I live along the Connecticut coastline and used to know a local woman, an avid sailor, who was friends with Gordon Lightfoot and also with another local woman who went down with the tall ship Marques when it sank with heavy loss of life: vault.si.com/vault/1984/06/11/a-tragedy-at-sea She said that line always gave her chills when she heard it and thought of her friend who almost made it out the hatchway and onto the deck before the ship went under.
can you imagine how slow motion death must be...timeless and never-ending, your sense of moment to moment changes and it is unrelenting, ceaseless...definition of hell????
From what I've heard, the ship bell is the only thing recovered and brought back to the surface. The wreck is considered a gravesite and wont be disturbed. Also a lot of freighters will ring their bell 29 times when passing by the site
Can confirm, lived just off Lake Superior when they recovered the bell. I was 14. It wasn't without criticism, however. The families had voices their concerns a number of times about people diving down to what they considered a gravesite.
The bell being recovered was a request of the families. There's video of it actually being recovered, and they placed a commemorative bell back on the wreck.
As soon as the cook (?) says "it's been good to know you", the tears start and won't stop until the end. I don't care how many times I've heard it - I still cry! So well written, so descriptive - what a wonderful tribute!
I knew when you said "Oh God" that it was your first realization that this song was not just a story but the telling of an actual event. This is what makes this a truly sad song. That "Oh God" is really what I call a true "reaction". Good video on a great song.
Gordon Lightfoot has kept the memory of this tragedy alive for future generations such as yourself. An event which would otherwise be lost to the annals of time. Thanks for reacting to this one and your genuine reaction once you realized this was a true, tragic story.
This isn't just a song, it is a Dirge, lamenting the deaths of American working men who put themselves at risk to provide for their families. It brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. This could be sung for men around the world who also put themselves at risk every day for their families. I love all people who get up every day and go to work for themselves and their families. They are the salt of the earth. While this Dirge has a musical basis it could just be read and the impact is still there. I"m glad you reaction was appropriate.
I just said the very same words to my husband, it reminds me of the movie "The Perfect Storm". For all men out there: Our men and particularly young men and boys, men can be our heroes and we want them to be
@@RandomTrinidadian He was born in Canada but moved to America (New York) in 1934 as a child. All the rest were American as was the ship itself.www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/21705?page=2#sr-21165
I'm an old guy, this song is a classic. I just love to see people of your age discover great music like this from decades past. There isn't enough of it these days, music's mostly become formulaic. Now get off my lawn! 😉
Gordon was using the native names of lake Superior, as most of the lakes were inhabited by the Natives prior to the arrival of the European settlers. Very powerful song in my eyes
Beautifully said. I feel the reviewer doesn't yet have the life experience to understand the depth of this lamentation and the TRIBUTE to maritime culture. It is a masterpiece of writing and the wailing of the guitar symbolizes the keening over the dead seamen. The Edmund Fitzgerals wasn't just "a boat"/
@@schmecklegeckle7235 You're a heartless sack of s**t. Just kidding. Maybe I shouldn't have inferred that everyone reacts the same way. Music moves the soul for some people, and sometimes it takes different types of music to do that.
Amen Stephen! I can very clearly remember hearing this song in a pair of headphones I had gotten for my 15th birthday (40 years ago). I think the most tangible thought that I could formulate after hearing that line, was “that is the most perfect line for a masterpiece of a song”. It still gives me chills after listening to this song 1000+ times.
This happened on a tuesday. On the thursday our school assembled in the gym for 29 minutes of silence to honour the crew who perished. I think everyone cried at some point. I'll never forget that. Still tear up to this day when I hear this song.
Very interesting Jeffrey. Capt. Bernie Cooper was in command of the Anderson that trip. That carrier made it safely to harbor, but Capt. Cooper and crew took the SS Arthur M Anderson back out to look for any signs of the Fitzgerald’s crew. They were under no obligation whatsoever to go back out into that storm, and the Coast Guard urged them to do so as the CG could not mount their resources until that tempest subsided. Jeffrey, did your brother speak or heading back out on the Anderson?
A Canadian legend memorializing a true American tragedy. A get a tear every time I hear this. I was 14 at the time. A great livestream and this song on the same night. Maybe your best overall day on the channel. Gordon still going strong today. Thank you Daniel.
I can relate as well. I was 15 yrs old at the time. When this song was released, I went and purchased a song sheet and learned to play it on my guitar. It's one my favorite all-time ballads and Lightfoot is a brilliant storyteller.
@@timrickel3026 I lived right across from Soo Welding at the time. We lost power and I fell and split my head open that night. A good family friend was working on the Anderson then.
Gordon actually did change the lyrics after the new findings, when he performed this song live. We had the pleasure of experiencing this about a year ago. RIP Mr. Lightfoot.
I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. In 1976 I was in 6th grade. We came into class one morning, the teacher had written ALL of the lyrics of this song on the chalkboard. She told us all about the story, the wreck, told us about the cathedral in Detroit, went into great detail about the song. Then she played the song for us, as we read along with the words on the chalkboard. I was 11 yrs old, and it hit me like a boulder.
I saw Gordon in concert several times. When those first few familiar strums of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald were heard, the audience instantly went pin-drop silent. Even though each of us had heard the song a thousand times, it got to us even more to hear it surrounded by other souls who were as gripped by the wails of “the wives and the sons and the daughters” as we were. Gordon Lightfoot was a master storyteller and seeing your review on this channel gives me hope that his talent isn’t lost to time but is here for the ages.
Since we are doing a sad theme, might I recommend "Vincent" by Don Mclean. It's the story of Vincent Van Gogh. One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was absolutely massive. It surprised many that it sank as due to it's size seemed almost impossible. They recently found the wreck on the bottom of Lake Superior and found it to be in two pieces. They summarized that the ship was literally caught between two massive waves, one wave supporting the bow while the other supported the stern and the middle of the ship was lifted so high out of the water, coupled with the weight of the ore, the ship split in two down the middle. Very sad indeed. This song reaches into your heart as no other one does in respect for those who choose to sail goods across the waters so others can enjoy the products. Tough life for sure and it takes a special breed of person to do it.
I'm canadian I live just outside of Toronto in a town called Pickering. There is a subdivision right behind the high school I went to where every street is named after Gordon Lightfoot stuff. Edmund Dr. Lightfoot place. Rainy Day Dr. Cattail Ct. Sundown crescent. Daylight Ct.
Really? Maybe I should drive through there the next time I head to Ottawa. I would have expected something like that in Orillia but not Pickering. Of course, there may be a tie Mr. Lightfoot has with the area or even the builder of the survey that we are not aware of for that to have happened. Really cool either way.
For the first time ever, the bell rang 30 times after Gordon passed away... 29 for the crew of the Fitz, and one for Mr Lightfoot. Eminently appropriate. 💕☀️
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by area in the World. It’s beautiful, awe inspiring, and majestic......but I would not want to be on it when she is in a mood.
Deer hunting outside of Duluth, Minnesota when I was a kid, this song was played over and over. The anniversary of the sinking usually coincided with opening day for deer season. If you were from that part of the state, this song was probably your first history lesson.
@@theresarandall7448 I was up there a couple of years ago. Took my daughter on a trip up the North Shore on the motorcycle. The Gunflint Trail was great, but it lacks gas stations. ;-)
Thank you for treating this with such a respect. I really appreciate you looking it up. Just got a new subscriber. I look for to your thoughtful analysis and reactions to other things.
Having moved away from the Lake Superior region, I find many people just do not understand how cold, deep, and large Superior, and the others, are. It being called a "lake" gives everyone the wrong impression, even with a map in hand.
@catothewiser they're so big they look like an ocean. We took a bridge years ago over Lake Huron and it was just a tiny part of the lake, it stretched on forever.
My son is a sailor...................I fear every time he sets out to sea. He does it voluntarily to secure our Borders in Australia. I cry at this song.
I was a young college student living on a farm near Lake Superior along the path of the iron ore ships that traversed Lake Superior. I always listened to the radio as background noise while studying. At one point around 8:30 pm there was a break in the music to announce that the ship was sending out distress signals. My studies stopped. Everyone who lives in the U.P. Along the shores of Superior watches the ship movements with fond interest and we all knew what the November month’s might bring. I hoped for the best but was devastated at the outcome. Gordon Lightfoot’s song is an accurate telling of not just what happened but how it affected all of us who love this culture and the uniqueness of this lifestyle.
