Apology

Gordon Lightfoot · Sunday Concert [live] [1969]

I remember everything

I've learned about survival

I've walked with fools and kings

And I've even read the bible



There I came upon some lines

Givin' me direction

Gather not your gold on earth

Your kingdom is in heaven



But I chose to live instead

Inside the shell they gave me

'til in spite of everything

Good fortune came to find me



I tried my best to run away

But I could not avoid the feelin'

Soon I was reelin' on my feet

I made a grab at anything

The earth was gone and I was on

A vicious circle then



After I'd gone and let myself surrender

I didn't want to die at all

I thought I'd live forever



Then she gave me everything

A king could never borrow

But I twisted all her gifts

Her wisdom was my sorrow



So I left her cryin'

And roamed across the river

The angels offered me their hands

But I could not forget her



So I came to where she was

By river, road and reason

I slept beneath her window

In the moonlight summer season



But I could not go inside

I heard the sound of laughter

And the rustle of her hair upon his skin

I made a grab at anything

The earth was gone and I was on

A vicious circle then



After I'd gone to cry down my sorrow

I didn't want to live no more

Nor face the bright tomorrow



Then I remembered everything

I've learned about survival

Havin' walked with fools and kings

I've even read the bible



I remember all those lines

Givin' me direction

Gather not your gold on earth

It will not pass inspection



And still I think when I'm alone

Away from all night splendor

If gold could buy one night with her

I wish I had some to send her

Apology

Gordon Lightfoot's "Apology" stands as a poignant song in his extensive catalogue of folk and country-inflected storytelling. Recorded during the late 1960s, this track captures the artist at a pivotal moment in his career, just before his widespread commercial breakthrough. The song reflects Lightfoot's signature ability to weave intimate narratives with melodic sophistication, a style that would later define hits like "Sundown" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." As part of the Sunday Concert live album, the recording showcases the raw energy and acoustic precision that characterized his early performances. This work remains a testament to Lightfoot's enduring influence on Canadian music and his mastery of the singer-songwriter genre, offering listeners a glimpse into the emotional depth that has sustained his legacy for decades.