First Time Reaction | Gordon Lightfoot - Wreckage Of Edmund Fitzgerald | Reaction
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- #gordonlightfoot #wreckage #edmundfitzgerald #reaction #best #reactionvideo
WE DO NOT OWN ANY COPYRIGHTS TO THIS VIDEO
Patreon - patreon.com/mmbmob
For promo info hit us up on Instagram !!!
FOLLOW US ON IG:
Drew: @_therealac3
LIKE
COMMENT
SUBSCRIBE
JOIN THE MOB !
U.S. Code Title 17- COPYRIGHTS U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
Gordon donated all of the revenue from this song to the families of the lost crew. This year when Gordon passed away they rang the church bells 30 times in the cathedral. A fitting tribute. RIP Gordon!
Pure class, as is the song in the first place.
I did not know that, a very generous man certainly, i’ve been listening to Gordon since the early 70s.❤
Not true, never happened. But they did ring the bell 30 times.
@@JB-yb4wnwhat never happened?
@@mpare49
Gordon never donated all the money he made from The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald to the victims families. He donated $10,000 to the Great Lakes Academy and a guitar he used.
All his profits from this song went to the families of the fallen sailors
One of the most honorable things ever.
I did not know this. Thank you for providing this information.
@hristensen2076 He was there for the family members if they ever needed anything they could call him directly. On his passing almost 100 family members attended his funeral and made him an honorary member of the ships crew. When they ring the bell on the anniversary of the sinking, it now rings 30 times to include Gordon Lightfoot.
@@bettyrose959 Oh. Thank you so much for this information. THIS is so special, and so real. It brings one into a time capsule. Thank you so much again @bettyrose959.
Please stop perpetuating this myth. Lightfoot donated a very large sum of money for a folk singer in the 70’s ($10000) to a scholarship and later donated the proceeds of a guitar he auctioned off to that same scholarship, but he did not donate all the proceeds of the song.
Last year when Gordon passed away…….they rang the bell 30 times instead of 29……..one for Gordon. R.I.P. Gordon, you are missed🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Glorious!
I've heard this song 1000 times and I tear up every time when I hear the lyrics "And all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters." The overall collective grief of 29 families hearing the tragic news weights on my heart.
and also... the line... "Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours." Devastating, powerful lyric.
Same. Always a tear.
Me too. I remember when it happened.
Every time.
@@floyd2222 I have never been on a boat or ship caught out in the weather but I have been in some serious storms and the time does take forever to get done. This is the line that always makes me cry a little when I hear it.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?" Gets me every time.
You are so right. This lyric still gets me. In a museum in the soo, is a lifeboat and two several ton bouys from the sight, twisted like a pretzel! Peace from Northern Michigan.
@garyzink1927 omg...chilling...you know it must have been horrific. The movie The Perfect Storm always gives me "a pit in my stomach".
That's the line that gets me.
I'm a 72 year old and have gone to sea all my life on family sailboats even sailed to New Zealand and back. Then 4 years on a Destroyer and Vietnam twice. After the navy I ran other peoples boats for over 30 years. Private yachts,both sail and power,offshore oil crewboats and the bigger supply boats.
This song always makes me cry. I can totally relate to that same line as I have have been there.
Me too!
My father worked on the boats as a cook for many years.....including the Fitz....
I've been aboard her a few times myself....
We knew many of the men personally......
Rest in Peace....
