Gordon donated all the profits from the song to the families of the deceased crew, and attended every memorial service at the Maritime Sailor's Cathedral for many years afterward. When he passed away in May of 2023, the Cathedral held a special service where they rang the bell 30 times, symbolically adding him as an honourary crewmember. Amazing tribute to an amazing artist and person. RIP. ❤😢 Thank you for your very touching and astute review!
Wow. That is such a wonderful and deserved tribute. I believe there is no deeper tribute than keeping the memory of someone alive. Gordon helped keep the memory of the crew alive, and now those memories and this song are keeping the memory of both alive. It's lovely.
I am 57 years old and the tears start with the opening chords. Godspeed Captain McSorley and crew, and Gordon Lightfoot for keeping their memories alive.
Thank you Mr Lightfoot for writing a wonderful, emotional tribute to a tragedy. I went to high school in the 70's in Ohio with Bruce. I always be sure to listen to this song in November and remember in honor.
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10, 1975. Lake Superior is the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes that border Canada and the United States, and its storms can be dangerously ferocious. Thank you for your reaction video, Cynthia. It's nice to see Gordon Lightfoot is still appreciated. He's a Canadian icon.
This song carries a message which those who don't live in the Great Lakes States sometimes miss: Sailing on these lakes is, in most every way, like sailing on a another ocean on another planet. To most, this is alien territory. With any of the Great Lakes, you can't see from where you are on the shore to any distant land. Likewise, you can't get in airplane and see land without a long time flying. For all human-scale purposes, you are at the shore of an ocean - with all the awe and fear that invokes. This is a climate, weather, risk, and environment like no other on earth. At the time of this song, it was the beating, industrial heart of the USA. In ways few acknowledge, it still is.
I never sailed on the lake but one of the coldest places I ever been was when I had to deliver to a port in Cleveland one winter. I drove most the night got there at 3 AM took a nap got up at 7 AM put on my jacket and stepped out of the truck. The wind off the lake hit me in the face and took my breath away. I climbed back in the truck and put on my insulated coveralls and heavy jacket.
@@anthonyfoutch3152. Being from Detroit, I’ve been to Northern Michigan many many times. Lake Superior is absolutely terrifying. I camped in Canada in October along the eastern shoreline once. A blizzard and probably 25 foot waves came in during the evening. My tent was shredded. It had been 75 and sunny during the day. I’m old enough to have seen the Edmond Fitzgerald My grandfather worked at Great Lakes Steel. He used to take us to a park along the Detroit River for lunch and watch the freighters go by.
Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian legend and icon and still performing! He donated all the money he made from this song to the families of the men who went down on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Few songs, if any, convey the unfolding of a human disaster and its immediate aftermath more cogently than this one. My goodness Cynthia. Your facial expressions track the songs lyrics perfectly.. Each expression echoing the lyrics emotional impact. The instrumentals vividly recreate the environment of a doomed ship at sea. That was an amazing reaction Luv. One of your finest and most endearing videos I have seen yet. Please take care of that headache. Bye Hun, RNB
When he passed away on Monday, 01 May 2023 - the Detroit Mariners' Cathedral rang the bell 30 times. 29 for the mariners who perished in the wreck - and 1 for our Gordon.
Lake Superior has claimed lives for 300 years. And there is truth to the saying “Superior does not give up her dead”. She is deep and she keeps all that find peril upon her.
only 300 years? pretty sure it has been around a lot longer than that and people have sailed boats on it for longer than that too. Or are you only counting from when white people were dying on it?
You are very perceptive, as you perceived when the cook said "Fellas it's been good to know you", it meant he knew they were going to die. You are a very compassionate person. Your reaction was so touching. Thank you.
The raising of the fitz bell well was a huge controversy back in the 90's. The families of those lost finally agreed to the bell being raised and a replacement bell with the names of those lost being put in it's place. Every year since the bell is rung for each soul lost that night by a surviving family member. If no family is present it falls to a n active member of our Coast Guard to ring the bell. It's streamed on the anniversary every year if you ever want to watch . Thank you for diving into Michigan's and the Lakes history,
Gordon Lightfoot passed away 4 days ago, at the age of 84. He had many hit songs, with powerful lyrics and melodies. He is reported to have donated all of his profirs from this song to the survivors of the 29 men who died with their ship. This is a working man's lament... fully acknowledging that sometimes, even with the best men and equipment, the forces of nature will overbear. The five Great Lakes are like inland seas, on the US - Canadian border... they have been transportation routes for as long as people have lived by their shores. The importance of this transportation was key to several battles in the War of 1812, which sealed the separaton of the USA from the British colonies that later became Canada. Many tragedies have come to befall people on and around these bodies of water. The Edmund Fitzgerald hit hard, because she was a very modern ship, launched in 1957 - 58, not even 20 years old when she went down in1975. And, when the weather improved in April of 1976, the freighters resumed their travels on the Great Lakes, bringing iron ore and wheat to the Eastern US & Canada, and shipping wheat for export from Duluth and Thunder Bay. Men... and these days many women... Americans and Canadians for the most part... accept the risks of the weather in return for the good pay and good work transporting cargo and some people around the Lakes... generally in good safety. Mr. Lightfoot's song is a powerful reminder that when things go wrong in the Winter up there, it's almost certainly fatal. Footnote: Lake Superior - Gitche Gumi in Ojibwa - is an extremely *COLD* body of freshwater... rust and decay are inhibited. As a result, bodies do not decompose, as the bacteria which digest the dead body cannot live under those conditions. This means that there are no decomposition product gases to bloat the corpses, so the bodies sink to the bottom... hence, Superior never gives up her dead.
This happened when i was nine years old. Lake Superior's water is so cold that bodies remain preserved at the bottom, truly an "ice water mansion" and she doesnt give up her dead. Those men are still there. And it's so large that it can get storms at near-hurricane levels.
The musty old hall in Detroit they call it the Maritime Sailor's Cathedral. The Bel now has rung 30 times. They alled Gordon Lightfoot to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Gordon Died just a little while ago. The Maritime Sailor's Cathedral is a class act. They added one more toll of the bell ... For Gordon. You can just imagine Gordon Lightfoot approaching Heaven's Gate. Saint Peter looks down from his platform. "Gordon Lightfoot...There are some sailors up here who will very much want to meet you." Did you know he took no profit from this song. Every penny went to the surviving families of the Crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald.... I remember when this ship went down. I was living in Wisconsin at the time. it was big news. Very Very Sad.
Gordon Lightfoot, a Canadian national treasure, read an article about the wreck and felt it didn't do the ship and her crew justice. She was named after Mr. Edmund Fitzgerald, a CEO of an insurance company that owned her as an asset. The most poignant line for me has always been, does anyone know whether the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours. Captain McSorley was going to retire the following year. She was located about nine days after she was last heard from and the ship's bell was brought up to the surface. Thanks to Gordon's song, the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew are known world wide. Always remembered; never forgotten.
Hi Cindy. I was 14 years old. I remember watching this event every night with my dad as we watched this tragic event and the search and attempt to find the ship and crew. No bodies where ever found. I have spent many days visiting family and camping up there. Been on the lake fishing. Been on the gichi goomi trail. Overlooking the lake. Looking out into the empty vastness of the lake. The area is so beautiful. Yet when you see the big ore ships heading out. I am still haunted by the tragedy. Yes. When the November storms roll in just watching those giant waves coming at you. You pray to God for your safety. Superior really never gives up what she takes.
I was also 14 and live in WASHINGTON State when this tragedy happened. I really think this whole Country as well as Canada, it was a National tragedy, touching everyone. This story that Gordon Lightfoot sang, touched us all and we all wept. Beautiful reaction.
@@MattHDPlayzYT the body isn't in that condition at all! Because of the temperature of the water the bodies can't decompose, and get covered in a waxy covering from the body fat's...smfh...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇲🤠
i'm from marquette. marquette is right on lake superior. i'm about 2 miles from the shores of the lkae. i'm about 3 to 3.5 hours from where the "fitz" sank. i think that the ship sank on the canadian side of the border.. the "fitz" was about 15 miles from whitefish bay, which would have provided them protection. i remember that night when the ship sank. it was a nasty storm on land. i stood on my porch watching the lightening and thunder. i knew that the lake would have been vicious. where i lived the winds where at least 45-60 miles per hour. it was that night that i heard that the "fitz" went missing. the next day was when i heard that it had sunk and there were no survivors. by the following december, when going to my grandparents house, the radio stations had gotten the song about the "the wreck of the edmund fitzgerald." it was the one and only time that my dad told us kids to shut up and turned up the radio to listen to the song. every other time, he would complain about the "noise." it was feb. or march of 1976 that the album would have come out. i had a neighbor that was on the "anderson" ship that was om radop contact and followed the ship. the anderson ore ship went out to look for survivors in the storm. they risked their own lives.
Masterclass tribute and story telling by: Gordon Lightfoot. He was and always will be a world treasure. Boy is he missed. A beautiful heartfelt reaction. This song never fails to move me. Thank you kindly…..
I wish I could give you a big hug right now. Yes, it's a sad song. Lightfoot was so moved by the tragedy, he penned an extraordinary memorial song. The memory of the crew of the Fitzgerald lives on because of it. Much love, my dear. Find a happy song now.😉
In the late afternoon early evening of November 10th, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald's Captain told the Captain of the Aurther M Anderson, another big iron ore carrier that had been sailing with the Fitz that he lost radar, sometime later he reported his pumps were having to work overtime and he was slowing down to let the Arther M Anderson close the distance a bit. By 630 PM the Anderson had the Fitz on radar and was near enough that they could occasionally see her lights on the horizon. at about 650 the Arther was hit by a freakishly large swell from behind but with the sea topping out at 30-40 feet every swell was a toe curler. However, the event shook the Captin of the trailing ship enough to make him worry about the Fitz. So, within a moment of recovering the captain of the Arther M Anderson called and made a point of asking the Fits; "How are you holding up", The captain of the Fitz replied, "We are holding our own, going along like an old shoe". After that the Captain of the Anderson went below and they did a shift change. At 705 the captain of the Anderson came back up and was thinking of calling the Fitz again because he was worried about the way the other captain had sounded and the reference to plodding along got him thinking what if he bottomed out on a shole they passed earlier, and the Fitz was taking on more than they knew. Thats when another big swell swung the Aurther hard, and he was takin up with maneuvering and checking on his ship for a bit. At 708 he looked up and watched the Fitz disappear into a snow squall. Something made him walk to the Radar to double check her position, but she was not showing up on his radar. It was 710 PM and the Fitz was off radar, yet it was working, and he had literally just seen her a few miles ahead. He called numerous times and had all able crew up scanning with lights and looking for her. When the wreck was found the ship was in two parts and there was some bow damage. Some years later after the final inquiries he was Recalling the big swell that rocked them just before he lost sight of her in the snow that night and looking at the damage, he surmised that Fitz being overloaded and taking on water was overcome by the swell from her stern. Her bow shot under and hit the lake bottom, (Fitz was 728 feet long and rests now in 530 feet but the shole she passed over was 310 feet), the stern sheared off instantly and both halves would have been completely submerged in a matter of moments. To him this was the only way to explain her disappearing so fast. I grew up in a commercial fishing Family from Alaska and that story fascinated me. I have lost family and friends to the sea and even spent many scarry nights out in bad weather while I listened to others calling out for help on the radio. The radio calls from that night are surreal to listen to. Professional yet heart breaking. Its here on youtube at; ruclips.net/video/W1fOWi0teiY/видео.html
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.
