Sylvia Tyson remembers Gordon Lightfoot as shy, reserved and a meticulous songwriter

TORONTO – Folk singer Sylvia Tyson says Gordon Lightfoot’s desire to write the perfect song was something he “sweated blood” over.

The longtime friend of Lightfoot — who was also one half of Yorkville folkie duo Ian & Sylvia — reflected on her memories of the singer-songwriter who died Monday at age 84.

Tyson knew Lightfoot longer than most others.

She and Ian caught one of his early performances on the second floor of Steele’s Tavern on Yonge Street, which led them to later cover “For Lovin’ Me,” and connect him with his future manager Albert Grossman.

Tyson says one of the greatest misconceptions about Lightfoot is that because his songs were so articulate, he was also a great conversationalist. In fact, she says, he was actually “very shy and reserved.”

She says what made him a “great songwriter” was the time he spent with each song, making sure it was “carefully crafted.”

Tributes to Lightfoot continued to roll out this week.

Fellow Yorkville folk musician Buffy Sainte-Marie said in a statement that there was a “freshman class in heaven with Harry Belafonte.”

Neil Young called him “a great Canadian artist. A songwriter without parallel” in a message posted on his website, while Toronto-raised actor Kiefer Sutherland tweeted that “Canada lost part of itself. And I lost a hero.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2023.

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