Michael Armagost- 37- Third Mate- Iron River, Wisconsin
Fred Beetcher- 56- Porter- Superior, Wisconsin
Thomas Bentsen- 23- Oiler- St. Joseph, Michigan
Edward Bindon -47- First Asst. Engineer- Fairport Harbor, Ohio
Thomas Borgeson -41- Maintenance Man- Duluth, Minnesota
Oliver Champeau- 41-Third Asst. Engineer- Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Nolan Church -55 -Porter -Silver Bay, Minnesota
Ransom Cundy- 53- Watchman- Superior, Wisconsin
Thomas Edwards-50- Second Asst. Engineer- Oregon, Ohio
Russell Haskell -40- Second Asst. Engineer- Millbury, Ohio
George Holl -60- Chief Engineer- Cabot, Pennsylvania
Bruce Hudson- 22- Deck Hand -North Olmsted, Ohio
Allen Kalmon -43- Second Cook- Washburn, Wisconsin
Gordon MacLellan- 30- Wiper- Clearwater, Florida
Joseph Mazes- 59- Special Maintenance Man -Ashland, Wisconsin
John McCarthy -62-First Mate -Bay Village, Ohio
Ernest McSorley -63 -Captain -Toledo, Ohio
Eugene O'Brien- 50- Wheelsman -Toledo, Ohio
Karl Peckol -20- Watchman -Ashtabula, Ohio
John Poviach -59- Wheelsman- Bradenton, Florida
James Pratt -44- Second Mate- Lakewood, Ohio
Robert Rafferty -62 -Steward -Toledo, Ohio
Paul Riippa -22 -Deck Hand -Ashtabula, Ohio
John Simmons -63 -Wheelsman -Ashland, Wisconsin
William Spengler -59- Watchman- Toledo, Ohio
Mark Thomas -21- Deck Hand- Richmond Heights, Ohio
Ralph Walton -58- Oiler- Fremont, Ohio
David Weiss -22 -Cadet -Agoura, California
Blaine Wilhelm -52- Oiler- Moquah, Wisconsin
So sorry for you & your father's loss. Too too many lives lost😢. It was a terrible tragedy that broke so many hearts. I managed to visit Whitefish Point, Upper Penin., MI in the 1990s & visited the Shipwreck Museum there. This song played end to end & there was a map of the dozens of shipwrecks right off the coast there. It even had items like the shiplog from the E.F. recovered by divers.😢😢😢
Thank you for the names.🩷🩵
Hello my friend my brother in laws father worked on the sparrows point he knew some men on the Fitz I got to ride on the point from cleveland to Buffalo will never forget that experience it was amazing
A poetically powerful song.
She sank on November 10th 1975.
This occurred in my senior year of high school. It was a huge and tragic event up here in fly-over land.
"Sundown" is another great Gordon Lightfoot song.
the bell was rang 30 times when he died- he donated all the money from this to families of sailors
Gordon is probably a top 10 performer in the singer/songwriter category.
No maybe or probably. Solid top 10.
Those 29 men are still down there. The water is so cold that the bodies never decompose. The lake never gives up her dead, what a line! Rip fitz crew and mr. Lightfoot. Peace from Northern Michigan.
It's been declared sacred ground. No diving. No exploring. Can't even use side scanning sonar. Seems very appropriate to me!
Gordon is a true story teller… He is a Canadian Icon…
And this is a true story…
This song came out when I was a freshman in HS, such a story teller. This is a true story about a ship on the lake. Chilling! It is absolutely da bomb. "If You Could Read My Mind" is another great one from him. Thank you for your reaction!!!
Me too! It's a very haunting song
I was a Junior! And lived near a Great Lake and know exactly that a Great Northern is a snow hurricane
Yes, please do more of his treasure trove of songs he wrote and sung. Which was the skillset of 60s 70s. I mi s s this time....
I went to Mariner’s Church downtown at 18, 1992 for the mass. I KNEW the 29 chimes were coming, and it still devastated me.
Fun Fact... They recorded this in one take first time out! they tried a few more times but went with the first take!!
There's several versions of this recording by Lightfood.
He was upset that the news didn’t give enough attention so he released this song a year later and forever gave any proceeds from the song to the families of the lost sailors.
I love Gordon Lightfoot. This is a true story. He’s a great storyteller. The lake Gitchi Gumee is Lake Superior. It’s the spookiest ‘lake’ I have ever seen. I also love ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ and ‘Sundown’.
The story of the Edmund Fitzgerald is well known through out the Great Lakes region. There have been many theories over the years as to why she sank, but nothing conclusive. The most widely accepted belief is that there was flooding in the cargo hold. Then, a massive wave struck the bow of the ship and forced it under water. This caused all of the water and cargo to spill forward, driving the ship into the lake bed where she broke in half. As there were no witnesses and no survivors, the true reason will probably never be known.