Nice job,! I grew up in Michigan in the 1970s, and this song hit close to home for a lot of people. The Coast Guard Museum in the Upper Peninsula plays this song on a loop.......all day long......
I grew up in the Cleveland area and I saw the 'Fitzgerald in the port of Cleveland as a child in 74 or '75 . It was creepy when I saw on the news that it sank.
I'm a native michigander and this song hits home on many levels. I've lost many friends on these great lakes. And superior does not give up her dead. There are many ship wrecks with the dead still in her. It brings tears almost every time I hear this song. I've grown up playing in these lakes and they are a treasure and something to be loved and feared. Why I'm so glad to be from this great state and her history. Thanks for this
Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian singer/songwriter and icon who lives about 10 minutes away from me here in Toronto, Ontario. Until C19 struck he was still performing to sold out crowds - at 81 years of age. I remember the news stories of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald because it went down on my 17th birthday. I was living in northern Ontario at the time in a city just a few hours away from Lake Superior. It hit us hard despite the fact that it was an American ship and crew. We were closer countries back then and this was the largest shipping disaster to ever happen on the Great Lakes. Lightfoot has written many beautiful love songs but the two songs I love the most are: “Black Day in July” and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”. Black Day pays homage to the Detroit race riots of 1967 - the more things change the more things stay the same. The percussion in that song is haunting! Railroad Trilogy tells the story of the westward opening of Canadian lands by the building of the railroad. It’s told from three perspectives: the investors, the workers who lived and the workers who died laying the track across our great country. It’s beautifully written and performed.
‘All that remains are the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughter “. As a Detroit-er I remember when this happened, many never knew this was a true story. It’s so sad. Good research. You had a Good reaction with great feeling.
@@stratcat3216 I wonder if that's because it's the one time during the song the narrator (GL) inserts his own first person voice. The dark question. Also...I think Gordon' adds an extra measure of music before jumping into that verse, adding to the hauntedness.
I am in the state of shock!! Nobody has ever even thought of doing a reaction video to this song. Bravo my man! This is an extremely powerful song, masterfully written and I'm still amazed someone did this song! Thanks again.
The look on your face, Daniel, was truly touching, when you saw it was a true story, but also, before you realized that, your expression aas you heard the lyrics, showed just how much you care. Such a humble young man you are ☺
Your compassion at the realization this was a factual account of a true event speaks volumes!! It was obvious you hadn't heard the song before & didn't know the history. Your unbridled surprise & genuine sympathy was transparent for all to see. How refreshing to see honesty in this world & especially in this business!! Thank you for that!! I was lucky enough to have been a friend of Gord for many years & have been grieving his passing for the past several weeks. It comforts me to see someone truly appreciate him & his inimitable talent, and to know others are also sincerely mourning his loss, even though many knew him only through his music!! Gordon was a highly compassionate & tender soul. He had his faults, but held himself to a high level of ethics & was one of the most loyal friends I've ever been blessed to know!! I miss him terribly!! Thank you for allowing me to remember him through this platform.
This is a true story ,written and sung by poet legend Gordon Lightfoot became huge hit and Gordon donated the profits to the sailers families . A man with no equal in story telling !
@@larryhutchens7593 It's actually true. The storm that sank the Fitz had wind and air pressure equivalent to a category 1 hurricane with 35 foot waves, and those storms in November are not that unusual on the Great Lakes. Plus, most of the lakes are capable of sustaining seiche waves, which are basically caused by the water sloshing back and forth in a confined space. (The North Sea produces these as well, which contributes to its reputation for shipwrecks.) One of the most famous Great Lakes storms was the Armistice Day Blizzard in 1940. You can still find old folks who remember it for the many feet of snow deposited on large cities throughout the Midwest. It produced 80 MPH winds over the Great lakes and sank three freighters and two smaller boats.
@@calliarcale I have witnessed the end result of a lake effects blizzard while living in northern Illinois. Was impressive. I also rode a Navy vessel through an out of season Typhoon somewhere in the South China Sea or Sea of Japan, a thorough search of the ships deck logs turned up no record of such an event but we did go through it. The ship was a Midway class carrier & waves were breaking over the bow & washing down the flight deck. Each wave that struck the bow sounded like thunder inside the ship & we were rocking & rolling pretty good. Navy warships have an advantage though. They have adequate power & are build tough enough to withstand the abuse. The Fitz broke in half as witnessed by the crew who found the wreckage. Merchant ships are usually powered for economy rather than speed and those ore ships do get loaded very heavy. Agreed that storms in the great Lakes can be as fierce as storms at sea but not as fierce as the worst with wind speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Bobbi - Lived in Duluth and sailed the lake. Went thru a hurricane on the Pacific 1973. Guys would say the weather could change so fast on the lakes. Also the air and water are COLD.
True story. Brilliantly told lyrically by Canadian songwriting legend Gordon Lightfoot. He is a musical icon in Canada. I've seen Gordon five times in concert here in Canada. Never disappoints. He has written so many incredible songs. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🎼🎶🎵
You really should also hear his Canadian Railroad Trilogy. The story of the building of the cross country railroad in Canada. He is an exceptional story teller, and this one is often overlooked.
Gordon Lightfoot: "Canada's greatest poet!"-- said by many. :-) Went to a concert and every person in the hall begged for this song to be sung as an encore. :-D
DUDE!!! Now ya talking!!! My all time favourite song!!! Got this memorised. This came out in 1976 and went as high as #2 on the American Top 40. I'm old enough to remember when this happened and when the song came out
Me too ! I learned every word too, and the memories & this song often bring a tear. On November 10,1975 - 45 years ago the ship went down and there is a museum at the Burlington Railroad Dock #1 at Superior, Wisconsin. There is an annual memorial there I believe.
This is why I love watching your channel Daniel, for your reactions. Your reaction when you found out this was a real shipwreck was priceless. Your eyes got wide and you said oh God. You are learning quite a lot through your musical journey. More than the people who lived through the time because they did not have all the information about these songs at the time. Lightfoot is one of my favorite Folk singers. You should listen to more of his music. Keep up the good work Daniel.
The lake it is said never gives up her dead... This refers to just how cold Lake Superior is. It is so cold it inhibits the bacteria that normal makes corpses float. So instead they sink and stay under. Growing up in Duluth, we were taught in school that people don't usually survive past 15 minutes if they go overboard out past the harbor.
That night the Edmund Fitzgerald was being tailed by their sister ship, Arthur Anderson, because they were having problems and their radar was broken. The Anderson was was a few miles behind them the whole time but didn’t have visual contact. The captain of the Anderson and his crew all think they got hit by the two waves that took out the Fitzgerald. Apparently, a little while before they lost contact with the Edmund Fitzgerald they were hit by a massive wave and while in the valley created by it they were hit by an even bigger wave which completely submerged the ship for something like 5 seconds. Needless to say it was a miracle they resurfaced. For the rest of their lives the crew of the Anderson we’re convinced those waves caught up to the Fitzgerald and took it out, and the evidence from the state of the wreck supports them. The captain of the Anderson called in the Fitzgerald as wrecked. When the coast guard operator told him they couldn’t send anybody out to search, the Anderson crew decided, after barely surviving themselves to go back out into the storm and search for any of their friends who might’ve survived. Unfortunately, they only found debris and oil. They found a steel life boat which had been ripped in half by the force of the wreck you can see picture of it if you look it. Hope this was useful👍
I don’t think the Arthur Anderson failed the Fitz. It was chaos, in an extremely dangerous storm. I can’t think of anything they could control, or do otherwise.
Several great, great songs to listen to by Gordon Lightfoot. Most of his songs have a tinge of melancholy, where he reflects on past relationships, the mistakes he's made, his regrets, poor decisions, limitations and failures. Sounds grim, but few can tell such intimate stories and deliver in such a haunting, personal way. His first commercial hit was If You Could Read My Mind from 1970. It's somewhat quiet and straightforward, but beautifully crafted with wonderfully subtle details when you take the time to listen closely.
Check out Neil Young's cover of Read My Mind from his weird and wonderful A Letter Home album. One Canadian to another. ruclips.net/video/gzY2VdE_NXo/видео.html
@@triscat That's a sincere tribute to Gordon. He's influenced a number of singers, most notably Bob Dylan, a friend and great admirer. Not certain if there's a direct influence, but I hear echoes of Lightfoot in some of Mark Knopfler's solo work.
