Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway Lyrics

126 people are on the wrong highway

The story of my life... Thank you Mr Lightfoot... Your music has such a profound effect on my world... You are the BEST!!! Case closed!!!

Being an Arizona native, I’m proud of my state and I love this song and this artist very much. 🙏🏼

I grew up in Gordon's era...the 70's..his songs touched me deeply..God bless...

This song and If You Could Read My Mind, are my favorites out of the 1970s.

Very good song...though was more oriented toward the "adult" stations when it came out. He is a tremendous talent. Sundown was his huge top40 hit.

Was HOMELESS for more then 35 years, and walked MOST of americas highways in that time, alone, with my own thoughts. Who I AM is because of the lonely highways across this country

It must have been about 1972 or 73 when this album came out, I totally wore it out listening to it over and over. It was also responsible for me packing everything I owned in my 1968 VW Beetle along with $96.00 in my pocket (and to my name), two friends that were flat broke and a full grown German Shepard, and took off from Wyoming ending up two days later in a small Mexican town about three quarters of the way down Baja California. It was the first year they paved the Baja highway and Jesus, what an adventure, I can't believe we lived through it! We were gone for about 3 weeks, thrown in a Mexican jail with dirt floors (they thought we were smuggling people across the border), and later on the way back, we were tossed in San Diego County jail for a week, over the fourth of July weekend (caught smoking pot while tripping on some great Window Pane acid). We were later released temporarily on our own recognizance (OR) after signing some official paperwork stating we would return to appear in court at a later date because the public defender for our case didn't show up at our court hearing that day.


We walked out of jail and hit the highway and we were in the process of making our break from California back to Wyoming when, just as we got out of San Diego on the highway, a god damned A-hole highway patrol officer wanted to throw us back in jail because I had a cracked windshield (and if he knew we had just been released from jail on a OR, he would have). And, of coarse because we were young, had long hair, wore grungy clothes and looked like hippies, and most likely stunk, he made us take everything out of my car on the side of the interstate highway while he went through everything with a fine tooth comb. All the while lecturing us and telling us what he was going to do to us if he found anything illegal (which he didn't, thank god) and he finally let us go.

The next day I lost $19.00 of my last $20.00 in Vegas playing black jack. We slept in the city park that night and woke up to the sprinklers drenching us and a couple of city cops that somehow thought it was so funny they didn't have the heart to arrest us. About an hour or two after wandering around the Vegas strip on foot and wondering if I was going to have to pawn my VW to get back home, I walked into a casino and put my last dollar I had in the whole world on a black jack table, and won twenty bucks the first hand! My buddies wanted me to keep playing but I said f$#k no and left! That twenty dollars was enough back then to pay for gas and food for us to get back to Wyoming.


Sorry for the long post but, just hearing this song after so many years, brought this memory back to me in a flash and with great detail. And, although I left out a lot of small details (of which had I included, would make a very long short story), this condensed version of our adventure includes the main details of the story pretty well. For some reason, I just felt like I had to write it down. Oh ya, I still love Gordon Lightfoot's music, it never seems old or outdated!

Music with such deep feeling!! Thank you Mr. Lightfoot.

I love the cigarette.

Not a lot a singer songwriters are smokin' on their album covers these days.

124 people have a drama filled highway.

A poet to my soul, he's been there and done that.

God bless you Gordon

I have this album from 1973. Great singer. Great memories.

When music was music and not a bunch of thug noise.

Back in 74' wherever there was a jukebox I would ask my mom & dad if I could play it.. Drove my sisters crazy! (Although it may have been my usual second selection which was the Rockford Files theme song, LOL!) I still listen to "Carefree Highway to this day. Thank you Gordon.

Her name was Ann and I'll be damned if I recall her face. I did the road too.

Just absolutely beautiful. Timeless ❤

Gordon Lightfoot belongs in "the music hall of fame """

Sure does!

That place is a joke and so political, but no doubt. Embarrassing he is not.

timeless pic of Gordon Lightfoot"..

..was driving on carefree highway just last month

yes, I remember listening to this song as a kid on radio sometime in seventies...then they interviewed Gordon about this song, and he said, his marriage was crumbling and he d jus go out and drive on highway to get away...took a pad of paper,wrote this song...that was a cool time. then later I met him on Yonge st, he signed my guitar, and I kept seeing him, his office was near where I lived.haha...no one recognized or few...I did.] he also had long hair, jeans]

Gordon's tunes always just put me in a better place

Love me some Gordon Lightfoot!!! 💖🌟👍

Until this very minute, I'd always thought it was "Every Highway", and nothing about it made sense, I just enjoyed the melody. :-)

Todd Burgess I know I sing it Every highway too, it works 😍😍😍

Carefree highway
Got to see you my old flame...


