Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot song)

"Sundown" is a song by Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, from the titular album, released as a single in March 1974.

"Sundown" reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and easy listening charts and No. 13 on the Hot Country singles chart, as well as No. 1 in Canada on RPM's national singles chart. It was Lightfoot's only single to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Content
The lyrics describe a troubled romantic relationship (often cited as Cathy Smith), with the narrator recounting an affair with a "hard-loving woman [who's] got me feeling mean".

In a 2008 interview, Lightfoot said:

Personnel
Engineered by Lee Herschberg Recorded at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.


 * Gordon Lightfoot: Lead and background vocals, 12-string guitar
 * Red Shea: Lead electric guitar
 * Terry Clements: Lead acoustic guitar
 * John Stockfish: Bass
 * Jim Gordon: Drums

Other versions

 * The musical project/collaboration of singer-songwriters Elwood covered the song in 2000. This version peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on July 8, 2000.
 * American country music singer Deryl Dodd's version of the song peaked at #59 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1999. It was later included on his album, Pearl Snaps (2002).
 * Danish supergroup Dalton covered the song on their first album Dalton released in 1992, under the title "Selskabsmadonna".
 * American country music singer Charles Wesley Godwin covered the song through Amazon Original Music in 2024.