@@richkurl Yes. Gordon was on Bob's Rolling Thunder Tour. Do you think he had an influence on Bob? Hard to imagine, but could be. In my mind, they all come from the Dylan tree. Gordon, Knopfler, Neil, Petty, etc... One of my favorite Warren Zevon moments came during one of his many visits to Letterman. Dave: So, Warren, were you influenced by Bob Dylan? Warren: Well, Dave. He invented my job.
@@triscat yeah, I'm not sure anyone influenced Mr Zimmerman, but he's never been shy to praise Gord, and of course covered Early Morning Rain, so he sure paid him attention.
@@richkurl Bob Dylan once said of Gordon Lightfoot: “I can't think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like. Everytime I hear a song of his, it's like I wish it would last forever. " - and also "Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day."
I absolutely love your reaction videos. Nobody else does research to the songs like you do. I have much love for you bud! As far as this song goes...I cant listen, without bursting into tears. Thanks for sharing.
I just stumbled on to your channel and saw the topic. This song came out when I was in High School, it is one of my top 3 songs from my youth. This was the first album I ever purchased. Thanks for doing this...amazing. I love it when young people of today discover the great music I grew up with and enjoy it for themselves.
Great job Daniel! Keep up the emotion as it transcends through all of us that care about the human life tragedies we all come across from time to time!
I was 19 years old, living in central Wisconsin when this song was released, I remember having to pull over in my car when it came on the radio, every time it aired, this song had me paralyzed with sobbing grief, still cry when I hear it
This is actually the second actual ship sinking Lightfoot chronicled in song. "The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle" describes the fire and loss of the aging cruise ship S.S. Yarmouth Castle on an overnight cruise from Miami to Nassau on November 12-13 1965. He uses the same reportorial style he would later use on this song. He describes the efforts of the S.S. Bahama Star to rescue the passengers and crew.
Great song Daniel, this was a tragic event, and I really think if it wasn't for Gordon Lightfoot, this sad and important event would fad into history. I put this song up there with " OHIO " by Crosby, Still and Nash, as one of the most important and impactful songs of the 20th Century. Great song Daniel ! love the show and the music, keep up the good work !
On a similar theme, try Seth Lakeman's "Solomon Browne" about the Penlee Lifeboat tragedy when 8 volunteer lifeboat crew died trying to save the crew and captain's family from a ship whose engines failed in one of the worst storms for decades. ruclips.net/video/YdGWJ7ATRJA/видео.html
Gregory: Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young who wrote "Ohio" are both Canadians who care deeply about things happening in the USA. (And it is Crosby, Stills, Nash & YOUNG.) The pronunciation of "Detroy-it" is a Canadian thing. Born in Detroit, moved to Toronto in 1974 when I married a Canadian. Canada has its own culture, but the USA is important to it, too. This song touches everyone who hears it when they realize it is not just a great song, but a true tragedy.
Lake Superior is legendary for catastrophic storms, incredibly strong waters, and icey temperatures. Superior has taken down hundreds of ships and boats over the years.
You can listen to this song in Miami, outside, in July, under a blanket, and STILL get shivers. Lightfoot does a masterful job of making you feel like you're there.
How old are you please? Your soul is ancient and deep. Seeing you experience these songs that I've known all my life brings a whole new meaning. Thank you for sharing with us.
Gordon Lightfoot did a great service to those who were lost in this wreck by immortalizing them in this AWESOME song for all to remember. I saw a show recently on the Discovery Channel where they studied this wreck for potential causes...they speculated that in the area it was thought to have gone down on Lake Superior the waves during a similar storm reach a height and a distance between crests that would have caused the ship to be supported by the crests at each end, leaving the center of the ship unsupported and causing the ship to basically "hinge" in the middle due to lack of support, because the ship was so long.
Yea that’s the general theory, the bow and stern were on the wave crests and the midship was in the trough of the wave and out of the water. She buckled under her own weight. The ship is in two pieces on the bottom almost perfectly split in the middle.
I worked at one of the steel mill this ship serviced, remember it well, my Dad also sailed on great lakes freighter Mataffaa, interesting history also, there is a ship museum in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan where the life boats that broke from the moorings, survived, able to each hold 70 some persons.
This is the tale of a very true and very sad event that took place on Lake Superior November of 1976. I was in that storm. Luckily, I was on land. From where we were on the hilltop, we could have seen Whitefish Bay if the wind and rain had not been tearing our sight away. We had no idea of what was happening on the lake that day. I found out about it the next morning Everyone who had anything to do with great lakes shipping was truly stunned by the reports that were coming in. Every time I hear this song, I remember the pain of the cold wet chill that ran through me that day. If there is a cold hell, it must be what the men on that ship were experiencing.
I was a young teen in the 70's when this disaster occurred. I was living in a city called Ashtabula just a little east of Cleveland Ohio. I lived literally 2 miles from the shores of lake Erie. so I was relatively close to Lake Superior when this happened. It was all over the news. I especially remembered feeling so sad watching the news from Cleveland as they had a moment of silence and displayed all the names of those who were lost that stormy night. All I could think of was what it must feel like to be anticipating your father or Mothers return from a two week long trip, only to be greeted by coast guard officials at the door with the news that they were never coming home. Mr Lightfoot's song became a HUGE hit , and more importantly an apt and fitting anthem of remembrance of the souls lost . He was an EXTRAORDINARY story teller and did the memories of the crew proud with his wonderful song.We all ran out and got a copy when it was released, and it was played in tribute throughout the great lakes region for the next year at many sporting events , High School, Colleges and political rallies.Great video , and very educational for the youth today who may not know of our rich, and sometimes tragic maritime history. by the way the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in a terrible storm on Lake Superior November 10 1975.
Ashtabula, Ohio. Interesting factoid, one of the only two identified victims of the Cleveland Torso Killer who was active in the 1930's was from Ashtabula. Her name was Florence Polillo. She loved to collect dolls. 😥
@@August377 That actually is interesting ..seems like I may have heard about that in passing , but I can't recall anyone dwelling on it . I'll have to go look that up. Coincidentally , I remember back in the mid 70's a boy came up missing from our 7th grade class , in the now defunct, West JR Hight School. His body was found by a casual friend of mine in a large steemer trunk, in the Gulf..(Our name for the Ashtabula River) . He was dismembered. Very sad but seriously doubt it could have anything to do with the Torso Murders .
"But all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters..." I can't help but picture their shock and grief when informed that she was lost with all aboard.
For many years, I was blessed with the friendship of Gordon Lightfoot. Since his passing, I have been binging on so many videos & reading as many comments as I'm able, because I find it strangely comforting to know so many are also mourning his loss, even those who knew him only through his music. The unvarnished emotion exhibited by Daniel upon learning this was a REAL event, & witnessing his empathetic response, reinforces my opinion of Gordon's intent to honor the crew of The Fitz. And I think his decision to donate all royalties from this song to the families - and to do it quietly - was so classy!! He wasn't perfect, but I'm proud to have been considered a friend, & I miss him terribly!! Thank you, Daniel, for your honest, touching & respectful review, & for not "stepping" all over Gord's music, like so many other jocks, who actually seem to trivialize Gord instead of honoring his gift to the world!!
On May 2nd, the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral (actually called the Mariners' Church) rang 30 times, in honor of Gordon's passing this past Monday (5/1/2023).
What haunting music, it pulls at the heartstrings. Being from Michigan, this song has a lot of meaning to me. If you ever travel to Michigan, at Whitefish Point is a lighthouse and they have artifacts from several shipwrecks and a video that plays using this song and the Edmund Fitzgerald. So sobering. These lakes are beautiful, but can be treacherous.
It was only 7 minutes from when the captain radioed the distress signal until the ship went down. The water was just above freezing at that time of year. The lifeboats were destroyed in the 70 mph winds.
1st review of yours I've listened to & it won't be my last. You honored the song the way Gordon honored the passing of those 29 men. Lightfoot engages us immediately with a haunting, barebones melody that frames his lyrics & slowly builds the tension. His lyrics capture, in simple words & phrasing, what would have been a many hours long nightmare & you can almost feel that stinging freezing rain hit you. "Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours" is one of the few lines in any music that still makes the hair on the back of my neck raise up. 17 simple words that evoke every feeling that doomed crew must have felt.
Now that he has died, this song becomes even more profound. I recently watched a documentary on Gordon Lightfoot where it was revealed that this published song was the first version of the song recorded at the very end of a rented studio recording session just days after the real event. Gordon penned the song and his group did a first cut. Later they recorded additional versions of the song but decided that their first cut was the best, and it is unforgettable. This song still brings tears to my eyes, and stops my soul briefly in its course.