What a great line. Who doesn't have an old flame we'd like to see one more time?

wonderful addition to the ESCAPE FROM DANNEMORA film

They don't make music like this anymore. Meaningful lyrics and a beautiful melody....

You must be in a fucking coma.

always loved this song when truck driving and when cruiseing in my firebird

george wilson yep, for me it was as a student early 90’s doing tour of Europe... a very different Europe from today 🥰

A perfect song perfectly played and perfectly sung.

I've tramped these great United States for years listening to this, a theme song indeed.

Such a beautiful song. One of his best.

I don't think it can get any better than this.

Good, old-fashioned TALENTED singing, songwriting, and arranging. It's sad that this level of musicianship is not heard more in Top 40 radio today.

I used to have a pair of sandals like that.

This man's unbelievable voice gives me goosebumps. Amazing talent, one of God's gifts to planet Earth.

This song is so pretty

I LOVE Gordon Lightfoot

An incredible song !

The 116 dislikes are Justin fans and have no taste in real Canadian music.

I wonder if she'll do the same😌

got me many a night of self doubt...….....blessings form ireland

Blessings back to you from an Irishman from the USA.

The Bob Dylan of CANADA....you might say

Sunny day driving music,plain and simple.

I wonder if any of the songs coming out now will evoke the kinds of emotions that songs like this one does? I was only 13 when this song came out so its meaning was over my head. Now, what memories this song stirs.

A true master of story telling!!! Our generation thanks you, Gordon!!!!

Gordon once revealed that "Ann" (Not her real name) came back stage to see him and asked him if "Ann" was her; he said it was not. Way to go Gord! She didn't deserve the satisfaction.

I'd heard he was singing about Anne Murray, the famous Canadian singer.

The best troubadour ever....a legend !!!

The stuff these people write and put into music is amazing. Their has to be a good God.

One of my brothers turned me onto Gordon Lightfoot many years ago then my brother Rest In Peace

He had good taste in Canadian music.

You almost made it to Binghamton , New York. It's ok. Take care of yourself first my brother.

This song goes easily with "Ventura Highway" by America.......I still haven't figured out which song I like better.

I can relate :>) Just north of Phoenix, Az off I-17 there is an exit for Carefree Hwy. heading towards Wickenburg, Az. and "Horse with no name" by America fits right in with the surrounding terrain :>))

@Randall Alan Cool!

Both are awesome! Too difficult to choose I think👍✌

timeless classic

More music than all of Justin's songs.

I'd like to take the "carefree highway" up I-75....to see the Soo Locks in Sault St. Marie, MI.

Or the real one just north of Phoenix

Peace and Love from Canada.

A master of song writing.

LOVE THIS MAN GORDON LIGHT FOOT I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF HIM LOL

Much better than Justin Bieber. Gordon knows what real music is and knows that modern Canadian music sucks.

EVERY HIGHWAY

😃💜💜💜💜

Escape At Dannemora brought me here.

I'm off - on the spirit of this one song.....don't know when I'll be back - don't care

Yeah this was music back in the day Jim Croce was pretty good so was Bob Marley and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The mornin after blues, from my head down to my shoes.

Love, Love.... I need to be hitting that carefree highway right now... Nobody else gives a damn why should I??

Ahhhh ... phooey !! "tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all" Just be comfortable with your tears..and let them flow until you can come back laughing. Laughing and sobbing are the very same convulsive movement. Let 'em both rip !! Life's no damn good if you don't bother to care about it.

This man belongs in the Rock and Roll hall of fame!

This isn't even close to rock and roll, but neither is half the crap they allowed in... so I guess maybe he does.

I agree !!!!!

I agree !!!!!!!

I agree

He belongs nowhere near that corporate nonsense - he is far too good.

This is Music not the shit we have today

Word all of wampum il is available

Id forgotten all about Gordon.
I often get his music confused with BJ Thomas and Neil Diamond.
James Taylor and Jim Croce have similar songs but very distinctive voices.

Listening to Lightfoot makes me wanna go to Canada. And I've never even been there before. Like there must be something in the water or something.

HER NAME WAS ANNE WITH AN E {ME} HE COULDNT GET ANNIELEE IN HOWEVER LISTEN TO "THE BAND" "THE WEIGHT" I"M IN THERE THO WAS A YOUNG TEENAGER NOT MY FAULT ABOUT WHOM I HAVE AS FAMILY ANNIELEE

I was born in 77, but I grew up listening to Gordon Lightfoot and lots of other stuff that's before my time.
This music fills me with nostalgia for people and things that are now long gone.

