LCM Classic: ‘Sundown’ - Gordon Lightfoot

Our LCM Classic this week is the wonderful ‘Sundown’ a song by Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, taken from his eponymous album and released as a single in March 1974.

"Sundown" reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and and No. 13 on the Hot Country singles chart, as well as No. 1 in Canada on RPM's national singles chart and surprisingly only No. 33 in the UK chart. It was Gordon’s only single to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100.

The song's lyrics seem to describe a troubled romantic relationship, (often cited as notorious groupie Cathy Smith) with the narrator recounting an affair with a "hard-loving woman [who's] got me feeling mean".

In a 2008 interview, Gordon said: ‘I think my girlfriend was out with her friends one night at a bar while I was at home writing songs. I thought, 'I wonder what she’s doing with her friends at that bar!' It’s that kind of a feeling. 'Where is my true love tonight? What is my true love doing?'.