About the song
Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain” is a song that resonates deeply with those who appreciate the power of simple, heartfelt storytelling. Written and performed by the Canadian singer-songwriter, this song captures the essence of longing, loss, and the unending search for meaning in life. When Lightfoot performed this song live on the BBC in 1969, he brought an intimacy and warmth to the performance that truly highlighted his exceptional talents.
“Early Morning Rain” was originally written in the early 1960s and became one of Lightfoot’s most beloved tracks. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who is down on his luck, standing in the rain near an airport, watching the planes take off. These planes symbolize freedom and escape, something the man yearns for but cannot attain. This sense of yearning is a recurring theme in many of Lightfoot’s works, and it’s powerfully conveyed in this song.
During the 1969 BBC live performance, Lightfoot’s voice carried a gentle, yet deeply emotive tone, perfectly matching the melancholic nature of the song. His guitar playing was crisp and clean, providing a beautiful accompaniment to his vocal performance. The simplicity of the arrangement allowed the song’s lyrics to take center stage, ensuring that the audience could feel every word and emotion that Lightfoot intended to convey.
What makes this particular live performance so special is the raw and unfiltered emotion that Lightfoot brings to the stage. There is no need for elaborate instrumentation or production; instead, the focus remains on the purity of the song itself. Lightfoot’s ability to connect with his audience through his music is evident in this performance, making it a memorable moment for all who experienced it.
In “Early Morning Rain,” Gordon Lightfoot invites listeners into a world of quiet reflection and emotional depth. The BBC live performance from 1969 is a testament to his artistry, showing that sometimes, the simplest songs can be the most powerful.
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Lyrics
In the early morning rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an achin’ in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I’m a long way from home
And I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go
Out on runway number nine
Big 707 set to go
But I’m stuck here in the grass
Where the cold wind blows
Now, the liquor tasted good
And the women all were fast
Well, there she goes my friend
Well, she’s rollin’ down at last
Hear the mighty engines roar
See the silver bird on high
She’s away and westward bound
Far above the cloud, she’ll fly
Where the mornin’ rain don’t fall
And the sun always shines
She’ll be flyin’ o’er my home
In about three hours time
This old airport’s got me down
It’s no earthly good to me
‘Cause I’m stuck here on the ground
As cold and drunk as I can be
You can’t jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on the way
In the early morning rain
You can’t jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on the way
In the early morning rain