"Sundown" is a song by Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, from the titular album, released as a single in March 1974.
"Sundown" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and easy listening charts and number 13 on the Hot Country singles chart, as well as number one in Canada on RPMs national singles chart. It was Lightfoot's only single to reach number one on the Hot 100.
Content
The lyrics describe a troubled romantic relationship (often cited as Cathy Smith), with the narrator recounting an affair with a "hard-loving woman [who's] got me feeling mean".
In a 2008 interview, Lightfoot said:
Red Shea recorded the lead guitar and solo parts on his tobacco sunburst 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom with Bigsby vibrato bar into a cranked Fender Silverface Twin Reverb with the tremolo on a low setting.
Personnel
Engineered by Lee Herschberg <br> Recorded at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Gordon Lightfoot: lead and backing vocals, twelve-string acoustic guitar
- Red Shea: electric lead guitar
- Terry Clements: acoustic lead guitar
- John Stockfish: bass guitar
- Jim Gordon: drums
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Other versions
- Nana Mouskouri recorded a French version, "L'Amour, c'est comme l'été", on her 1974 album Que Je Sois Un Ange.
- The musical project/collaboration of singer-songwriters Elwood covered the song in 2000. This version peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on July 8, 2000.
- American country music singer Deryl Dodd's version of the song peaked at number 59 on Billboards Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart in 1999. It was later included on his album, Pearl Snaps (2002).
- Danish supergroup Dalton covered the song on their first album, Dalton, released in 1992, under the title "Selskabsmadonna".
- American country music singer Charles Wesley Godwin covered the song through Amazon Original Music in 2024.
See also
References
External links