Gordon Lightfoot - The Watchman's Gone- Live

One of my favorite songs of all time--At the Hanford Theatre, Hanford, CA 10/16/08

[@VNTPLA]

Let's tell people, one of the nicest songs ever written !

[@coltonnovak1887]

I don’t know what it is, but this is my favorite video of this song. I’ve heard bootlegs, countless other versions from in his prime. This? This is it. The watchman may be gone, but he’ll never be forgotten.

[@johnrush521]

My Dear 76 year old neighbor Dan just passed away . Old school , tough as nails , hard worker and a pure gentleman ! No Bullshit type of guy ! Was my neighbor for years and I love him dearly ! I'm so broken hearted ! Thank You for your unconditional friendship and companionship . Dan , you are my Watchman ! I'll make sure that you're face up with the daisies , watching the moon role by ! R.I.P. Dear Watchman !

[@RickOnTheDrums]

Get out old Dan's Records....if old Dan could see you now I know he'd be so proud.

[@johnrush521]

Thank you Rick - Well said !

[@dennissecret2857]

Come on! Great song. Timeless. It is so wonderful to hear Gord still belting it out., and to see Rick Hanes, the Rock, on the bass. Miss Terry.

[@johnrush521]

Sundown is a great album - I love this gem ..... R.I.P. Terry ! Miss you man !

[@SuperTekZone]

This is one of my top ten favourite Lightfoot songs. So evocative with its nighttime/railway imagery.

[@mthivier]

Awesome, my favorite song from SUNDOWN album. I didn't realize he still performed this one live.

[@Cat-hn2on]

And still is performing in 2020!

[@m1945d]

I love it too. It occurs to me that 'the watchman' is God, a reference to God. Do you think so?

[@stevenlay3772]

@@m1945d definitely one of the levels of meaning in my opinion. the vengeful god replaced by the god of love and mercy? many other meanings too...train watchmen, inner critic, more too i think...

[@gordiesings]

@@m1945d No.

[@gleesu]

I was lucky enough to meet 2 of the band members a couple of years ago when they played in Georgia. It was so thrilling to hear him belt this out like it was just no effort at all. The whole concert was worth the price of the ticket several times over. THIS is a man and band who know how to play a REAL concert!

[@crazybastardist]

One of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot tunes, it resonates with me!!!

[@Sutterjack]

Devastating loss with the passing of Terry---I've enjoy his music and his presence at the live shows for 35 years---glad I got to see him one more time last November in Visaila, CA

[@DaveSS-xi4pn]

Wow, didn't know we lost Terry. He was the perfect complement to Gord's performanc'es. So tasteful, his parts were always right in the pocket! Thank you Terry!

[@fubarTheMagnificent]

I am pumped to see this treasure of a man onstage in Tacoma, WA on March 16th. My Dad would play this on vinyl when I was 5 years old back in '74. I remember looking at the Sundown album cover and thinking "this guy looks like a cool dude". I kick myself today for not seeing one of his shows years ago, but even if I have to listen a bit more carefully to his voice of today I will be awash in memories. Oh, and my Dad gets to go with me...first concert we will see together...front row.

[@Cat-hn2on]

That sounds like a great time with your dad. I saw him front row last month - excellent show. Unfortunately my dad couldn't be there, as he passed in 1975. So... how was it?

[@wagtec]

Great Man, High Quality Music, the Real Deal.... Deserves The Highest Respect...

[@TomAbdowConcerts]

I first saw Gordon play this song at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia when I was in the Coast Guard in the 70's and then several times later as the years went by including Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. He is powerful on this one. The video and audio are great! I love playing this song in my solo act.

[@Sutterjack]

Finally an Intelligent comment, thank you! Just respect the man and his music, not his or my technical quality. He's a icon with more success under his belt that most people commenting here will ever know.

[@Cat-hn2on]

I know that's right. Saw him twice last month and would do it again!

[@whoevertf]

Man's still got it, by far. Hahaha Keep rockin' Gordon!

[@tigerstare]

Nice video! Makes me feel like I was in the audience, which is exactly what I want to feel.

[@jhill2704]

just found out he's coming to my town again in Oct-so excited! this will be my fourth GL concert!

[@GlenAnne99]

Thanks for putting this up :) I love this song and this video is great! Very nice quality and sound :)

[@Martin00028Guitar]

@Sutterjack You ROCK SUtTERJACK, thanks for recording and sharing,, we all love gord, terry, pee wee,, and the others,, thank you for sharing....its the intent that matters, and its quite good,, love your wo rk, keep up the good work ! D

[@Martin00028Guitar]

@Sutterjack Love your work, SJ, clear, crisp, and its the love you put in it, showing Gordon's love for his music and his fans. This is fine in my book....inspires me to pick up the Martin and sing along! Good Job! Dale

[@MaryPinkHair]

Cheers !! And thank you Sutterjack for making this very fine video !! It is New Year's Day (January 1, 2013 - Happy New Year to y'all).

[@dreamfable]

Sutterjack, thanks for posting this from your great seat at Hanford. I've been as close as 8th row in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, in good seats in Ohio and elsewhere. You're the one with the steady hand at the camera. People don't realize that someone with a larger camera & mic would have been escorted out by security! Snarky jerks troll the web, but those of us who appreciate classic songs by this master and others are glad you posted it. Lightfoot played 70 shows in 2012, more due in 2013.