Remnants of better times.. but even then.. you wanted to slip away.. still i want to slip away into freedom....
Gordon.. im slippin down the next highway my friend.. f*ck warner Bros, etc.. The control Mafia of this planet. wake up ppl.

hey I was always with you Gordon still am when will I see u again, miss the guitar sessions luv ANNIELEE [I didn't deserve a song tho] tho Bob would disagree annie

Graceful

Wish I knew how to play the guitar. Would love to do a cover of this song.

*Average_Joe87* Next to Boz Skaggs' "Lido Shuffle" and Rita Cooledge's "Higher & Higher," "Carefree Highway" was only the third song I ever learned to play, the first year my instructor taught me electric bass. It was 1999. I still cant believe I've been playing bass for 20 years now. And 9 years on 5-piece drums, & 7 on acoustic rhythum guitar!

Just get yourself an inexpensive acoustic. $100 is enough to cover any decent one from a pawn shop. Or even better, get a Stratocaster clone for the same money, & play it in natural mode (without distortion from the amplifier) if you enjoy the sound of an acoustic

Find someone at your local community college, or a music store, who teaches guitar for one hour a week. Community college is more affordable, 'cause a music shop will charge $50 a week, or more

That first semester is h***, with the constant drilling, conforming your fingers & developing the strength to hold down the strings. But give it a year. (Two semesters) It's so so so worth it! And if strings aren't your thing, then try piano. Piano is, physically, the easiest instrument to play. There is no greater satisfaction in life than to be able to play music you've heard, & to make music of your own

Anyway, I don't know how naturally-inclined toward music you are. But I've seen for myself how even the most musically "untalented" person is able to pick up on the basic chords & scales, and play guitar well. There are thousands of musicians who can't sing at all. In fact, many are tone deaf, believe it or not. They can't even distinguish a baritone "B" from a soprano "B." But give them a guitar & some printed music, and they sound great. Best of success to you :o) !

One of the sexiest voices ever!

creo que jose luis perales se inspiro en la tonada de esta rola

Great song if you are on a country road. Stuck on the 401 in rush hour, not so much.

Reminds me of going cross country through AZ with my dog and my best friend of the day. Viv died on the Carefree highways near Anthem, AZ.

Think it must have been a pivotal moment in life for all of us, even the surviving dog. My poor friend, I don't think he ever forgave himself for her passing, but that dog saw almost the entire country, and blessed so many people with her sweet nature and a litter of Christmas pups.

Thanks God. Thanks Gordon. Thanks Vivienne, Johnny, and everyone who ever showed so much as a kind smile to us along the way! :)

One of the best songs ever written. Period.

This song is every single one of us

Yes...yes it is

I remember...
Memories of old...
Six years old, being troublesome with my siblings, my dad would play this on the radio.

The 70's...great music, great songs. Thank you Lord for your Faithfullness.

Great country music for cottage country in Ontario

One of the greatest country-folk songs of all time!!!!!!

Gordon > Justin

This is too good to be in either of those categories.

My dad used to listen this music all the time when I was kid. I still remember his old Pioneer stereo with the giant knobs and wood case. Good memories. I miss my dad.

OH WHAT MEMORIES IN OUR BELOVID YOUTH!!!

I found his album in my grandpas record collection along with Jim Croce. To this day to of my favorite artists.

Its almost like we all have the same dad lmao, this was my dads favorite artist, along with johnny cash and jim croce. I dont like this type of music, but this one I cherish. I miss him, but I know hes up there watching me.

Mine was a Marantzs

Same here! My Dad introduced me to Gords Gold.

i’m 16, just an ill experienced individual, but i sure know a good tune when i hear one. i grew up on gordon lightfoot when i’d visit my dad every summer in the yukon. as much as i love all of lightfoot’s music, this one’s tune sticks out to me the most. it’s a beautiful thought to think about how many people might’ve swayed with their lovers in their living rooms to this song. much love to whoever comes across this comment:)

Listening to this song makes me think of my big brother Larry. What good taste he had. Cheers to you big brother. And thank you Gordon. 💜

Enough songs for a part time sattilite station Go Gordon

I wished this song lasted for at least an hour.

so many great songs...timeless

My Favorite Canadian Singer Songwriter of All Time This was Music How I Miss those years

More views he's the best

This was intended as filler for the 1974 album. As it turns out it is is his greatest song.

The Legend can do no wrong!

three of the greatest imports from Canada, g lightfoot n young james t kirk

jim carrey

Heard this good, new acoustic song. Sounds like 70’s music.
https://youtu.be/TPJ8Mh9OSGs
Song is Turning Inside Out. Light one up and listen!

Thumbs down are probably latent talent jealousy.and people with neckbeards.

Talk about boring and repetitive, you were in a McDonald’s!