Haven’t they pretty much decided to let it go and not disturb the wreckage?
Her cargo hold covers were rusted through. Waves came up and flooded the holds. The Big Fitz dropped to the bottom like a stone.
@@hookedonreactions7649 They have, as it is considered a mass grave. The ship sank in Canadian waters and the Canadian government has prohibited any further dives to the wreck site. The bell of the ship was recovered and replaced with a new bell that was inscribed with the names of all 29 men who perished. The recovered bell is now on display at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
absolutely incorrect...hit bottom at 6 fathom shoal at caribou island around 3 pm...she was sinking from that point on
@@jollyjohnthepirate3168
absolutely incorrect...hit bottom at 6 fathom shoal at caribou island around 3 pm...she was sinking from that point on
For perspective, Lake Superior has a surface area of 31,700 square miles. That's slightly larger than the United Arab Emirates, and slightly smaller than Austria. Shapes notwithstanding, you could probably fit Taiwan in it twice, with room to spare. It's HUGE. It's better to think of it less as a big lake, and more as a small inland freshwater ocean.
You also take Lake Huron, Michigan, Ontario and three Lake Eries and still would not fill Lake Superior
Sea. Not ocean. It is a freshwater sea. The Great Lakes are only called lakes out of habit because European explorers said "hey! freshwater, must be lakes!" And named them Lake ... out of that habitually calling them lakes. But they are freshwater seas. Pond, lake, sea, and ocean are all a function of size, not water composition. The Ojibwe recognized that as well, since Gitche Gumee means "Big Sea Water." So when you hear or read about how scared the disciples were during a gale on the Sea of Galilee, think of the conditions the Fitz was facing.
Lake Superior is such an immense force of nature 🙏
When Gord passed away, the bells rang in the Detroit shipman hall , 30 times, to include Gord
I was so sad to hear of Gordon Lightfoot's passing away recently. Loved his music. One of the best songwriters & storytellers. He was a Canadian legend. This song is a beautiful tribute & is based on a true story & the lyrics tell the sad tale of the sinking of the ship & loss of lives in 1975. Gordon Lightfoot has had many hits through his long career such as "If You Could Read My Mind", "Sundown", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon Of Darkness", "Carefree Highway", "Rainy Day People", "Cotton Jenny", "Black Day In July", "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" etc.
It's estimated that the Fitzgerald could've been hit by 1 to 3 waves at least 35' in height. The were being guided by the Arthur M. Anderson because both of the Fitz's radars had been knocked out by the storm, and they were sailing blind. The Anderson was ten miles behind them and could see their lights. They lost sight of them when a snow squall passed, and when it cleared, the Fitzgerald was gone. They went so fast that the Fitz was unable to send an S.O.S.
As far as genres, this is what you'd call folk rock. But songs often aren't purely one genre. You can have blends. There's also a bit of Sea Shanty in this song, and a touch of Country.
The Arthur M. Anderson still sails the Lakes...
@@stevetournay6103 Yep.
Canadian, teaching us American History! He is a great story teller, all his songs are great...very deep rabbit hole! This song was about the worst peacetime, maritime disaster in American history. It was on the Great lakes
American history... but she sank (and lies) in Canadian waters. The Edmund Fitzgerald is as much Canadian history as it is American.
In Detroit, Michigan there's a church that's dedicated to sailors lost on ships on the Great Lakes. Every year they ring their bell 29 times for the Fitzgerald's crew. The year Lightfoot passed they rang the bells 29 times then added one for the song writer who immortalized the disaster.
I have hard they have continued doing this. Is it true?
This is a real event. I don't know about the US, but this song was ever present in Canada after it came out. Regardless, it's touching and epiic.
It was huge in the Great Lakes region, lots of the crew were from there.
