Tyson has stated that he wrote the song in about 20 minutes in his then-manager Albert Grossman's New York apartment, and was inspired to write it after hearing Bob Dylan sing.
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 ...").
"Four Strong Winds" is a significant composition of the early 1960s folk revival,[2] 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 has a clear Canadian context and subtext, including an explicit mention of the province Alberta as well as references to long, cold winters.
"[8] Tyson would later credit Dylan with giving new impetus to Ian & Sylvia's career by inspiring the duo to follow his lead in writing "original folk songs".
The song has been recorded by many other artists, including The Journeymen, The Seekers, Judy Collins, the Chad Mitchell Trio, The Browns, Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithfull, The Searchers, Bruce & Terry, John Denver, The Kingston Trio, Trini Lopez, Waylon Jennings, Chad and Jeremy, The Wolfe Tones, Blue Rodeo, Joan Baez, Vanity Fare, Glenn Yarborough, Saori Minami, Harry Belafonte, Tony Rice, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Sarah McLachlan, David Wiffen, Schooner Fare, The Pilgrims, and David Houston.
[16][17][18] Swedish artist Ulf Lundell recorded a translated cover called "Fyra vindar", for his 1985 album Den vassa eggen, which did not make the cut but was later included in a remastered edition in 1998.
On April 5, 2013, a recording of the song by Ian Tyson was played during the funeral of former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, as the honour guard brought his urn into the Jack Singer Concert Hall.