If You Could Read my Mind (cover)

Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot helped define the folk-pop sound of the 60s & 70s. He was encouraged in his singing by his mother and choirmaster, studied music in Hollywood, returned to Orillia where he promoted folk music in the Toronto coffee houses. His music career has spanned more than five decades producing more than 200 recordings, many recorded by world renowned artists. He has played with some of his band members for more than 30 years.
Lightfoot was commissioned by CBC to write "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" for special broadcast on Jan1, 1967 to start Canada's Centennial year. ... more at wikipedia The 1970 song "If You Could Read My Mind" was written in reflection upon his disintegrating marriage. It sold over one million copies by early 1971.
Despite illness, Lightfoot had several major hits during the 70s. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was about the Nov 10, 1975 tragic sinking of a ship during a severe storm on Lake Superior; all 29 crew members perished.

1987: lawsuit against composer Michael Masser, claiming that the melody for the song "The Greatest Love of All" (Geo Benson '77 and Whitney Houston '85) stole 24 bars from Lightfoot's hit song "If You Could Read My Mind."
The signature Lightfoot sound centers around his distinct baritone voice and folk-based 12-string acoustic guitar.
2004: Lightfoot completed his 20th album Harmony, mostly recorded prior to serious illness/surgery/coma.

timing is off a bit and it's a little fast, but here's my rendition (capo5) G Dm C D Em

If you could read my mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie,
'Bout a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong,
With chains upon my feet.
You know that ghost is me.
And I will never be set free
As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see.

If I could read your mind, love,
What a tale your thoughts could tell.
Just like a paperback novel,
The kind the drugstores sell.
When you reached the part where the heartaches come,
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!

I'd walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three way script.
Enter number two:
A movie queen to play the scene
Of bringing all the good things out in me.
But for now, love, let's be real;
I never thought I could feel this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong,
But the feeling's gone
And I just can't get it back.

If you could read my mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie,
'Bout a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong.
With chains upon my feet.
But stories always end,
And if you read between the lines,
You'd know that I'm just tryin' to understand
The feelin's that we lack.
I never thought I could feel this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong,
But the feelin's gone
And I just can't get it back!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• acoustic
• 12-string
• Fender
• guitar
• solo
• photos
• Europe
• castles
• Calgary
• 60's
• 70's
• folk
• Gordon
• Lightfoot
• 1969
• lyrics
• chords

[raffaport]

A lovely song and rendition. You have done some really nice covers. I've subbed so that I can pinch your ideas - in a flattering kind of way. Thanks for the comment, by the way. Thumbs and regards.

[julanenova]

@raffaport Thanks for compliment! .. I'll be interested in any ideas that you might "pinch" :)

[BlueAquaMarina]

What a magnificent song!! And what a beautiful performance!!! Amazing upload my dear!!! Thank you so very much!!!

[julanenova]

@BlueAquaMarina Thank you for such a wonderful comment!



[1dillontaylor]

i love this song, i also play it sometimes. I really like your version, very  original and the video is beautiful! :)

[julanenova]

@1dillontaylor Thank you for such nice comment ... wonderful castles in Europe!  I really like your texas blues song.

[julanenova]

@teteroom Thanks Tete ... glad you liked it! (...many thoughts and prayers for Japan)

[julanenova]

@weeyin1155 So glad you enjoyed it ... and hope you have a pleasant week too ♥

[julanenova]

@Hippie1944 thanks Hippie!

[teteroom]

Nice job on this video! and a good cover! I enjoyed this one.