Do you know if Gordon still resides in Canada?