Four Strong Winds

"Four Strong Winds" is a song written in 1961 by Ian Tyson and recorded by Canadian folk duo Ian & Sylvia on their 1963 album Four Strong Winds. Tyson has stated that he wrote the song in about 20 minutes in the New York apartment of his manager at the time Albert Grossman. Tyson said that he was inspired to write it after hearing Bob Dylan sing.

"Four Strong Winds" is a significant composition of the early 1960s folk revival, and has been recorded by numerous artists, including Bobby Bare, whose 1964 rendition was a hit on the U.S. country chart, and Neil Young, who has performed the song frequently throughout his career.

The song is a melancholy reflection on a failing romantic relationship. The singer expresses a desire for a possible reunion in a new place in the future ("You could meet me if I sent you down the fare") but acknowledges the likelihood that the relationship is over ("But our good times are all gone/And I'm bound for moving on ...").

The song has a clear Canadian context and subtext, including an explicit mention of the province Alberta as well as references to long, cold winters. In 2005, CBC Radio One listeners chose it as the greatest Canadian song of all time on the program 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version. It is considered the unofficial anthem of Alberta.