Cold Hands From New York, Part 2

In the season finale of Carefree Highway Revisited, returning guest Carole Navarro and I finish our discussion of “Cold Hands From New York” from the Back Here On Earth album. This part of the conversation examines the song’s place on the 1968 album Back Here on Earth, its sparse musical arrangement, and why it remains one of the hidden treasures of Lightfoot’s catalog.Have a great summer! We'll see you in September 2026 for an examination of "Couchiching" with my guest Glenn Sherman.

In this Artist Profile episode of Carefree Highway Revisited, Mike Messner concludes his conversation with Ward Cornforth, the leader of the Toronto-based Gord's Gold Trubute show.Our conversation includes:The songs that are included in the performance at presewnt, and what songs might be coming up in future showsThe responsibility of keeping Lightfoot’s music alive for new generationsWhat Ward hopes Gordon himself might have noticed if he had attended one of his concertsMore about War

In this episode of Carefree Highway Revisited, returning guest Carole Navarro and I explore “Cold Hands From New York,” an overlooked early song by Gordon Lightfoot.Together they discuss the song’s vivid portrait of New York City, its themes of loneliness and human connection, and the way Lightfoot balances hope and disillusionment through powerful imagery and storytelling.Written during a 1967 trip to England when Lightfoot was attempting to overcome a bout of writer’s block, the song paint

In this Artist Profile episode of Carefree Highway Revisited, Mike Messner welcomes Ward Cornforth, the leader of the Toronto-based Gord's Gold Trubute show.Our conversation includes:The members of the bandWard's other tribute project, dedicated to Johnny CashThe way the band covers Lightfoot's materialThe responsibility of keeping Lightfoot’s music alive for new generationsWhat Ward hopes Gordon himself might have noticed if he had attended one of his concerts.More about Ward and

In this special episode of Carefree Highway Revisited, Mike Messner welcomes Nova Scotia musician John Gracie to discuss his Gordon Lightfoot tribute collection, “A Gentle Homage.”John reflects on how he first discovered the music of Gordon Lightfoot, his experiences seeing Lightfoot perform live, and the qualities in Gordon’s songwriting that continue to resonate with him as both a listener and performer.The conversation explores:Why Lightfoot’s songs are difficult to imitate authenticall

In this episode of Carefree Highway Revisited, Mike Messner and returning guest Barbara J. take a deep dive into “Carefree Highway,” one of the signature songs by Gordon Lightfoot.Together we explore the song’s Arizona-inspired origins, its themes of memory and lost love, and the emotional tension between freedom and loneliness that runs throughout the lyrics. Our conversation also highlights the song’s iconic musical arrangement, Terry Clements’ guitar work, and why “Carefree Highway” remains