"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

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Conway Twitty also covered Ribbon of Darkness on his 1966 album Conway Twitty Sings.

Chart performance

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Marty Robbins

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

Connie Smith

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

References

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  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 60s 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.