Review: 'Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind,' a heartfelt ode to a Canadian icon

For our neighbors to the north, the documentary “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind” reaffirms the Canadian singer-songwriter’s position as a national treasure. U.S. audiences will be reminded of the power of an artist who was once a radio staple and regularly sold out shows at the Hollywood Bowl, the Greek Theatre and Universal Ampitheatre whenever he came to L.A.

Written and directed by Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni, the film is smartly structured around notable songs in thecatalog, charting his journey from small-town, post-World War II Ontario to the coffee houses of 1960s Toronto and his chart-topping run of hits in the 1970s, as the gifted musician found success across the folk, country, rock and pop realms.

Known for his distinctive baritone and emotion-rich songs about heartbreak and betrayal , isolation and trains and ships , Lightfoot connected to Canada’s roots in a way that holds few analogs. Canadian musicians, including Ronnie Hawkins, Ian and Sylvia Tyson , Anne Murray, Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, Tom Cochrane and Sarah McLachlan, attest to that connection in the documentary, along with observations from Americans Steve Earle, Greg Graffin of Bad Religion and Alec Baldwin.

The thrice-married Lightfoot is an affable, introspective and frank subject, acknowledging mistakes made along the way in both art and love, and the intertwined nature of the two pursuits. In the film’s opening scene, after watching a vintage television performance of the 1965 confessional “For Lovin’ Me,” he declares, “I hate that [expletive] song,” dismayed not by the quality of his writing but the revealing content about his first marriage.

proud to have been a part of the great warner/reprise label which released all his biggest hits. and still a huge gordon lightfoot fan. 👍🏼❤️

Yes!!! Can’t wait to watch this!! ❤️ Gordon Lightfoot!

Sundown is about some revenge. Good gent.

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