Gordon wrote over 250 songs which he sang himself and many famous artists covered his songs, Elvis, Barbra Streisand, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash and on and on BobDylan named Gordon as one of his favourite songwriters. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a true story, sung in the style of a dirge. Gordon gave all the proceeds from the record sales to the families of those who died. He became very close to all the families and attended the memorial service every year in Detroit.
" Superior, they say, never gives up her dead" The lake is so deep and cold (just a few degrees above freezing) that bodies don't rot and float, so they are still at the bottom of the lake to this day. The area has bee declared a protected graveyard.
♥ Love this song even though it is so very sad. Still gives me chills. makes me sad and I remember when this happened living in Michigan
One video has the picture of the big ship with lyrics, but I've also seen a clip with the pictures of the lakes, the cities, and the faces of all those list.. it was heartbreaking. I lived in milw when it happened, I remember it well.
I was raised in Nashville, TN and remember seeing Gordon Lightfoot on a morning variety show called 'Eddie Hill's Country Juction' in the 1960s.
He did a song called 'early morning rain'. No one had heard of him at that time, I guess he was Nashville recording songs. I thought he was great, I was about 12 then, 68 now.
There's a video on RUclips of Gordon performing Early Morning Rain live around that time...
@@stevetournay6103 I tried to search for that but no luck. This was a morning show that featured mostly new artists that were in Nashville trying to become famous. I'd love to think that footage from any one of that show still exist but I doubt it. Lots of great new talent during the 1960s showcased on that hour and half program from that era, more than I can remember. I do recall one morning waiting for the school bus and hearing a new guy sing a song in a very unique voice named... Willie Nelson
This was a huge new story in1975 . I lived on the East coast and it was front page news with multiple magazines
My cousin drowned at sea
At the age of 30 while in The Navy
So this song meant alot to me
The depths of Lake Superior are near freezing. Bodies don't decompose and form the normal gases that make them rise to the surface. To keep looky-loos out both countries have designated it an official gravesite. No one can dive there without permission. The lake bed contains the dead from centuries of people being lost there. The local Chippewa tribe has always known it too, so there's no counting who is down there. The dead are respected, as are their living families.
A couple of the most heart wrenching lines in music "does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn to minutes to hours" and "and all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters"
This song is hauntingly beautiful and breaks my heart every time I hear it.
RIP to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald and to Gordon Lightfoot.
Im 57 & remember this as the biggest news story for weeks here in Southern Ontario as nobody could believe in modern 1975 one of the biggest ships on the lakes could just disappear
Even with all the computer tech today recreating it all etc it still a mystery has to what happen
“I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like. Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever… Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day.” - Bob Dylan, Nobel Laureate, poet, lyricist, musician, deified mortal...
I think the difference is the tempo of folk songs is generally slower. Also there's more electric guitar than folk rock
Lightfoot's music has been covered by SEVERAL artists over the years. The songs are timeless.
Just wanted to say that I have been watching reactions for 3-4 years. I believe that you provide the most intelligent commentary and insightful research (such as Neil Young - Lynyrd Skynyrd). Your desire to understand the lyrics, the artists, and the behind the scenes issues is really unique. Keep up the good work!
One of the greatest ballads about a true event ever written.
Gordon Lightfoot is a master story teller as he can make the listener feel the events as much as possible.
All 29 of the crewman are stilled entombed aboard the Fitzgerald.
The wreck has been designated a protected site and diving on the wreck if prohibited.
The family members of those lost have stated they want all of the sailors left aboard with their ship mates.
The bell was removed from the wreck and now sits in the maritime museum and a bell with the names of all the crew was put back on the wreck in its place.
Gorden Lightfoot was one of the top story tellers in song writing. He could paint a picture in your mind, making you feel as if you were seeing the subject in real-time before your own eyes. Another great song he wrote was "If You Could See My Mind". Im old enough to remember the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald. Yes, I am that old, and never would have thought I'd be this old. 😅
Listen to the words, you can feel them.
A monster hit in 1976. One of my favorite songs from the 1970s.
This song crossed most genre's in popularity.
Nice reaction.
It's one of those songs that most people over the age of 40 know well. Doesn't matter what genre they normally listen to; they've heard it.
