For John on the Sunset Coast:

I remember seeing Lightfoot twice. Once, he seemed a little out of it, but still put on a credible show. Several years later, not long before his near-death experience, he seemed clean and sober and even referred to his battle with the bottle during the performance. There were many allusions to his drinking in songs such as "Christian Island," where he'll "fill my cup with the whiskey of the Highlands," and "Ordinary Man," where the line, "another empty bottle and another tale to tell" may be a clue. Apparently, he has gotten a glimpse of the "other side" and wants to stay awhile longer.