Gordon Lightfoot - Sit Down Young Stranger Lyrics

In 69/70, living across the lower Niagara river from Canada, there were to Canadian singer, songwriters that influenced me...Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchel.
This song reached me at 17 (?) and as I soon left and traveled to Colorado, I lived this song as I returned home...
life is full of clever twists! Many great songs on this album.

Of all Lightfoot's life lessons, I think this is my favorite.

I've loved this song for over thirty years And will love it another 30 if i live that long!!

How can you find your fortune, if you can not find yourself? Love the tone of this song.

Song: Sit Down Young Stranger
Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Album: Sit Down Young Stranger

I'm standin' in the doorway
My head bowed in my hands
Not knowin' where to sit
Not knowin' where I stand
My father looms above me
For him there is no rest
My mother's arms enfold me
And hold me to her breast
They say you been out wanderin'
They say you travelled far
Sit down, young stranger
And tell us who you are

The room has all gone misty
My thoughts are all in spin
Sit down, young stranger
And tell us where you've been

I've been up to the mountain
I've walked down by the sea (c)
I never questioned no one
And no one questioned me
My love was given freely
And oftimes was returned
I never came to borrow
I only came to learn

Sometimes it did get lonely
But it taught me how to cry
And laughter came too easy
For life to pass me by
I never had a dollar
That I didn't earn with pride
'Coz I had a million daydreams
To keep me satisfied

And will you gather daydreams
Or will you gather wealth?
How can you find your fortune
When you cannot find yourself?
My mother's eyes grow misty
There's a tremblin' in her hand
Sit down, young stranger
I do not understand

And will you try an tell us
You've been too long at school
That knowledge is not needed
That power does not rule
That war is not the answer
That young men should not die
Sit down, young stranger
I wait for your reply

The answer is not easy
For souls are not reborn
To wear the crown of peace
You must wear the crown of thorns
If Jesus had a reason
I'm sure he would not tell
They treated him so badly
How could he wish us well

The parlor now is empty
There's nothin' left to say
My father has departed
My mother's gone to pray
There's rockets in the meadows
And ships out on the sea
The answer's in the forest
Carved upon a tree:

"John" loves "Mary".
Does anyone love me?

Written by: Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr.
Label: Reprise Records
Released Date: 1970

Great lyrics.  Good song to play on the acoustic guitar.

And will you try and tell us you've been too long at school.
That knowlege is not needed, that power does not rule?

.👌 sit down young st rangdr