Gordon Lightfoot is a master lyricist, and this song is a fine tribute to the men who died and their loved ones. I appreciate your respectful reaction, Daniel. There are SO many fine songs by Gordon; many great suggestions by other folks here- you really can' t go wrong. I'd love to see you react to "If I Could Read Your Mind"- great lyrical content (but then, that's true of all Gordon's songs). He is definitely worth digging into- you won't be sorry. Thanks for a great and appropriate reaction.
1978, I went to outward bound in Minnesota. After three weeks of canoeing camping and rock climbing, it was time to come back to NJ. They dropped me off at the Duluth Greyhound depot with six hours to kill before my bus departed for NYC. So I went for walkies and started exploring. I ended up at a diner/coffee shop right on the shore of the lake they called gitchee Gumie enjoying my first hamburger in twenty one days and talking to the owner telling him all about my adventure. After awhile he gave me a quarter, and told me the number to play on the jukebox. It was Gordon Lightfoot, and then he told me the story. He told me about the boat, about the crew members who had sat, possibly, in the same seat I had. And he told me about the storm. It was incredible and it taught me something. Everybody has a story, if you only take the time time to listen. Remember, history is 5/7ths story. Hi story, come on in and teach me.
The Lake Never Gives Up The Dead is True Because None of the Bodies Of The Crew were ever Recovered, The Ship lies at the bottom of the Lake on the Canadian Side, Divers were always going Down there to View the Wreak until the Canadian Government put an end to that so no one is Allowed to Dive to see the Wreak Anymore.
People can still go down but they need permission and it can only be for scientific documentation and as long as nothing is taken or damaged. Plus a body was found in 1994 near I believe one of two halfs of the wreck no one knows who it was.
Driver were not "ALWAYS" going down she lies in over 530 feet, Only two men every drove down to her in scuba gear..Only a very few people in deep sea submersible and in a specials deep sea hard shell suit.. But Canada does had a law stopping future drives..
The reason the lake never gives up the dead is because it is so cold it inhibits the growth of bacteria. No bacteria growth, no gases. No gases, no floating. It also preserves the bodies for a very, very long time. If you were to actually see their bodies, it would look like they just died yesterday.
True story it is. I worked the lakes for a decade. Shit gets real. Btw. Lightfoot, a Canadian like me, is one of Bob Dylan’s favourite song writer. The well on this one is practically bottomless. Edit. The fitz was a ship, not a boat.
Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the Soo Locks, this wreck and this song is a full part of the culture. When I discovered how unknown this song and wreck was to most people after leaving Michigan was an adult, it was quite a culture shock. I lived about 50 miles from Whitefish Point.
My son spent a student medical rotation in S.Ste Marie, Michigan, last year--in November--December. Before he left for the North-lands of Michigan, I made him listen to the Edmund Fitzgerald and lyrics. Repeatedly. He said he made time to visit the locks while he was there. He was impressed that the locals were so reverent and remembering. We are from Nebraska. I was in College when the ship went down in '75. The music/Instrumentation sounds like Mother Nature..... in a Gale...and the lyrics all too real. This disaster and Song are known world-wide. G.L. was a genius.
@@jack-alope5529 You are so correct about Gord!! You've also managed to capture the very essence of the totality of Gord's ability to use every aspect of his songs to convey both their meaning & atmosphere!! His songs envelope the listener & draw you in like no other.
I'm a born and raised Michigander, and I grew up in a suburb of Detroit that was about a 15 minute drive to Canada. Living in the Great Lakes State, this song has always had special meaning for me.... Also, I have many Canadian friends and they all pronounce the Motor City as "Dee-TROY-it". As a youngster, when this song was first released, I thought that Gordon Lightfoot was just extending the syllables to fit the rhythm of the song, but it turns out that most Canadians naturally pronounce it that way.
Gordon donated all proceeds from this song to the lost sailors families.
I did not know that. Thank you for the info.
Good man. 🙏🖤🖤🖤🙏
And that is continued to this day.
When they declared the wreck a memorial and grave site in 1999, there was a ceremony with 2 wreath one donated by Gordon lighfoot
@@bethmerryfield7186 Also, the families used the money for the memorial and many recovery attempts.
“Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours” is one of the most powerful lyrics ever written.
As a person that works on the water every day, I think of it every day.....
I cant imagine the fear of knowing I'm standing on tens of thousands of tons of steel and I'm as helpless as a kitten in the jaws of a pitbull.
I live along the Connecticut coastline and used to know a local woman, an avid sailor, who was friends with Gordon Lightfoot and also with another local woman who went down with the tall ship Marques when it sank with heavy loss of life:
vault.si.com/vault/1984/06/11/a-tragedy-at-sea
She said that line always gave her chills when she heard it and thought of her friend who almost made it out the hatchway and onto the deck before the ship went under.
Powerful verse
can you imagine how slow motion death must be...timeless and never-ending, your sense of moment to moment changes and it is unrelenting, ceaseless...definition of hell????
From what I've heard, the ship bell is the only thing recovered and brought back to the surface. The wreck is considered a gravesite and wont be disturbed. Also a lot of freighters will ring their bell 29 times when passing by the site
Awesome info!
Thank you for sharing your information I think that's great how they show their respect.
That a great epilogue to this song. Thanks.
Can confirm, lived just off Lake Superior when they recovered the bell. I was 14. It wasn't without criticism, however. The families had voices their concerns a number of times about people diving down to what they considered a gravesite.
The bell being recovered was a request of the families. There's video of it actually being recovered, and they placed a commemorative bell back on the wreck.
As soon as the cook (?) says "it's been good to know you", the tears start and won't stop until the end. I don't care how many times I've heard it - I still cry! So well written, so descriptive - what a wonderful tribute!
Hello 👋 Pamela, how are you doing today, how’s everything going over there 👉 hope everything went well Pamela?
@Pamela. - me too. I’m sitting here with tears rolling down my face.
i CAN NOT WATCH THIS WITH OUT CREING
He's Canadian.....thats why the "pride of the American side"....and yes, true story.
I knew when you said "Oh God" that it was your first realization that this song was not just a story but the telling of an actual event. This is what makes this a truly sad song. That "Oh God" is really what I call a true "reaction". Good video on a great song.
Gordon Lightfoot has kept the memory of this tragedy alive for future generations such as yourself. An event which would otherwise be lost to the annals of time. Thanks for reacting to this one and your genuine reaction once you realized this was a true, tragic story.
John - This wreck is only one of thousands. Thus is the power of a song. Who remembers any others.
This isn't just a song, it is a Dirge, lamenting the deaths of American working men who put themselves at risk to provide for their families. It brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. This could be sung for men around the world who also put themselves at risk every day for their families. I love all people who get up every day and go to work for themselves and their families. They are the salt of the earth. While this Dirge has a musical basis it could just be read and the impact is still there. I"m glad you reaction was appropriate.
Another true story is the Penlee Lifeboat disaster..I believe the documentary is available on YT.
I just said the very same words to my husband, it reminds me of the movie "The Perfect Storm". For all men out there: Our men and particularly young men and boys, men can be our heroes and we want them to be
Amen!
I thought the captain was Canadian
@@RandomTrinidadian He was born in Canada but moved to America (New York) in 1934 as a child. All the rest were American as was the ship itself.www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/21705?page=2#sr-21165
I'm an old guy, this song is a classic. I just love to see people of your age discover great music like this from decades past. There isn't enough of it these days, music's mostly become formulaic. Now get off my lawn! 😉
I'm in new Zealand I'm a huge Gordon fan, I'm 53 and heard Gordon on the radio as a kid, mostly sundown, and if you can read my mind
Gordon was using the native names of lake Superior, as most of the lakes were inhabited by the Natives prior to the arrival of the European settlers. Very powerful song in my eyes
I am so glad he included them!!
the big lake they call Gitchygumie.,...forgive the spelling
The drums kick in and start and stop your heart with the heartbeat of the first people and every sailor.
@@rhondathompson9189 means ‘big sea’ or ‘huge water’ as I recall.
I grew up there. Everything was Indian names. We all knew it was mutual respect.
This masterpiece is not just a retelling of history but a moving eulogy that immortalized the tragic loss.
Beautifully said. I feel the reviewer doesn't yet have the life experience to understand the depth of this lamentation and the TRIBUTE to maritime culture. It is a masterpiece of writing and the wailing of the guitar symbolizes the keening over the dead seamen. The Edmund Fitzgerals wasn't just "a boat"/
And, with the sad news of Gordon's death today, is like the second death of the 29 courageous men. I have listened to the song 29 times today.
