“I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feeling’s gone and I just can’t get it back.”
Listeners responded with requests and other radio stations followed. As Waronker explained, “It became our unexpected hit, and a very pleasant surprise.” Warner immediately released the song as a single (Reprise 0974), and reissued the album under the new title “If You Could Read My Mind.” The rerelease quickly went gold, catapulting Lightfoot onto the international scene.
In February 1971, Lightfoot’s single became Billboard’s No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit and the Hot 100’s No. 5. In Canada, it was No. 1 on RPM’s Top 100, and CHUM Radio’s No. 6. Lightfoot captured the 1971 Juno for top male vocalist and a Grammy nomination for best male pop vocal performance (James Taylor was the eventual winner).
If You Could Read My Mind has been declared a SOCAN Classic, having earned over 100,000 radio plays.
Video
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
If you could read my mind, love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old-time movie
‘Bout a ghost from a wishin’ well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me
And I will never be set free
As long as I’m a ghost that you can’t see
If I could read your mind, love
What a tale your thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel
The kind the drugstores sell
When you reach the part where the heartaches come
The hero would be me
But heroes often fail
And you won’t read that book again
Because the ending’s just too hard to take
I’d walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three-way script
Enter number two
A movie queen to play the scene
Of bringing all the good things out in me
But for now love, let’s be real
I never thought I could act this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feeling’s gone and I just can’t get it back
If you could read my mind, love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old-time movie
‘Bout a ghost from a wishin’ well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
But stories always end
And if you read between the lines
You’ll know that I’m just tryin’ to understand
The feelings that you lack
I never thought I could feel this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feeling’s gone and I just can’t get it back
Guitar chord
[Verse 1]
G Gadd9
If you could read my mind love
Dm6/F
What a tale my thoughts could tell
G Gadd9
Just like an old time movie
Dm6/F
'bout a ghost from a wishin' well
G G9 C
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
D7/F# Em
With chains upon my feet
C G
You know that ghost is me
C G/B
And I will never be set free
Am7 D G Gadd9
As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see
[Chorus]
G Gadd9
If I could read your mind love
Dm6/F
What a tale your thoughts could tell
G Gadd9
Just like a paperback novel
Dm6/F
The kind that drugstores sell
G G9 C
When you reach the part where the heartaches come
D7/F# Em
The hero would be me
C G
But heroes often fail
C G/B
And you won't read that book again
Am7 D G Gadd9
Because the ending's just too hard to take
[Outro]
G Gadd9 G Gadd9 Dm6/F Dm6/F G Gadd9 G Gadd9 Dm6/F Dm6/F
[Verse 2]
G G9 C
I'd walk away like a movie star
D7/F# Em
Who gets burned in a three way script
C G
Enter number two
C G/B
A movie queen to play the scene
Am7 D Em
Of bringing all the good things out in me
G Gadd9
But for now love, let's be real
C G/B
I never thought I could act this way
Am7 D
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
C G/B
I don't know where we went wrong
Am7
But the feelin's gone
D G Gadd9
And I just can't get it back
[Instrumental]
G Gadd9
[Chorus]
G Gadd9
If you could read my mind love
Dm6/F
What a tale my thoughts could tell
G Gadd9
Just like an old time movie
Dm6/F
'bout a ghost from a wishin' well
G G9 C
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
D Em
With chains upon my feet
C G
But stories always end
C G/B
And if you read between the lines
Am7 D Em
You'll know that I'm just tryin' to understand
C G
The feelin's that you lack
C G/B
I never thought I could feel this way
Am7 D
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
C G/B
I don't know where we went wrong
Am7
But the feelin's gone
D G Gadd9 Dm6/F G
And I just can't get it back