Yup, this is a real story.
As someone who has spent some time on the North Shore of Superior during the winter, the storms are no joke, though gorgeous, seeing 20+ ft. waves explode against the cliffs into a cloud of vapor, because it's so cold the water evaporates when it hits the air.
oh honey, he is great I met him when this came out. I was in Torano and fell in love with him still burning all his sound Yes it was genuine and authentic you can hear their cries from below all his songs will bring you to your feels whether you want it or not the differences is country is focused on personal experience folk is from traditions culture in broader formate
Back in the late seventies you here this song everytime you were near lake Superior!
I suggest “Song for a Winter’s Night “, “Sundown”, “Carefree Highway “, “If You Could Read My Mind “, “Early Morning Rain”, “Beautiful “, “Cotton Jenny”. He weaves beautiful stories with his songs. Truly one of a kind.
That first time almost makes you cry. Listen to it a few more times, and you will.
Late 60's through the 70's was the peak time for the singer songwriters and music writers really didn't know how to classify them. Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Carole King, Neil Diamond, John Denver, Jackson Browne, Harry Chapin, Carly Simon are some of the best known, Some were a bit more folk like Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, some were a bit more pop/rock, and others were a bit more country but they really were a category all their own. It was usually the singer singing their own songs with a guitar and a small backing band. A few (like King) were more pianists than guitarists.
Also Peter, Paul, and Mary
@@nannettepolcastro4799 They were part of the folk music scene, not the later singer-songwriter scene so they don't belong on my list.
In the mid 70s, I was lucky to see Gordon at Massey Hall in Toronto 4 times! He is a troubador of the old school and live, he is just stunning! He will be difficult to replicate. I suggest "Beautiful" from him. Great showing of respect! ✌️💖🌹
I'm from the East Coast of Canada and this song is a staple!
After Lightfoot’s death last year, the bell at the Marime Sailors Carthral rang 30 times: one for each man who died on the Fitzgerald, and one more for the artist who made them part of music history.
This song came out very soon after this tragedy, It couldn't have happened unless Gordon was totally into what had happened. He saw it and and was touched deeply by it.
such a haunting song ♥
The Edmund Fitzgerald had not been taken care of properly. She had problems that they were going to repair during layup.( the lake freighters layup at docks in various ports during the winter freezing of the lakes during which they get their yearly checkups) Unfortunately she got caught in open water by a massive storm before she could be repaired. There was a ship traveling close to her, the Arthur M Anderson, who was using her radar to assist the Fitz after the storm knocked out the Fitz's electronics. The last report from the Fitzgerald's skipper to the Anderson was that they were holding their own. Shortly after that she disappeared from the Arthur M Anderson's radar. There was no distress call, so no one knows what happened.
I learned this song in elementary school glee club in the late 70s. I lived in a town on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Bodies that go under in Lake Superior rarely surface, the water is cold, the body doesn't breakdown forming gasses to float the body hence "Superior it's said never gives up her dead"
Living along the great Lakes for over 40 years.... This song pulls my heartstrings! This is a true story in song, and Gordon is an honorary member of the fallen sailors! God bless them all!
He's got some other beautiful songs, too. I don't know the deep cuts, but I love "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," and "Carefree Highway."
I second that.
RIP Gordon Lightfoot, Died: May 1, 2023 (age 84 years)
Gordon Lightfoot, 'is' The Minstrel of the Dawn. A Legendary story teller, who produced this in support of the "Wives, and sons, and daughters". The events explained in such poetry, is a rare quality of his. And his melody and voice taps straight into your emotions. Other such story tellers, include Jethro Tull (Piped Piper Rock Troubadour) & James Taylor. "Never gives up her dead", because they froze and sank with the ship.
He didn't write a song for a label!
It was that while holding rights for a song; as folk singer...
...He allowed folk to sing his songs!
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?" There's never been a more heart-wrenching line in any song ever. It makes me break down in tears every time I hear it and I've known this song for almost 50 years.
One of the greatest folk musicians ever! Rest well Mr. Lightfoot.
Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind, Hangdog Hotel Room, many about Detroit poverty. He did one about the Detroit Riots of 1967. I lived in Michigan. Loved Lightfoot and Motown and the Guess Who from Canada.
I was a college student in Minnesota when this ship sank. It was a huge story.
No matter how many times I hear this song, it still gives me goosebumps. So haunting…
Myself being from Michigan I remember this tragedy well. In 75 giant freighters just didn't sink often. I don't know what you know about the great lakes, but they are referred to as fresh water oceans. They can actually be more unpredictable. Storms come fast and can produce really high winds with 12 - 15 ft. waves before you know what happened and then get worse.
The waves on lake superior can reach almost 30'...pretty damn big for a lake
Superior is pretty damn big for a lake! She is an inland, freshwater sea...
I myself have lived on or near lakes Ontario & Huron I have seen some big waves has well
Perfect marriage of music & lyrics. I was 12 when Big Fitz went down & it freaked me out
The Edmund Fitzgerald was only 100 feet shorter than the Titanic; a real behemoth for the Great Lakes
Gordon Lighfoot wrote and sang his own music. He was a great talent and is sorely missed but never forgotten .❤
It's a true story as close as he could get
True however we do have to realize at the time he was going by the reports with what they knew at the time
This song means alot to me. My grandmother, 2 of her siblings & the pilot were lost to Lake Superior by Isle Royale & neither the plane or the bodies were ever located. The lake is absolutely beautiful but can be very dangerous. The wreck of the Fitz felt so personal when it happened. I'll never forget it. And the heroes that went back out in that storm looking for their fellow mariners. True courage!
True story ! Lake Superior has always been dangerous around November.
I grew up in lower Michigan.
He got in trouble for calling it "a musty old hall in Detroit' so he later changed that lyric about the Maritime sailors cathedral in his later live performances
The waters of Lake Superior are so deep and cold that bodies never float to the surface. Their bodies are still down there.
One of the greatest lyrics ever written: "Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
I really didn't appreciate this song when it first came out, but now when I hear it I get moved almost to the point of tears. Such an awesome eulogy.
Check out Sundown. Great song
That was a great reaction I actually remember when this happened when it came on the evening news Gordon was a great singer songwriter one of the most powerful lines I ever heard and being an ex-navy does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours that line gets me every time rest in peace Gordon keep spreading the music around brother🎉
The exact Mark Twain quote was, “get your facts straight, then distort them at your leisure.“ A truly iconic song.
Regarding different musical genres, there is no firm line between them. There are many spectrums. Early rock ‘n’ roll was a mix of country and R&B. Folk and country are definitely related, but distinct. Just like R&B and disco. All music is related to a certain degree. Gordon was kind of in a genre of his own, similar to the types of Harry Chapin, etc. Storytellers. In Canada, he was considered a troubadour.
Totally agree with your post, and I agree with Mr. Clemons too. You can't properly break the rules unless you understand the rules. Otherwise you're just screwing up.
It's a greatlakes thing , most love this song here abouts lake Erie
Gordon Lightfoot was extremely popular in the late 70's. ScTV did a very funny skit with Rick Moranis as Lightfoot "Gordon Lightfoot Sings Every Song Ever Written," as a parody of the KTEL record TV commercials.
Superior it's said never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early. Holy cow and RIP Gordan!
This turned up on my feed today. I'm now in the process of relistening to all his music that i loved when I was younger. The seventies really rocked!
I could listen to this song on repeat for an hour and those goosebumps will always hit even when I know they're coming. My personal favorite part is 'It's to rough to feed ya...it's been good to know ya...' I just got nothing.
And I've never had a better experience on YT than when Mr. Lightfoot personally liked and commented on one of my comments. ❤
A lot of Gordon's songs were played on Country radio. This song often would be played in the middle of the night, when a DJ needed a long song to run during a restroom break.
The "Anderson" was another iron ore ship, much like the "mighty Fitz", that was also there that night and had been talking back and forth with the Fitz on the radio. The 2 ships were about miles apart from each other with the Fitz in the lead. The Fitz's radar had gone out and Anderson was keeping an eye on here till it just suddenly disappeared off radar. Later, it went back out in the storm to search for her. The FItz was not only the largest ship in the fleet, but it also had state rooms for special guests and a spacious dining area. One of the theories is the waves were so large that they would pick the Fitz up at both ends with nothing supporting the middle, and then the wave would move towards the middle without support on the ends... and this back-and-forth flexing action might have stressed the hull until it broke in half.
I remember as a child watching the ship on the Detroit river.. I live just North of from Detroit in Windsor Ontario Canada and you can hear the Church when they ring the bell 29 times. This year they rang it 30 times in the light rain/. Once for Gordon Lightfoot .,It was a great tribute. He went to the church quite a few times.
One of the mothers complained to him that it wasnt a Musty old hall in Detroit ..So he changed the verse to Rustic old hall in Detroit.
I'm from Michigan and was in the fifth grade when the wreck happened. I remember that our local stations covered the story. Gordon's song came out the next year. Still gets me every time I hear it.
Like Linda Ronstadt, famous for her voice, he was famous for music and lyrics. His storytelling is amazing and he died a couple of years ago. A huge loss to the music industry but he was a quiet star not a attention seeking entertainer. Like Bob Seger, etc.
Linda Ronstadt and this type of singer, including Bob Dylan melded the sounds
Just subscribed a few days ago. Thank you for reacting to this song...this is one song I never tire of. Tells a story and sucks you right in. RIP Gordon.
He was a wonderful storyteller, song writer, singer-saw him 6 times in concert. Absolutely loved him! Yes, this really is about a ship-LOL. It was huge-look it up.
Lightfoot is like the bards of old with this ballad. It is incredibly sad, a funeral dirge, but so respectful as well. A tribute to the lost. Folk rock has a different attitude to country and is more acoustic and pared down. If You Could Read My Mind Love is incredibly beautiful and Gordon’s vocal is very different than this, which was deliberately monotone.
You're totally right man, this is totally more about folks storytelling with really good musicianship than it is country but you have to understand the two are quite related. So I can understand why that reviewer whoever wrote that comment in Wikipedia was mistaken because it's really not country at all it's folk. And not only that is Canadian for but they are quite related though so to be fair. But I and most people think of him as an incredibly brilliant singer-songwriter that is more in the folk rock or folk pop rock world or folk easy rock world? I would use those catch phrases sooner than I would use country. And believe me I'm extremely familiar with country, lol.
Canadian national treasure. We lost Gordon last year at age 84. He was still performing almost until the end; I saw him do a full concert at the CNE Bandshell in Toronto in September 2022, when he was 83. Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald was one of the songs he performed that evening. It recounts a true nautical tragedy that happened on Lake Superior in November 1975.
Other Lightfoot to check out:
If You Could Read My Mind
Sundown
Early Morning Rain
Race Among The Ruins
Pussywillows, Cattails
Carefree Highway
Song For A Winter's Night
Bitter Green
Beautiful
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Last Time I Saw Her Face
The Circle Is Small
The Fitz sunk in a terrible storm on Lake Superior. She took all 29 hands down with her. The men are still on the ship and it is protected from divers. Gordon Lightfoot was a Canadian treasure .. no he recorded many hits.
What I like about this song is how well Lightfoot made it sound like a sea shanty and how the rhythm rolling like waves of song. I don't know where you live but I grew up on the Great Lakes, Lake Michgan specifically, in the 1960s and remember how storms would just rise up violently. I was in university when the ship sank. Apparently because Lake Superior is so cold bodies don't deteriorate as they normally do, which refers to 'Superior never gives up her dead,' which is something the Indigenous People knew.
I was just shy of my 18th birthday when this happened. Like everyone else in the Great Lakes region, we were glued to the TV hoping for news of survivors that never came. Lake Superior is really an inland, freshwater sea, and when the November storms come, is just as dangerous as the open ocean.
The beauty of Folk Music is that it tells a story. I love this song and folk songs.