By Wayne Francis

In a great 1965 photographic piece by David Gahr surrounding the Newport Folk Festival of that year, are numerous pictures of a youthful Lightfoot in white shirt and black vest, with Ian & Sylvia, Donovan and others, but the best one of all in my opinion is a close up shot of the top of GL's guitar that includes the songlist he was working from in that period taped to the top of his guitar.

If you were to see GL in the summer of 1965, here's what you could expect to hear:

This first section was made up of GL originals, the second section was made up of covers Lightfoot was doing live in those days and the third section, located off to the side was perhaps his Newport setlist.

Section 1 - GL Originals:

Talkin' Silver Cloud
If You're Leavin'
The Way I Feel
The General Store
Echoes Of Heroes
The Long River
For Lovin' Me
Rich Man Spiritual
Early Morning Rain
Dear Brothers And Sisters And Friends
Betty Mae's A Good Time Gal
When Spring Was O'er The Land
Ribbon Of Darkness
I'm Not Sayin'
Peaceful Waters
Til My Heart Breaks
Sixteen Miles
Prettiest Time Of Her Life
River Gal
Let Me Die Inland
Gambler
Steel Rail Blues

Section 2 - Covers

The Auctioneer
Skillet
Old Blue (recorded, impromptu by GL during the 1969 "33rd Of August" sessions in Nashville)
Little Brown Shack
You Go To Your Church
Wabash Cannonball
Wildwood Flower
Song Of The Groundhog
Pride Of Man
Get Together
Harbour Le Cou (recorded for the Canadian Talent Library album)
I Still Miss Someone
Diamond Joe
Pig Iron
Girl From The North Country (Dylan song)
1913 Massacre
Hollis Brown (Dylan)
Red Velvet!!!
Farewell To Nova Scotia
Turn, Turn, Turn
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Red Iron Ore
Song For Canada
Wayfaring Stranger
Irish Ballad
Foggy Dew
500 Miles
O'Raffertey's Pig
Jolly Tinker
Four Rode By
Talkin' World War III Blues (Dylan)
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Dylan)
Blowing In The Wind (Dylan)
Four Strong Winds
Tennessee Stud
Civil War Trilogy (Bob Gibson song that inspired GL to use "trilogy" structure for CRT)
Country Boy
New Automobile
Peepin' And Hidin'
Squid Jiggin' Ground
Riddle Song
If I Had A Hammer
Streets Of Laredo
El Paso
Miller's Cave
The Race Is On
Six Days On The Road
King Of The Road

Section 3 - Newport '65 Setlist?

I'm Not Sayin'
The Way I Feel
The Auctioneer
For Lovin' Me
Hollis Brown (Dylan)
The Hands I Love (Early title of "Song For A Winter's Night"!)
The General Store
Early Morning Rain



Overall, this list taped to his guitar in 1965 is a fascinating insight into where Lightfoot stood musically in that period. The influence of Dylan is obvious in his choice of material, as well as to Ian & Sylvia, Bob Gibson and others. Cover songs such as "The Auctioneer" "Farewell To Nova Scotia" and "Tennessee Stud" remained in his stage show for many years, into the 90's in some cases.