Well said.
It's impossible to listen to this song without tears welling up in your eyes.
True!
Guilty
I guess im just desensitized to everything at this point😂🤷♂️
@@schmecklegeckle7235 You're a heartless sack of s**t. Just kidding. Maybe I shouldn't have inferred that everyone reacts the same way. Music moves the soul for some people, and sometimes it takes different types of music to do that.
@@hiseagle LMAO yea it takes some pretty dread filled existential music to make me emotional 😅
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours" - I'll never forget that line
Amen Stephen! I can very clearly remember hearing this song in a pair of headphones I had gotten for my 15th birthday (40 years ago). I think the most tangible thought that I could formulate after hearing that line, was “that is the most perfect line for a masterpiece of a song”. It still gives me chills after listening to this song 1000+ times.
Me too
This happened on a tuesday. On the thursday our school assembled in the gym for 29 minutes of silence to honour the crew who perished. I think everyone cried at some point. I'll never forget that. Still tear up to this day when I hear this song.
It was the Captain and his 1st mate last scheduled voyage before retirement.
as was captain smith on the titanic... if i take a cruise and learn its the captains last trip i may skip it
As was the captain of the titanic, his last sail before retirement, sad
This most definitely happened. My brother was on the Anderson, one hour behind the Fitz that night.
Do you remember Clarence Peacock?
Very interesting Jeffrey. Capt. Bernie Cooper was in command of the Anderson that trip. That carrier made it safely to harbor, but Capt. Cooper and crew took the SS Arthur M Anderson back out to look for any signs of the Fitzgerald’s crew. They were under no obligation whatsoever to go back out into that storm, and the Coast Guard urged them to do so as the CG could not mount their resources until that tempest subsided. Jeffrey, did your brother speak or heading back out on the Anderson?
My sister was on the Titanic
@@alexandermilentis2130 - I detect bullshit. Are you over 100? Even if you are 20 years younger than your "sister" you would be 100.
@@susieq9801 just watched the anderson come into duluth on duluth harbor cam
A Canadian legend memorializing a true American tragedy. A get a tear every time I hear this. I was 14 at the time. A great livestream and this song on the same night. Maybe your best overall day on the channel. Gordon still going strong today. Thank you Daniel.
I was the same age. I had lived on Lake Superior in Grand Marais MINNESOTA for my first 12 years
I can relate as well. I was 15 yrs old at the time. When this song was released, I went and purchased a song sheet and learned to play it on my guitar. It's one my favorite all-time ballads and Lightfoot is a brilliant storyteller.
I was 14 and living in Sault Ste Marie. Remember that night like it was yesterday.
George, I was the same age as you. It was a sobering event.
@@timrickel3026 I lived right across from Soo Welding at the time. We lost power and I fell and split my head open that night. A good family friend was working on the Anderson then.
Gordon actually did change the lyrics after the new findings, when he performed this song live. We had the pleasure of experiencing this about a year ago. RIP Mr. Lightfoot.
I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. In 1976 I was in 6th grade.
We came into class one morning, the teacher had written ALL of the lyrics of this song on the chalkboard. She told us all about the story, the wreck, told us about the cathedral in Detroit, went into great detail about the song.
Then she played the song for us, as we read along with the words on the chalkboard.
I was 11 yrs old, and it hit me like a boulder.
I saw Gordon in concert several times. When those first few familiar strums of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald were heard, the audience instantly went pin-drop silent. Even though each of us had heard the song a thousand times, it got to us even more to hear it surrounded by other souls who were as gripped by the wails of “the wives and the sons and the daughters” as we were. Gordon Lightfoot was a master storyteller and seeing your review on this channel gives me hope that his talent isn’t lost to time but is here for the ages.
Since we are doing a sad theme, might I recommend "Vincent" by Don Mclean. It's the story of Vincent Van Gogh. One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.
Vincent is like Mary popping compared to the exorcist, I have to stay away from anything lethal if I hear the wreck of......
I second this!
@@wayneguess7946 Third. Gorgeous moment in music.
Yes. Good choice. Also by Yes, 'Turn of the Century'. Both will play with your emotions.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was absolutely massive. It surprised many that it sank as due to it's size seemed almost impossible. They recently found the wreck on the bottom of Lake Superior and found it to be in two pieces. They summarized that the ship was literally caught between two massive waves, one wave supporting the bow while the other supported the stern and the middle of the ship was lifted so high out of the water, coupled with the weight of the ore, the ship split in two down the middle. Very sad indeed. This song reaches into your heart as no other one does in respect for those who choose to sail goods across the waters so others can enjoy the products. Tough life for sure and it takes a special breed of person to do it.
Harry Chapin doesn’t make me cry. By the time Gordon sings about the cook, saying goodbye, forget it. I’m a goner. 100% true.
Yep. When the old cook, who has seen everything, tells you it's been good to know you, you are a goner.
Speculation...cant be true..noone survived to tell that story
I have a sweet nostalgic song for you by my favorite- Harry Chapin. It's titled "Old College Avenue". It was one of Harry's very favorites.
I'm canadian I live just outside of Toronto in a town called Pickering. There is a subdivision right behind the high school I went to where every street is named after Gordon Lightfoot stuff.
Edmund Dr.
Lightfoot place.
Rainy Day Dr.
Cattail Ct.
Sundown crescent.
Daylight Ct.
That's a beautiful tribute naming streets and lanes after Gordon lightfoot
That is awesome
I want to live there.
Really? Maybe I should drive through there the next time I head to Ottawa. I would have expected something like that in Orillia but not Pickering. Of course, there may be a tie Mr. Lightfoot has with the area or even the builder of the survey that we are not aware of for that to have happened. Really cool either way.
For the first time ever, the bell rang 30 times after Gordon passed away... 29 for the crew of the Fitz, and one for Mr Lightfoot. Eminently appropriate. 💕☀️
"Fellas - it's been nice to know you" - How damn sad - A tough man's way of saying "I love you, brothers."
The lyric "all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters" gets me every time
Gordon Lightfoot was a favorite from my youth. I still love him all these decades later.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by area in the World. It’s beautiful, awe inspiring, and majestic......but I would not want to be on it when she is in a mood.
This is probably the saddest, and best, most poetic, song of all times
And Gordon gave all proceeds of the song to the families
IMHO, there are only a few dozen “perfect” pop/rock songs, 1960-2020, and “The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald” is one of them.....
ever heard this version? ruclips.net/video/yyG15S38OZI/видео.html
Deer hunting outside of Duluth, Minnesota when I was a kid, this song was played over and over. The anniversary of the sinking usually coincided with opening day for deer season. If you were from that part of the state, this song was probably your first history lesson.
I grew up in Grand Marais MINNESOTA
@@theresarandall7448 I was up there a couple of years ago. Took my daughter on a trip up the North Shore on the motorcycle. The Gunflint Trail was great, but it lacks gas stations. ;-)
Thank you for treating this with such a respect. I really appreciate you looking it up. Just got a new subscriber. I look for to your thoughtful analysis and reactions to other things.
Superior never gives up her dead: the cold water keeps the bodies from rising to the surface where they can be recovered....
Having moved away from the Lake Superior region, I find many people just do not understand how cold, deep, and large Superior, and the others, are. It being called a "lake" gives everyone the wrong impression, even with a map in hand.
@@DougsShack Agreed! Yeah, just a lake....The size of South Carolina. Roughly 31,000 sq/mi. That's a BIG lake.
Douglas Christensen Indeed.
@catothewiser they're so big they look like an ocean. We took a bridge years ago over Lake Huron and it was just a tiny part of the lake, it stretched on forever.
Also, the cold water keeps any bacteria from forming on the bodies and decomposing them. So they haven't aged a bit.
My son is a sailor...................I fear every time he sets out to sea. He does it voluntarily to secure our Borders in Australia. I cry at this song.
The song never fails to move me. I appreciate your respectful reaction.
May I recommend ‘Vincent’ about Vincent Van Gogh
I was a young college student living on a farm near Lake Superior along the path of the iron ore ships that traversed Lake Superior. I always listened to the radio as background noise while studying. At one point around 8:30 pm there was a break in the music to announce that the ship was sending out distress signals. My studies stopped. Everyone who lives in the U.P. Along the shores of Superior watches the ship movements with fond interest and we all knew what the November month’s might bring. I hoped for the best but was devastated at the outcome. Gordon Lightfoot’s song is an accurate telling of not just what happened but how it affected all of us who love this culture and the uniqueness of this lifestyle.
Nice job,! I grew up in Michigan in the 1970s, and this song hit close to home for a lot of people. The Coast Guard Museum in the Upper Peninsula plays this song on a loop.......all day long......
I grew up in the Cleveland area and I saw the 'Fitzgerald in the port of Cleveland as a child in 74 or '75 . It was creepy when I saw on the news that it sank.
I remember this like yesterday, I was 14 live in Michigan too !
I'm a native michigander and this song hits home on many levels. I've lost many friends on these great lakes. And superior does not give up her dead. There are many ship wrecks with the dead still in her. It brings tears almost every time I hear this song. I've grown up playing in these lakes and they are a treasure and something to be loved and feared. Why I'm so glad to be from this great state and her history. Thanks for this
Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian singer/songwriter and icon who lives about 10 minutes away from me here in Toronto, Ontario. Until C19 struck he was still performing to sold out crowds - at 81 years of age.
I remember the news stories of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald because it went down on my 17th birthday. I was living in northern Ontario at the time in a city just a few hours away from Lake Superior. It hit us hard despite the fact that it was an American ship and crew. We were closer countries back then and this was the largest shipping disaster to ever happen on the Great Lakes.
Lightfoot has written many beautiful love songs but the two songs I love the most are: “Black Day in July” and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”. Black Day pays homage to the Detroit race riots of 1967 - the more things change the more things stay the same. The percussion in that song is haunting!
Railroad Trilogy tells the story of the westward opening of Canadian lands by the building of the railroad. It’s told from three perspectives: the investors, the workers who lived and the workers who died laying the track across our great country. It’s beautifully written and performed.
" Until C19 struck he was still performing to sold out crowds - at 81 years of age. " That's just too cool !
Looking forward to checking out that other music. Thx.
I was supposed to see him in april but it was canceled i do hope it gets rescheduled i really would like to see him live
Second reaction I’ve watched. You are an OLD SOUL. Love that someone so young listens to our old folks music. Much love 💕
‘All that remains are the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughter “. As a Detroit-er I remember when this happened, many never knew this was a true story. It’s so sad. Good research. You had a Good reaction with great feeling.
In Detroit, in the Maritime Sailors Cathedral, they chimed the church bell one time after the death of Gordon Lightfoot.
RIP Gordon Lightfoot. And thank you sir for your sincere reaction to this song.
Not bad for a first take recording. Mr Lightfoot is a true genius. Amazing storytelling. Straight to the soul.
Does anyone know
Where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
@Ross Cox Indeed. And jetsam. Don't forget the jetsam.
One of the most haunting lyrics in music.
That's the line right there.. the one that gets me
@@stratcat3216 I wonder if that's because it's the one time during the song the narrator (GL) inserts his own first person voice. The dark question. Also...I think Gordon' adds an extra measure of music before jumping into that verse, adding to the hauntedness.
@@triscat That is true.. the subject matter highlighted with the musical pause as you said :)
Very simple song yet very powerful.
"Fellas, it's been good to know ya" - When my time comes, I hope I can face it with half as much dignity and humanity.
The same here.
NAMASTE...
I am in the state of shock!! Nobody has ever even thought of doing a reaction video to this song. Bravo my man! This is an extremely powerful song, masterfully written and I'm still amazed someone did this song! Thanks again.
There HAVE been other reactions to this song way before now. You just have to look them up.
There have been several
Theres like 20 already lol.
A lot of the reaction channels have done this song ☺
@@stephenulmer3781 So I've heard, who cares? This song is amazing and I love it, other than that, IDC.
The look on your face, Daniel, was truly touching, when you saw it was a true story, but also, before you realized that, your expression aas you heard the lyrics, showed just how much you care. Such a humble young man you are ☺
Your compassion at the realization this was a factual account of a true event speaks volumes!! It was obvious you hadn't heard the song before & didn't know the history. Your unbridled surprise & genuine sympathy was transparent for all to see. How refreshing to see honesty in this world & especially in this business!! Thank you for that!! I was lucky enough to have been a friend of Gord for many years & have been grieving his passing for the past several weeks. It comforts me to see someone truly appreciate him & his inimitable talent, and to know others are also sincerely mourning his loss, even though many knew him only through his music!! Gordon was a highly compassionate & tender soul. He had his faults, but held himself to a high level of ethics & was one of the most loyal friends I've ever been blessed to know!! I miss him terribly!! Thank you for allowing me to remember him through this platform.
This is a true story ,written and sung by poet legend Gordon Lightfoot became huge hit and Gordon donated the profits to the sailers families . A man with no equal in story telling !
I've read that the water of the Great Lakes hold i think 27% of the world's fresh water and the storms can be rougher than storms at sea.
You hav obviously never been through a typhoon in the Pacific.
@@larryhutchens7593 It's actually true. The storm that sank the Fitz had wind and air pressure equivalent to a category 1 hurricane with 35 foot waves, and those storms in November are not that unusual on the Great Lakes. Plus, most of the lakes are capable of sustaining seiche waves, which are basically caused by the water sloshing back and forth in a confined space. (The North Sea produces these as well, which contributes to its reputation for shipwrecks.)
One of the most famous Great Lakes storms was the Armistice Day Blizzard in 1940. You can still find old folks who remember it for the many feet of snow deposited on large cities throughout the Midwest. It produced 80 MPH winds over the Great lakes and sank three freighters and two smaller boats.
@@calliarcale I have witnessed the end result of a lake effects blizzard while living in northern Illinois. Was impressive. I also rode a Navy vessel through an out of season Typhoon somewhere in the South China Sea or Sea of Japan, a thorough search of the ships deck logs turned up no record of such an event but we did go through it. The ship was a Midway class carrier & waves were breaking over the bow & washing down the flight deck. Each wave that struck the bow sounded like thunder inside the ship & we were rocking & rolling pretty good. Navy warships have an advantage though. They have adequate power & are build tough enough to withstand the abuse. The Fitz broke in half as witnessed by the crew who found the wreckage. Merchant ships are usually powered for economy rather than speed and those ore ships do get loaded very heavy. Agreed that storms in the great Lakes can be as fierce as storms at sea but not as fierce as the worst with wind speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Bobbi - Lived in Duluth and sailed the lake. Went thru a hurricane on the Pacific 1973.
Guys would say the weather could change so fast on the lakes. Also the air and water are COLD.
Lake Superior is the only lake that has had rogue waves recorded. 85 ft. waves have been recorded on that lake.
The melody does have a definite sea chanty sound to it.
A sad tale, yet a beautiful homage to those 29 souls.
Hello Elizabeth, how’s everything going over there 👉 hope everything went well Elizabeth?
True story. Brilliantly told lyrically by Canadian songwriting legend Gordon Lightfoot. He is a musical icon in Canada. I've seen Gordon five times in concert here in Canada. Never disappoints. He has written so many incredible songs. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🎼🎶🎵
You really should also hear his Canadian Railroad Trilogy.
The story of the building of the cross country railroad in Canada.
He is an exceptional story teller, and this one is often overlooked.
Highly recommended!
Its my favourite song to whistle!
Gordon Lightfoot: "Canada's greatest poet!"-- said by many. :-) Went to a concert and every person in the hall begged for this song to be sung as an encore. :-D
I don't think it was quite that fast. Happened in 1975.
8:10 - "Very well written lyrics." That's got a shot at being the understatement of the century. This song is a masterpiece.
DUDE!!! Now ya talking!!! My all time favourite song!!! Got this memorised. This came out in 1976 and went as high as #2 on the American Top 40. I'm old enough to remember when this happened and when the song came out
me too, but i was pretty young. can't imagine songs like this on today's radio, happy to grow up with music like this
@@markydkiehl I was actually 14 at the time
I was a kid when this song came out . My stepfather was a US Navy brown water sailor in Vietnam , and this song put him into PTSD when he heard it .
Victor Waddell I believe it.
Me too ! I learned every word too, and the memories & this song often bring a tear. On November 10,1975 - 45 years ago the ship went down and there is a museum at the Burlington Railroad Dock #1 at Superior, Wisconsin. There is an annual memorial there I believe.
This is why I love watching your channel Daniel, for your reactions. Your reaction when you found out this was a real shipwreck was priceless. Your eyes got wide and you said oh God. You are learning quite a lot through your musical journey. More than the people who lived through the time because they did not have all the information about these songs at the time. Lightfoot is one of my favorite Folk singers. You should listen to more of his music. Keep up the good work Daniel.
Daniel, I'm so happy you're being introduced to the greats...!!! And I love your openness to something different... and your reactions are great!
The lake it is said never gives up her dead...
This refers to just how cold Lake Superior is. It is so cold it inhibits the bacteria that normal makes corpses float. So instead they sink and stay under. Growing up in Duluth, we were taught in school that people don't usually survive past 15 minutes if they go overboard out past the harbor.
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot. He has a way with words for sure.
I agree... I hadn’t listened to the lyrics too closely until recently and wow...
Giving a like just for the thumb nail+covering this story 🎵.....but you did it proud son..
That night the Edmund Fitzgerald was being tailed by their sister ship, Arthur Anderson, because they were having problems and their radar was broken. The Anderson was was a few miles behind them the whole time but didn’t have visual contact. The captain of the Anderson and his crew all think they got hit by the two waves that took out the Fitzgerald. Apparently, a little while before they lost contact with the Edmund Fitzgerald they were hit by a massive wave and while in the valley created by it they were hit by an even bigger wave which completely submerged the ship for something like 5 seconds. Needless to say it was a miracle they resurfaced. For the rest of their lives the crew of the Anderson we’re convinced those waves caught up to the Fitzgerald and took it out, and the evidence from the state of the wreck supports them. The captain of the Anderson called in the Fitzgerald as wrecked. When the coast guard operator told him they couldn’t send anybody out to search, the Anderson crew decided, after barely surviving themselves to go back out into the storm and search for any of their friends who might’ve survived. Unfortunately, they only found debris and oil. They found a steel life boat which had been ripped in half by the force of the wreck you can see picture of it if you look it.
Hope this was useful👍
I don’t think the Arthur Anderson failed the Fitz. It was chaos, in an extremely dangerous storm. I can’t think of anything they could control, or do otherwise.
@@Agnoletta I agree with you, I said “tailed” not “failed”
@@gravenewworld6521 I’ve seen the Anderson sailing. 😇
R.I.P. Edmund Fitzgerald Crew 🙏
I was in 8th grade in November 1975. This Gordon Lightfoot song is a classic beauty. 🎶💎🎶
Several great, great songs to listen to by Gordon Lightfoot. Most of his songs have a tinge of melancholy, where he reflects on past relationships, the mistakes he's made, his regrets, poor decisions, limitations and failures. Sounds grim, but few can tell such intimate stories and deliver in such a haunting, personal way. His first commercial hit was If You Could Read My Mind from 1970. It's somewhat quiet and straightforward, but beautifully crafted with wonderfully subtle details when you take the time to listen closely.
Check out Neil Young's cover of Read My Mind from his weird and wonderful A Letter Home album. One Canadian to another.
ruclips.net/video/gzY2VdE_NXo/видео.html
@@triscat That's a sincere tribute to Gordon. He's influenced a number of singers, most notably Bob Dylan, a friend and great admirer. Not certain if there's a direct influence, but I hear echoes of Lightfoot in some of Mark Knopfler's solo work.
@@richkurl Yes. Gordon was on Bob's Rolling Thunder Tour. Do you think he had an influence on Bob? Hard to imagine, but could be. In my mind, they all come from the Dylan tree. Gordon, Knopfler, Neil, Petty, etc...
One of my favorite Warren Zevon moments came during one of his many visits to Letterman.
Dave: So, Warren, were you influenced by Bob Dylan?
Warren: Well, Dave. He invented my job.
@@triscat yeah, I'm not sure anyone influenced Mr Zimmerman, but he's never been shy to praise Gord, and of course covered Early Morning Rain, so he sure paid him attention.
@@richkurl Bob Dylan once said of Gordon Lightfoot: “I can't think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like. Everytime I hear a song of his, it's like I wish it would last forever. " - and also "Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day."
I absolutely love your reaction videos. Nobody else does research to the songs like you do. I have much love for you bud! As far as this song goes...I cant listen, without bursting into tears. Thanks for sharing.
Nice knowing young people today still discovering these classics.
I started my seafaring career in the UK when this song came out, i was 20, i'm now 64, rest in peace my fellow mariners.
Gordon was so very under appreciated. He had so many beautiful songs, a master storyteller, great voice.
I just stumbled on to your channel and saw the topic. This song came out when I was in High School, it is one of my top 3 songs from my youth. This was the first album I ever purchased. Thanks for doing this...amazing. I love it when young people of today discover the great music I grew up with and enjoy it for themselves.
Great job Daniel! Keep up the emotion as it transcends through all of us that care about the human life tragedies we all come across from time to time!
I was 19 years old, living in central Wisconsin when this song was released, I remember having to pull over in my car when it came on the radio, every time it aired, this song had me paralyzed with sobbing grief, still cry when I hear it
This song was released one month after he ship sank.
This is actually the second actual ship sinking Lightfoot chronicled in song. "The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle" describes the fire and loss of the aging cruise ship S.S. Yarmouth Castle on an overnight cruise from Miami to Nassau on November 12-13 1965. He uses the same reportorial style he would later use on this song. He describes the efforts of the S.S. Bahama Star to rescue the passengers and crew.
Great song Daniel, this was a tragic event, and I really think if it wasn't for Gordon Lightfoot, this sad and important event would fad into history. I put this song up there with " OHIO " by Crosby, Still and Nash, as one of the most important and impactful songs of the 20th Century. Great song Daniel ! love the show and the music, keep up the good work !
OHIO was actually written by another Canadian Neil Young.
Cheers from Canada.
@@capncanuck2064 Good point. Canada has a ton of excellent and talented musician. aka { RUSH }
@@Gregory...... Stan Rogers , Barrett's Privateers , and many others .
On a similar theme, try Seth Lakeman's "Solomon Browne" about the Penlee Lifeboat tragedy when 8 volunteer lifeboat crew died trying to save the crew and captain's family from a ship whose engines failed in one of the worst storms for decades.
ruclips.net/video/YdGWJ7ATRJA/видео.html
Gregory: Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young who wrote "Ohio" are both Canadians who care deeply about things happening in the USA. (And it is Crosby, Stills, Nash & YOUNG.) The pronunciation of "Detroy-it" is a Canadian thing. Born in Detroit, moved to Toronto in 1974 when I married a Canadian. Canada has its own culture, but the USA is important to it, too. This song touches everyone who hears it when they realize it is not just a great song, but a true tragedy.
Lake Superior is legendary for catastrophic storms, incredibly strong waters, and icey temperatures. Superior has taken down hundreds of ships and boats over the years.
You can listen to this song in Miami, outside, in July, under a blanket, and STILL get shivers. Lightfoot does a masterful job of making you feel like you're there.
How old are you please? Your soul is ancient and deep. Seeing you experience these songs that I've known all my life brings a whole new meaning. Thank you for sharing with us.
Daniel turned 17 September 30th. Started this channel in June I believe.
Gordon Lightfoot did a great service to those who were lost in this wreck by immortalizing them in this AWESOME song for all to remember.
I saw a show recently on the Discovery Channel where they studied this wreck for potential causes...they speculated that in the area it was thought to have gone down on Lake Superior the waves during a similar storm reach a height and a distance between crests that would have caused the ship to be supported by the crests at each end, leaving the center of the ship unsupported and causing the ship to basically "hinge" in the middle due to lack of support, because the ship was so long.
Yea that’s the general theory, the bow and stern were on the wave crests and the midship was in the trough of the wave and out of the water. She buckled under her own weight. The ship is in two pieces on the bottom almost perfectly split in the middle.
I worked at one of the steel mill this ship serviced, remember it well, my Dad also sailed on great lakes freighter Mataffaa, interesting history also, there is a ship museum in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan where the life boats that broke from the moorings, survived, able to each hold 70 some persons.
I always tear up when the cook says "It's been good to know you."
This is the tale of a very true and very sad event that took place on Lake Superior November of 1976. I was in that storm. Luckily, I was on land. From where we were on the hilltop, we could have seen Whitefish Bay if the wind and rain had not been tearing our sight away. We had no idea of what was happening on the lake that day. I found out about it the next morning Everyone who had anything to do with great lakes shipping was truly stunned by the reports that were coming in. Every time I hear this song, I remember the pain of the cold wet chill that ran through me that day. If there is a cold hell, it must be what the men on that ship were experiencing.
