Ribbon of Darkness

"Ribbon of Darkness" is a song written by Gordon Lightfoot that was released in 1965 as a single by Marty Robbins. The song was Robbins' eleventh number one on the U.S. country singles chart, where it spent one week at the top and a total of nineteen weeks on the chart.[1]

"Ribbon of Darkness"
Single by Gordon Lightfoot
B-side"Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"
Released1965
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot singles chronology
"I'm Not Sayin'"
(1965)		 "Ribbon of Darkness"
(1965)		 "For Loving Me"
(1966)
"Ribbon of Darkness"
Single by Marty Robbins
B-side"Little Robin"
ReleasedMarch 22, 1965
GenreCountry
Length2:30
LabelColumbia 4-43258
Songwriter(s)Gordon Lightfoot
Marty Robbins singles chronology
"Turn the Lights Down Low"
(1965)		 "Ribbon of Darkness"
(1965)		 "Old Red"
(1965)

Lightfoot's own version was released as single in 1965[2] and included in his 1966 debut album Lightfoot! and again for his 1975 compilation album Gord's Gold. The latter recording features the song in a medley with "I'm Not Sayin'", as does the live recording from Lightfoot's 1969 Sunday Concert album.

Other cover versions
  • In 1969, Connie Smith made the top 20 on the country chart with her version, peaking at #13.[3]
  • Crystal Gayle sang the song in her first television appearance. Video on YouTube and she released as the first single from her twenty sixth studio album You Don't Know Me: Classic Country in 2019. Her first single in 16 years.
  • Jack Scott, 1950's rock 'n' roll legend, recorded the song for his 2015 release Way to Survive.
  • Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn contributed a cover of the song to the 2003 tribute album Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.

Chart performance

Marty Robbins
Chart (1965) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 3

Connie Smith
Chart (1969) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 13
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] 1

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 294.
  2. Wayne Francis. "Gordon Lightfoot 60's Singles". Lightfoot.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 320.
  4. "Marty Robbins Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. "Marty Robbins Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. "Connie Smith Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 5980." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.


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