Gordon Lightfoot

A Painter Passing Through

The Last Troubador

Review Score:

(8/10)
Once upon a time, in the '70's, there was a genre of singers called "troubadors." Troubadors usually began their musical careers as folkies, and evolved in troubadors when they became better musicians. Yet, like folkies, they didn't sing songs; they sang stories. The finest of the Troubadors included Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, and Gordon Lightfoot. Today, only one troubador remains; Gordon Lightfoot. Now sixty, with a voice that has lost most of its resonance, Gord continues to make recordings. Yet, despite his loss of youth, he refuses to sink into maudlin self-pity, or pretend that he is still a young man. His title song "A Painter Passing Through" is the narrative of a troubador who lost his youth, found perspective, and still refuses to surrender, despite being past his prime. "On Yonge Street" about Gord's native Toronto, Ontario, using dual melodies, is somewhat reminiscent of "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." Perhaps the finest track on this album is one of its two songs not written by Gord, "I used to be a Country Singer." This song, written by Steve McEown, is about a singer whose hotel maid was once a country singer. Yet, rather than being depressing, it's a celebration of just being alive! That, in an essence, is the theme of "A Painter Passing Through"; a celebration of just being alive. Yes, Gord is now singing songs about maturity, but mature is what he is, and maturity, like youth, is a phase of life that deserves its own celebration. Besides, there is nothing more disgusting than a sixty year old singing songs about adolescence! Indeed, his lecture to youth, using his alter-ego "Uncle Toad Said" is the story of every person no longer young. Correspondingly, in "Ringnecked Loon" a more up-beat story about a troubador, Gord also adopts an animal as his alter-ego. That he choses the Loon is fitting, since the Loon is the symbol of Gord's native Canada. "Drifters" could best be titled 'advice to a would-be troubador'. Similarly, "My Little Love" is the tale of an old troubador still plugging away. "Boathouse" is the wide-awake dream of an insomniac in the middle of the night, and it's counter-part, "Much to My Surprise" is the quiet observation of a late afternoon. Unfortunately, none of the songs on this album will rank among such greats as "If You Could Read My Mind" , "Sundown", "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald", the latter being perhaps the finest troubador-song ever written. Yet, those who love troubador music in general, and Gordon Lightfoot music in specific, will not be disappointed. Indeed, that Gordon is still moving forward, despite being past his prime, holds the promise that perhaps the best really is yet to come, for Gordon Lightfoot, and for us all!

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