What does Black Day in July mean?

Gordon Lightfoot: Black Day in July Meaning

Album cover for Black Day in July album cover

Song Released: 1968


Black Day in July Lyrics

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...

  1. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 23rd 2020 !⃝

    It shows what has become of the USA.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 8th 2016 !⃝

    A protest song by GORDON LIGHTFOOT when he told it as it was about the destruction THE JULY 12th STREET RIOTS in Detroit, Michigan left behind in dozens of dead and a couple of thousand buildings burned down. A song that we should never forget and hopefully to remind us not to repeat our shameful past. When, then not long after this song was out, the radio stations in 30 states pulled this song off the air saying it was ''fanning the flames'', most likely according to the beliefs of then G. Romney, even though it was meant to be a cry for peace and unity. Believed I heard that G. Lightfoot said the station owners cared more about songs ''that make people happy'' and proabably stupid I may say, instead those ''that make people think'' when they were told not to play this song ''Black Day In July'' over the airwaves.


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