[@Sutterjack]

I love these comments about sound quality---Dang it--I knew I should have gotten a live feed directly from the mixing board--GIVE ME A BREAK PEOPLE--this was shot with a small consumer camera--this in not the Gordon Lightfoot official documentary!

[@Cat-hn2on]

It's good enough. Anyone who doesn't get the feeling or gist of this is just not that into G. L. This is one of my favourites from him.

[@shizuokaBLUES]

I am really enjoying this and so thankful you were there and recorded it and shared it with us. Thanks much. The sound quality is enough...If I want perfect, I will listen to the CD. I don't care, I am just thankful we can have the opportunity to see him like this.

[@bishopaz]

Still sounds good to me. Thank you Gordon

[@DT-wt5ku]

One of his best from the Sundown album. RIP Gord.

[@c.richardphillips1542]

My all time GL fav!

[@borderlord]

One of his best...also Carefree Highway and summer side of Life...I could go on :)

[@Cat-hn2on]

:) That's the wonderful thing about music. When you listen to 'em all and figure out which ones you like the best ... Then you can listen to them again!

[@lizzielostdude]

my favorite 1

[@jhill2704]

I'll second that!!

[@yamahonkawazuki]

@Sutterjack ive no beef at all with the audio quality. it is far better than what i came up with. thank you for posting. and heck i was 50ft away from teh board. and people 3 times my size were around it so that was a no go lmao

[@DAVEDOUGHY]

gotta agree with that,have a mofi copy of this record,play it alot

[@alegrace]

If some random guy came around the campfire and played stuff like this . . . well, holy crap, they'd think he was Jesus!

[@uncatila]

Terry Clements working his magic in concert with Rick Hanes on base. God help Rick now that Terry and Gord are gone. God help us all and bless our dearly beloved.

[@Sutterjack]

Terry was great but Carter was a excellent replacement and very faithful to the sound with his own style thrown in. I'm sure all the members of the band anticipated the end - Gord clearly was loyal to his band and they returned that loyalty. I met Rick years ago and he was very grateful for a decades-long career with Gord.

[@clubdoc]

Nice post. I too put up a lot of vids and get some idiotic comments!! Terry Clements passed away Sunday night. RIP TERRY

[@sonofolias]

And Seven Island Suite the best song on the album.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

@jrushmen aye. got to watch the co-master play .terry we miss ya :"( and rick has to do somethign with that red guitar. or the light guy has to do somethign. in knox. that light was reflecting off of rick haynes guitar into my face lol. but still i must admit a memory of a lifetime. to be at a gordon lightfoot concert :")

[@ugmodude]

@Therockwallaby that goes ditto for me, sutterjack

[@2dogsaf]

@Sutterjack rival,Idon't know ,but if you dig a little you will learn that Croce idolized Gordon, both masters of their trade able to make the music tell the story as well as the words

[@Cat-hn2on]

I love them both. Wish Croce was still here, too. Imagine them both on the same stage!

[@clubdoc]

well, He didnt play it in Ft Wayne but he did play me and bobbi mcgee and ring them bells!!! we will see him a few more times and he is rotating 38 songs into his 27 song set. gord rules!

[@GeneralSirDouglasMcA]

I love the drum beat used in this performance versus the CD version. I miss how Gords voice doesn't go as high as on the CD, but I realize the voice gets a bit deeper as we age so I don't hold it against him.

[@jhill2704]

@tornadomanatwork you aint whistle and dixy there!

[@yamahonkawazuki]

@Sutterjack sutter you did A HELL of alot better than i did. i got audible audio, but only as good, or good for a ringtone or something. this was pretty good im my opinion

[@MSUSpartanFootball]

Barry Keane is one of the best drummers in the business. Just so happens that this recording device is too close to the part of the PA system that the drums are running through.

[@kjboogie]

Guess a better choice of words would have been for the drummer to tone down. I think it distracts from the beauty of this song. Thanks again.

[@iceaxe56]

is that kenny stabler playing bass

[@rationallogo]

He does look like him! Seriously, for those who don't know, the bass player is the great Rick Haynes, considered by some in bass circles to be one of the most underrated bass players of the last 50 years.

[@MaryPinkHair]

Whatever I was, you know it was all because I've been on the town washing the BS down. Oh, wow !! Gordie is noooooooooooooo Shakespeare !! lol

[@Cat-hn2on]

I feel in my heart that Shakespeare's words would not have the same effect as Mr. Lightfoot's does. Just my humble opinion.

[@MDespault]

Well Jim didn't have anywhere near the quantity for great tunes that Gordie did. But a good songwriter just the same

[@tobycleo]

who,s better? gordon or jim croce??

[@Cat-hn2on]

They are both WAY up there in the hierarchy of great musicians, in my book.

[@Sutterjack]

Tough question! Considering the great songs he wrote before his untimely death, I think Croce probably would rival Gord in songwrting---IMHO

[@tcquinn1]

You are half right kj. Yes it is a great song, but you are way off the mark with regard to "that drummer"

[@kjboogie]

Wow, Great song. But get rid of that drummer