Submitted by Sandy Graham
Lisa Hartt is Montreal-born, Canadian singer/songwriter and a Juno Nominee in the 70’s when she as the lead singer of The Lisa Hartt Band, which garnished her a hit single with ‘Old Time Movie’, which put her name into the Canadian music industry archives for eternity. She was awarded the Cashbox Legacy Award in 2023 at the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, while she was on tour there.
Now Lisa Hartt is about to release her new heartfelt song dedicated to her “Best Friend”.
We caught up with Lisa Hartt at her home in Toronto, Canada.
” ‘Best Friend’ began as a conversation I wasn’t yet ready to finish.”
“Lorraine B. Good and I were best friends for over forty years. She rescued me from myself more times than I can count, until the day she had to save herself instead. At the height of my alcoholism, stepping away was the most loving thing she could do — and, in truth, it helped lead me to sobriety. It took nine years to earn back her trust and make a living, breathing amends.”
“By the time my mother’s celebration of life took place in Dorval in 1995, my spiritual path had shifted. Lorraine told me then that she was facing breast cancer and preparing to move from Vermont to the Netherlands. The moment was intense, frightening, and infused with love. For the first time, I could show up as a friend who helped rather than hindered.”
With Lorraine’s Telefilm Canada film connections in Los Angeles, Lisa Hartt’s father’s name was able to be cleared after 50 years, and he was included in a film called The UnCanadians, the subject matter was the McCarthy blacklist in Canada. This was an NFB film produced by Joanne Muroff Smale and Michael Allder.
His work in physical education was rediscovered and he was able to leave this earth with dignity and pride, being awarded the Order of Canada, The Queen’s Jubilee medal, A Lifetime Achievement in Sport Award from the Sports Canada, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Malaspina university. He was able to walk across Canada and visit elementary schools bringing the message of fitness to young people. The Project was called “Walk with Jan” All this would never have happened without the dedication of Lisa’s best friend Lorraine.
“I started writing Best Friend in 2000, but it waited patiently. Only recently — with composer Jonas Gideon and producer Kevin Fisher — did the song find its true landing place. Some songs take decades to reveal who they are.”
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/4DrabnWFuX9ZIbKIWCnmWi?si=6d89fb8ee08f486b
The release is a soft launch, timed to honour twenty-five years since Lorraine’s birthday on January 19. That week, the choir she was meant to sing with — who were scheduled to back Judy Collins in Burlington — arrived at the door to sing for her family and friends. It was a moment of grace Lisa still carries in her heart.
Best Friend is about love that survives distance, illness, mistakes, and time. About the light you recognize in another’s eyes — and the love that never really leaves.
BEST FRIEND
Lyrics Lisa Hartt SOCAN 2023
Composer- Jonas Gideon
Producer-Kevin Fisher
Verse 1
Hello old friend, I thought I’d call you up
Just to see how you been keeping
As for myself I don’t know what to do
About these crazy things I’m feeling
Verse 2
I know your life is upside down
And you have no time to be wasting
I’m sitting here gazing at my crystal ball
And it’s a bitter pill I’m tasting
Chorus
I don’t mean to make you sad
I don’t want to disappoint you
I’ve talked so free, and now it’s me
who needs someone to cling to
We’ve been friends for a long time
I understand you well
From a distance I have watched you
And I could always tell
By the light in your eye
You were my best friend
Verse 3
I’ve been trudging the soul star road
That leads to my redemption
Though my spirit gets weary
I’m breaking through old conventions
and you. you‘re striving to shake free
The conditions of your childhood
Through all the glory days I see
The fears that drove us to the wild wood
Chorus
Bridge
Now you hang suspended
High above this place and I am
Trying to stay grounded
praying for amazing grace
Chorus
I don’t mean to make you sad
I don’t want to disappoint you
I’ve talked so free
And now it’s me who needs someone to cling to
We’ve been friends for a long time
I know you understand me well
From a distance you have watched me
And you could always tell
By the light in my eyes
You are my best friend
By the love in my eyes
You are my best friend
Editor’s Note: Lisa Hartt continues to write, record and perform. Check her social media links for further info: