“Sundown” is a timeless folk-rock song written and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Released in 1974, it quickly became one of Lightfoot’s most famous and enduring hits. The song showcases Lightfoot’s peculiar voice and skilled guitar playing, paired with evocative lyrics that tell a story of jealousy and longing.
“Sundown” achieved the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and also became a hit in Canada and foreign. Its success freeze Lightfoot’s character as a masterful songwriter and entertainer.
The lyrics of “Sundown” paint a graphic picture of a man’s feeling of suspicion and timidness about his lovely partner’s loyalty. The narrator grapples with jealousy and possessiveness as he waits for his lover to return home, haunted by the thought of her being with someone else. The refrain, “Sundown, you better take care,” captures the sense of upcoming danger and certainty that pervades the song.
With its catchy tune and dearly resonant lyrics, “Sundown” has cease to exist a beloved classic in Gordon Lightfoot’s sweeping repertoire. It continues to be honor by fans of folk and support music alike, serving as a testament to Lightfoot’s ongoing talent and the timeless appeal of his music.
Lyrics
I can see her lying back in her satin dress
In a room where you do what you don’t confess
Sundown, you better take care
If I find you been creeping ’round my back stairs
Sundown, you better take care
If I find you been creeping ’round my back stairs
She’s been looking like a queen in a sailor’s dream
And she don’t always say what she really means
Sometimes I think it’s a shame
When I get feeling better, when I’m feeling no pain
Sometimes I think it’s a shame
When I get feeling better, when I’m feeling no pain
I can picture every move that a man could make
Getting lost in her loving is your first mistake
Sundown, you better take care
If I find you been creeping ’round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it’s a sin
When I feel like I’m winning, when I’m losing again
I can see her looking fast in her faded jeans
She’s a hard-loving woman, got me feeling mean
Sometimes I think it’s a shame
When I get feeling better, when I’m feeling no pain
Sundown, you better take care
If I find you been creeping ’round my back stairs
Sundown, you better take care
If I find you been creeping ’round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it’s a sin
When I feel like I’m winning, when I’m losing again