I was a young teen in the 70's when this disaster occurred. I was living in a city called Ashtabula just a little east of Cleveland Ohio. I lived literally 2 miles from the shores of lake Erie. so I was relatively close to Lake Superior when this happened. It was all over the news. I especially remembered feeling so sad watching the news from Cleveland as they had a moment of silence and displayed all the names of those who were lost that stormy night. All I could think of was what it must feel like to be anticipating your father or Mothers return from a two week long trip, only to be greeted by coast guard officials at the door with the news that they were never coming home. Mr Lightfoot's song became a HUGE hit , and more importantly an apt and fitting anthem of remembrance of the souls lost . He was an EXTRAORDINARY story teller and did the memories of the crew proud with his wonderful song.We all ran out and got a copy when it was released, and it was played in tribute throughout the great lakes region for the next year at many sporting events , High School, Colleges and political rallies.Great video , and very educational for the youth today who may not know of our rich, and sometimes tragic maritime history. by the way the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in a terrible storm on Lake Superior November 10 1975.
Grew up loving Gordon lightfoot desperate for a pennant to fly every 10th November
Ashtabula, Ohio. Interesting factoid, one of the only two identified victims of the Cleveland Torso Killer who was active in the 1930's was from Ashtabula. Her name was Florence Polillo. She loved to collect dolls. 😥
@@August377 That actually is interesting ..seems like I may have heard about that in passing , but I can't recall anyone dwelling on it . I'll have to go look that up. Coincidentally , I remember back in the mid 70's a boy came up missing from our 7th grade class , in the now defunct, West JR Hight School. His body was found by a casual friend of mine in a large steemer trunk, in the Gulf..(Our name for the Ashtabula River) . He was dismembered. Very sad but seriously doubt it could have anything to do with the Torso Murders .
"But all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters..." I can't help but picture their shock and grief when informed that she was lost with all aboard.
10:10- "Oh God"
At this moment, Daniel galvanized the love and respect from his Legion. A sad moment indeed, but a view into your inherent goodness.
When he saw the twenty nine names listed.
For many years, I was blessed with the friendship of Gordon Lightfoot. Since his passing, I have been binging on so many videos & reading as many comments as I'm able, because I find it strangely comforting to know so many are also mourning his loss, even those who knew him only through his music. The unvarnished emotion exhibited by Daniel upon learning this was a REAL event, & witnessing his empathetic response, reinforces my opinion of Gordon's intent to honor the crew of The Fitz. And I think his decision to donate all royalties from this song to the families - and to do it quietly - was so classy!! He wasn't perfect, but I'm proud to have been considered a friend, & I miss him terribly!!
Thank you, Daniel, for your honest, touching & respectful review, & for not "stepping" all over Gord's music, like so many other jocks, who actually seem to trivialize Gord instead of honoring his gift to the world!!
On May 2nd, the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral (actually called the Mariners' Church) rang 30 times, in honor of Gordon's passing this past Monday (5/1/2023).
What haunting music, it pulls at the heartstrings. Being from Michigan, this song has a lot of meaning to me. If you ever travel to Michigan, at Whitefish Point is a lighthouse and they have artifacts from several shipwrecks and a video that plays using this song and the Edmund Fitzgerald. So sobering. These lakes are beautiful, but can be treacherous.
It was only 7 minutes from when the captain radioed the distress signal until the ship went down. The water was just above freezing at that time of year. The lifeboats were destroyed in the 70 mph winds.
1st review of yours I've listened to & it won't be my last. You honored the song the way Gordon honored the passing of those 29 men. Lightfoot engages us immediately with a haunting, barebones melody that frames his lyrics & slowly builds the tension. His lyrics capture, in simple words & phrasing, what would have been a many hours long nightmare & you can almost feel that stinging freezing rain hit you. "Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours" is one of the few lines in any music that still makes the hair on the back of my neck raise up. 17 simple words that evoke every feeling that doomed crew must have felt.
Now that he has died, this song becomes even more profound. I recently watched a documentary on Gordon Lightfoot where it was revealed that this published song was the first version of the song recorded at the very end of a rented studio recording session just days after the real event. Gordon penned the song and his group did a first cut. Later they recorded additional versions of the song but decided that their first cut was the best, and it is unforgettable. This song still brings tears to my eyes, and stops my soul briefly in its course.
Gordon Lightfoot is a master lyricist, and this song is a fine tribute to the men who died and their loved ones. I appreciate your respectful reaction, Daniel. There are SO many fine songs by Gordon; many great suggestions by other folks here- you really can' t go wrong. I'd love to see you react to "If I Could Read Your Mind"- great lyrical content (but then, that's true of all Gordon's songs). He is definitely worth digging into- you won't be sorry. Thanks for a great and appropriate reaction.
1978, I went to outward bound in Minnesota. After three weeks of canoeing camping and rock climbing, it was time to come back to NJ. They dropped me off at the Duluth Greyhound depot with six hours to kill before my bus departed for NYC.
So I went for walkies and started exploring. I ended up at a diner/coffee shop right on the shore of the lake they called gitchee Gumie enjoying my first hamburger in twenty one days and talking to the owner telling him all about my adventure.
After awhile he gave me a quarter, and told me the number to play on the jukebox. It was Gordon Lightfoot, and then he told me the story. He told me about the boat, about the crew members who had sat, possibly, in the same seat I had. And he told me about the storm. It was incredible and it taught me something. Everybody has a story, if you only take the time time to listen. Remember, history is 5/7ths story. Hi story, come on in and teach me.
The Lake Never Gives Up The Dead is True Because None of the Bodies Of The Crew were ever Recovered, The Ship lies at the bottom of the Lake on the Canadian Side, Divers were always going Down there to View the Wreak until the Canadian Government put an end to that so no one is Allowed to Dive to see the Wreak Anymore.
People can still go down but they need permission and it can only be for scientific documentation and as long as nothing is taken or damaged. Plus a body was found in 1994 near I believe one of two halfs of the wreck no one knows who it was.
Wreck...
Driver were not "ALWAYS" going down she lies in over 530 feet, Only two men every drove down to her in scuba gear..Only a very few people in deep sea submersible and in a specials deep sea hard shell suit.. But Canada does had a law stopping future drives..
Blessed Be to all involved
The reason the lake never gives up the dead is because it is so cold it inhibits the growth of bacteria. No bacteria growth, no gases. No gases, no floating. It also preserves the bodies for a very, very long time. If you were to actually see their bodies, it would look like they just died yesterday.
Rest in peace Gordon
Very fitting that it rings 30 times now
The bell is rang 29 times each year. Only when Gordon died was it rang 30 times. on that one occasion.
Rest in Peace - Crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald
🎶🎶🎸Rest in Peace, Gordon 🎸🎶🎶
13:34 Uhhh. No. The entire country mourned when the news of this wreck was announced. It was a big deal.
True story it is. I worked the lakes for a decade. Shit gets real.
Btw. Lightfoot, a Canadian like me, is one of Bob Dylan’s favourite song writer. The well on this one is practically bottomless.
Edit. The fitz was a ship, not a boat.
Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the Soo Locks, this wreck and this song is a full part of the culture. When I discovered how unknown this song and wreck was to most people after leaving Michigan was an adult, it was quite a culture shock.
I lived about 50 miles from Whitefish Point.
My son spent a student medical rotation in S.Ste Marie, Michigan, last year--in November--December. Before he left for the North-lands of Michigan, I made him listen to the Edmund Fitzgerald and lyrics. Repeatedly. He said he made time to visit the locks while he was there. He was impressed that the locals were so reverent and remembering. We are from Nebraska. I was in College when the ship went down in '75. The music/Instrumentation sounds like Mother Nature..... in a Gale...and the lyrics all too real. This disaster and Song are known world-wide. G.L. was a genius.
@@jack-alope5529 You are so correct about Gord!! You've also managed to capture the very essence of the totality of Gord's ability to use every aspect of his songs to convey both their meaning & atmosphere!! His songs envelope the listener & draw you in like no other.
I'm a born and raised Michigander, and I grew up in a suburb of Detroit that was about a 15 minute drive to Canada. Living in the Great Lakes State, this song has always had special meaning for me.... Also, I have many Canadian friends and they all pronounce the Motor City as "Dee-TROY-it". As a youngster, when this song was first released, I thought that Gordon Lightfoot was just extending the syllables to fit the rhythm of the song, but it turns out that most Canadians naturally pronounce it that way.
Gorden Lightfoot has given the world a magnificent haunting Ballard that truly honors the ship and crew ! This song has made this shipwreck immortal !