[I wrote the song] as a newspaper man would write an article.
— Gordon Lightfoot, about “Black Day in July”
Gordon Lightfoot remains one of my most beloved love song writers/balladeers, but he’s just as phenomenal at chronicling impactful bits of human history. Most everybody knows his song, “Edmund Fitzgerald.” He’s written about colonizing nature’s beauty as the white man swarmed across North America, headed West in Canadian Railroad Trilogy. In “Black Day in July” he talks about the riots in Detroit in the 1960’s.
wiki says:
“Black Day in July” is the third track on, “Did She Mention My Name?,” Canadian Singer/Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot’s third studio album, released in 1968 on the United Artists label. The album marked Lightfoot’s first use of orchestration.
It was written by Lightfoot to inform people about racial strife in the United States. The song was covered by The Tragically Hip for the 2003 Lightfoot tribute album, Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.
Personnel:
Gordon Lightfoot — 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, vocals
Herbie Lovelle — drums, percussion
Hugh McCracken — electric guitar
Red Shea — lead acoustic guitar
John Simon — string arrangements
John Stockfish — bass
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
And the soul of Motor City is feared across the land
As the book of law and order is taken in the hands
Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
In the streets of Motor City there's a deadly silent sound
And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground
Upon the filthy pavement no reason can be found
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And the people rise in anger and the streets begin to fill
And there's gunfire from the rooftops and the blood begins to spill
Black Day in July
In the mansion of the Governor there's nothing that is known for sure
The telephone is ringing and the pendulum is swinging
And they wonder how it happened and they really know the reason
And it wasn't just the temperature and it wasn't just the season
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild
They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake
And everyone is listening and everyone's awake
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
The printing press is turning and the news is quickly flashed
And you read your morning paper and you sip your cup of tea
And you wonder just in passing is it him or is it me
Black Day in July
In the Office of the President the deed is done the troops are sent
There's really not much choice you see it looks to us like anarchy
And then the tanks go rolling in patch things up as best they can
There is no time to hesitate the speech is made the dues can wait
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
The streets of Motor City now are are quiet and serene
But the shapes of gutted buildings strike terror to the heart
And you say how did it happen and you say how did it start
Why can't we all be brothers why can't we live in peace
But the hands of the the have-nots keep falling out of reach
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Glyn is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn wants us to find a song with July in the lyrics or title.
Tao Talk 
Nice tribute to the great Gordon Lightfoot, called “The Foot” by my college dorm neighbor, who claimed he was the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Ron! Long time no see since I deleted my fb account. I love your college dorm neighbor’s nickname for him. I can’t listen to The Foot without my soul being tweaked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing has changed, has it? (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking that very thing earlier. Why can’t we learn to live in peace instead courting adversity?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Gorden Lightfoot’s music. His ballads are super. Sad to see ballads go by the wayside these days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dwight, I agree, we need some new balladeers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An appropriate title for today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes :( Be looking for my playlist at midnight (or tomorrow.)
LikeLike
Bob Dylan is reported to have denigrated Phil Ochs by saying he was a journalist and not a songwriter. Lightfoot is a journalist in the same sense – that of the troubadour of the middle ages, who traveled from town to town to sing the news. “Black Day in July” is news. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” sounds like history, but it was news when he wrote it.
As an aside: the guitarist (Hugh McCracken) and drummer (Herbie Lovelle) on this song were in B.B. King’s studio band for the albums “Live & Well” and “Completely Well”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Steve, well-noted on Lightfoot reporting the present, which is now our history. Difficult to believe so little has changed as far as hazardous working conditions and trampling on the rights of others since then. Thanks for the aside on the musicians he worked with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m slowly but surely getting into Gordon Lightfoot
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear it. “Gord’s Gold” is a good best of album.
LikeLiked by 1 person
His work inspires
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Lightfoot…always have sense my sister bought The Wreck of the Edmunds Fitzgerald.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“If you could read my mind” album got me hooked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had his greatest hits at one time. I really didn’t know how many songs/hits he had until I got that…they just kept coming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! He is truly phenomenal. I see him on the same level as Dylan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OH yea…and Dylan said pretty much the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to hear Dylan gives his endorsement.
LikeLike
Another great song by Gordon and his awareness of American history and events was impressive. So sorry I have been missing your posts Lisa. Life, what can you do. Have a wonderful July 4th my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Randy, no worries. I’ve been on break for 99% of May and June so you didn’t miss many. Yes, nobody beats Gordon for what he does. Thanks, Randy on 4th. I mowed the lawn and fried my azz off (I wish!) Family coming over on Sunday to celebrate. I got a water toy of some sort for granddaughter and will let her dad figure it out. There’s some nice shade out under the fruit trees to set it up. Hope your holiday on the 1st went well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lisa it was a lovely day with both our daughters and their families. The weather had been brutal lately. Do you get the high humidity? I am sure your granddaughter will love the water toy, they always seem to like to get wet don’t they.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. Glad you had a good family day. It hasn’t been that humid. More hot, dry, dusty, and Grand Rapids is between 7-10 F hotter than here. We fed koi at the pond for the first time this season on Tuesday. They have water features there in the kids garden but nothing they can actually swim in. She was very sad she couldn’t climb in the (toy) boat waterway and started crying. I remember how much I loved running through the sprinkler as a kid. And Lake MI water is almost swimmable (if the blazing sun would allow it.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great song that was new to me. Gordon Lightfoot was yet another great artist from Canada.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. A sad and terrible truth he tells. Truly unfathomable how little we have learned from our history. I think there is a fatal flaw in humans. We can be so good, but then sh*t like this happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Gordon! Thanks, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dana, you’re my kind of people ;) (something my mom used to say)
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person