artist:  Gordon Lightfoot

songwriter:  Gordon Lightfoot

date released:  1998 by Gordon Lightfoot for the album "A Painter Passing Through"

Toronto is Canada's largest city in populace and commercial importance.  Gordon Lightfoot’s On Yonge Street is a nostalgic and reflective song that captures the energy and memories of Toronto’s iconic thoroughfare. With a steady, rhythmic folk-rock melody, the song paints vivid images of bustling city life—neon lights, crowded sidewalks, and the hum of passing cars. Lightfoot’s warm, weathered voice infuses the lyrics with a sense of longing, celebrating youthful adventures and urban romance. The mood is both wistful and celebratory, evoking the passage of time and the enduring spirit of the city. It’s a heartfelt tribute to a place rich in history, music, and personal connections. 

According to statistics, Yonge Street is still the longest street in the world.   Landmarks like the Hudson Bay Company, Eaton's Centre, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, and Yonge and Dundas Square are all on Yonge Street. Big parades and cultural events roll down Yonge Street too.