Oh christ, the original is the length of Free Bird, but without a catchy tune.

that instrument is a Japanjo

Gordon Lightfoot's version seems to be based on some Irish folk ballad.

Lots of people joke about the 1970s just being about disco, but there were lots of these deep story songs out in those times too, American Pie, Time In A Bottle, Cat's In The Cradle, Year Of The Cat, and just about any tune written by Carole King.

Booma