Gordon Lightfoot; the late songwriter and the songs covered by Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand and more

Canada is in mourning today after the death of celebrated musician Gordon Lightfoot, his longtime publicist announced overnight. Lightfoot was 84 years old and although perhaps not a familiar name outside of Canada, his music very much should have an air of familiarity about it - given the numerous covers and admirers of the Ontario native. 

Tributes have poured in from a number of musicians and personalities both within Canada and around the world, with Justin Trudeau taking time away from politics to pay homage to the late singer-songwriter. “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing yesterday of Gordon Lightfoot, one of Canada’s greatest singer-songwriters,” the Canadian Prime Minister disclosed in a statement. “Mr. Lightfoot gave us so many special moments over the years. With a career that spanned over half a century, Mr. Lightfoot’s music told stories that captured the Canadian spirit, none more so than his iconic Canadian Railroad Trilogy, which will forever be a part of our country’s musical heritage.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Lightfoot as a child – he spent the afternoon in the Gatineau Hills with my family, and it is a memory I will always cherish. On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I express our deepest sympathies to Gordon’s family, friends, and his many, many fans. His legacy will live on in the dynamic Canadian soundscape he helped to shape.”

Lightfoot, who began performing as a singer and guitarist in his teens, playing in local bands and performing at coffeehouses in Toronto before moving to New York, saw early success with the release of "Early Morning Rain" in 1965 - the song has since been covered by many other artists and helped to establish Lightfoot as a songwriter. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Lightfoot released a string of successful albums and singles, including "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” while earning praise from fellow musicians including Bob Dylan and fellow Ontario local, Neil Young. 

In recognition of his contributions to music, Lightfoot has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Order of Canada, among other honours. But it is the pedigree of the artists who have covered tracks by the late Canadian singer-songwriter which demonstrate how overwhelming of an influence he was across the wider spectrum of music, and not merely a household name in Canada. 

Elvis Presley

The King (the other one), known for his ear for a catchy tune throughout his life, was one of the first people to cover “Early Morning Rain” by Lightfoot on his 1971 album, Elvis Now. It would also be the song that Bob Dylan also chose to cover from Lightfoot’s impressive catalogue of songs. 

Elvis had a strong affinity for Canadian songwriters, and he recorded several songs by Canadian artists throughout his career. Gordon Lightfoot was one of the most successful and respected Canadian songwriters of the time, and Elvis may have been drawn to his music as a way of exploring the Canadian music scene and connecting with his fans in that country. 

It could also be that the song, being about a pilot who is stranded far from home, resonated with the feelings Elvis had being on the road - loneliness, isolation, and longing alongside an aviation theme which Elvis, an aviation fanatic himself, might have also sweetened the deal to cover.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash covered several songs by Gordon Lightfoot during his career, including "If You Could Read My Mind," "Ribbon of Darkness," and "The Circle is Small," and there are a few different reasons why Cash may have been drawn to Lightfoot's music.

First and foremost, Cash was a fan of folk and country music, and Lightfoot's music blended elements of both genres. Cash appreciated the storytelling and emotional depth of Lightfoot's songs, and he may have seen something of himself in the themes of love, loss, and redemption that run through many of Lightfoot's lyrics.

Additionally, Cash was known for his ability to turn cover songs into iconic performances that were uniquely his own. He had a talent for taking songs by other artists and putting his own stamp on them, infusing them with his distinctive voice, guitar playing, and stage presence. This may have been part of the appeal of covering Lightfoot's music - Cash saw the potential to make these songs his own and to connect with his audience in a new and powerful way.

Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John first heard "If You Could Read My Mind" on the radio while she was living in England in the late 1960s. She was immediately struck by the song's haunting melody and emotional lyrics, and she knew that she wanted to record it - going on to include the track on her 1971 album, If Not For You.

Newton-John's version of "If You Could Read My Mind" was a major success, reaching #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release, and even earned high praise from the original songwriter himself, calling it "a very good rendition" and praising her for "putting her own interpretation" on the song.

The cover led to both Olivia and Gordon to become friends in the long run, with the two performing the song together in 2017 at a benefit concert in Canada in Lightfoot’s home country of Canada. 

Harry Belafonte

Before Elvis Presley had a chance to cover “Early Morning Rain,” the late Harry Belafonte beat him to it by three years, including a cover of the song on his 1968 album By Request. However, Belafonte's version of "Early Morning Rain" is notable for its slower tempo and more contemplative mood than the original, with Belafonte's vocals are soulful and expressive, and the sparse instrumentation highlights the song's haunting melody and melancholy lyrics.

Deemed somewhat of a protest song by some, it made sense that Belafonte would use the song as a stirring observation of political activism and social justice causes. It is of the belief that the feelings Elvis observed of loneliness and escape from the pressures of everyday life could be interpreted as a commentary on the political and social turmoil of the late 1960 that Belafonte was a part of.

Lightfoot once again was complimentary regarding the cover, calling Belafonte’s take “a very respectful rendition.”

Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand covered Gordon Lightfoot's song "If You Could Read My Mind" on her 1971 album Stoney End and marked one of the, as of then, few times Streisand departed a sound people were familiar for her to bring with her music. Featuring a lush orchestral arrangement that highlights the song's melody and emotional resonance, it was quite removed from the show tunes that Streisand made her name with throughout the early part of her career.

Streisand's version of "If You Could Read My Mind" was a hit, reaching #9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Lightfoot, ever the polite Canadian that he was, spoke highly of Streisand's cover, saying that he was "very pleased" with it and that Streisand "had a beautiful voice and did a beautiful job" with the song.

Streisand and Lightfoot went on to become friends and collaborators, and they performed together on several occasions over the years. In 1997, they recorded a duet version of "If You Could Read My Mind" for Streisand's album Higher Ground.