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Seven Island Suite Lyrics

Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Album: Sundown

Seven islands to the high side of the bay, 'cross the bay
To the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn haze
We went walking on the high side of the bay on a chilly morn
And we saw how leaves had fallen on the beds where trees were born
Any man in his right mind could not fail to be made aware
Any woman with a gift of wisdom would not seek her answers there
Seven islands to the high side of the bay if you're looking west
To the sunset you can see it, all in fiery autumn dress
Anytime would be the right time to come up to your bed of boughs
Anybody with a wish to wander could not fail but to be aroused

Living high in the city, guess you think it's a pretty good way
You get to learn but when you get burned you got nothing to say
You seem to think because you got chicken to go you're in luck
Fortune will not find you in your mansion or your truck
Brothers will desert you when you're down and shit out of luck

Look around at the morning, guess you're doing the best you can
Surely you know that when you go nobody gives you a hand
Think of the air you're breathing in, think of the time you waste
Think of the right and wrong and consider the frown on your face

It's time you tried living on the high side of the bay, you need a rest
Any woman or a man with a wish to fade away could be so blessed
Fortune will not find you in your mansion turned to gold
Brothers will desert you when your nights turn long and cold

If you feel it you better believe it, you're gonna see it, so you really know
It is rising like a feather, dipping and dancing from below
There's a new wave that is breaking in the wake of a passing ship
Every nation's gonna be shaken, put it together, don't let it slip

It's time you tried living on the high side of the bay, you need a rest
Any man or a woman with a wish to fade away could be so blessed

Seven islands to the high side of the bay, 'cross the bay
To the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn haze
To the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn haze

Comments/Interpretations

by Greg Simpson on 12/27/2008 1:31am
One of Gord's greatest hits - a masterpiece - musically. The lyrics don't ring my bell!

by Geoff Hall on 6/19/2009 6:55am
Gord's one of the all-time great singer writers of any genre and generation; this is one of his greats, for me both lyrically and musically - and from a sensational album

by Mike Walker on 11/10/2009 10:56pm
Oh, I can see where you might think these lyrics lack a certain...coherence. but they're brilliant compard to certain other artists (Mellencamp, Jon Anderson, etc.)
Mike

by Padraigs Ghost on 3/6/2010 9:36pm
The lyrics are by design vague and existential at best. They are so exactly like daily life how anyone could not see it is beyond me. Secondly it is about our (man's) disconect with nature by living in the city. The song is kind of ethereal in it's creating image of the city life and what our natural life could be. This song is a masterpiece and greatly underrated as is much of Mr. Lightfoot's work. Much of Mr. Lightfoot's work is on par with the epic "American Pie", by Don McLean! Ok, thats enough highfalutin happy horseshit for one night...

by Jerry Weller on 9/4/2011 12:48am
I always LOVED this song musically, but never got it till recently. I can't swear to Gord's intent, but to me this song is an apocalyptic warning! Get out of the city because you won't be able to count on anyone when the whole world goes to hell. Find yourself a secluded, slower way of life where you can live true to yourself and God and hide away from the bad things to come.

by dave on 10/22/2011 6:01pm
poetry with the element of well recorded music. great bass and a light airy synth. timeless imagery. sadly never hear it on the radio.
any song with shit in it is, gordy at his best

by Joan on 3/16/2012 10:42am
I grew up in Seven Islands, or Sept-Iles, in French. The town is on the shores of a beautiful bay near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.
The bay is protected by seven islands at it's mouth, hence the name.
I can just see Gordon walking its beautiful sand beaches and composing this song.

by michael j cullinane on 1/21/2013 9:31pm
jerry yes i agree the 7 churches in revelations its time you start living on the high side of the bay

by Mary on 5/23/2013 5:52pm
Joan, thanks for the probable explanation; my forebears lived on Pelee in Lake Erie in the 1860s-1870s and I wondered if those were the islands referred to as there are several near Pelee

by Ernail on 7/9/2013 2:27pm
Yeah, Lightfoot was Great in the 60-80's. Thats it. Now its an embarassment to listen to him CROAK out a song. Really, Why didn't he just retire with some dignity. Sorry Gord, I would've paid top dollar to see you in your prime. Wouldn't take a nickel to hear your current COPD
tinged Groans. True Dat!

by Timbeaux on 1/24/2014 4:07pm
Yes, Ernail; When folks get old they should just dry up and blow away. We should forget they ever contributed or existed.

by steve on 5/16/2014 5:30pm
How prophetic. There's a new wave that is breaking in the wake of a passing ship, every nations gonna be a shaken, put it together, don't let it slip. Soon the reality of what we have done to our home will settle in like a doctors prognosis of terminal illness, and as such will be to late. Every nation WILL be shaken to its very core as the finality of the end is clarified as seaboards sink beneath the waves, as forest erupt in flames to burn edge to edge, the fish in the sea will seek shelter upon the land as poison replaces oxygen. Our croplands will wither to dust bowls again and clean water will be more precious than gold but all will be gone to the sea as there will be no more clean water in our aquifors, wells, springs, lakes or streams left to quench our thirst...yes, every nation WILL be shaken by the new wake of this passing ship as it crosses the River Styx. Is it to late; time, and only time will tell.