Being from Detroit, I’ve been to Northern Michigan many many times. Lake Superior is absolutely terrifying. I camped in Canada in October along the eastern shoreline once. A blizzard and probably 25 foot waves came in during the evening. My tent was shredded. It had been 75 degrees and sunny during the day. I’m old enough to have seen the Edmond Fitzgerald My grandfather worked at Great Lakes Steel. He used to take us to a park along the Detroit River for lunch and watch the freighters go by.
Thank you, your reaction was really heartfelt. When I was in the Navy that line about does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours, ran through my head as we were dead in the water 400 miles out off of San Francisco. It obviously turned out fine because I am still here. Whenever the Navy or the Coast Guard crosses the spot where the Edmund Fitzgerald lays, we ring out bell 29 times. 🌎✌️
Without a doubt, The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the most emotional songs ever recorded. As Gordon Lightfoot does so amazingly, you get a visual as the song rolls on. Please give yourself a gift of some of the best songwriting ever recorded and download his CD Gords Gold. A collection of beautiful songs from Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s most elite songwriter. I think you’ll be happy to discover his musical gifts to us all. He’ll be missed.
I've been on the sister ship and so the ship 🚢 has three separate functions. In the front (bow) you have the Bridge that consists of the ship's steering, communication, navigation, mess (kitchen) and living quarters. At the very back, (stern or aft) you have engineering, which deals with all the mechanical needs of the ship like the engine, power, hydraulics. Between Bow and Stern, is the Cargo Hold and it is a large and deep sections that takes iron ore. Once it's filled, Hold Covers are used to close off the top in order to keep water out. It is believed, that because the ship was overloaded and setting too deep into the water (displacement) and that the hold covers were old and not sealing out water and because they were going through extremely rough seas, that water filled the cargo space and the ship sank, with all crew going down with the ship
The Mariner's Church of Detroit rang their bell 30 times on Tuesday, May 2nd. Twenty-nine times for every man lost in the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. And once for Gordon Lightfoot.
Thank you, Ambrose Cynthia, for your reaction to this song. The emotions you feel are the same as I feel when I hear this song. You are helping all of us to remember the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. You are wonderful!
I live on an island in the Gulf of Maine..have for 68 years..most of my people are fishermen..in my lifetime I've known exactly 12 people who went out on the North Atlantic and never came back..most of them we never even found...
Your favourite singer-songwriter's singer-songwriter. Rest in peace, Gordo. When Gordon Lightfoot passed away, that church bells chimed 30 times. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, And let perpetual light shine upon him. And may he rest in peace. Amen.
You've now seen and heard a concrete example of the amazing ability Gordon Lightfoot had to evoke haunting images. Some of his other songs in which he demonstrates this gift are in 'Canadian Railroad Trilogy', 'Song for a Winter's Night', 'Minstrel of the Dawn' and 'If You Could Read my Mind'. Some of the lyrics contained in the song stray from what actually happened. At 7:10 p.m. on that night in 1975, Fitzgerald Captain Ernest McSorely told the Arthur Anderson, 'We're holding our own.'. Minutes later, there was nothing. The Arthur Anderson survived a trio of massive rogue waves, but they probably proved to be the knockout punch to the Edmund Fitzgerald. In addition, the fact the Fitzgerald disappeared without a mayday call suggests the ship most likely went down suddenly and catastrophically. The captain and his crew didn't even realize they were going down. While the Fitzgerald was an American ship, the fact that it sank on the Canadian side of Lake Superior makes it somewhat appropriate that Canada's famed folk balladeer would write a song that ensures the memory of the 29 crew members are never forgotten.
This tribute song was so well done and the fact that all of the proceeds from this song were and still are donated to the families of those who lost their lives shows the values and class of Gordon and his band members. Also, Ambrose, kudos to your hairdresser as you look absolutely stunning in this one.
Hey Cynthia, great reaction. Here's two classics that pack an emotional wallop, "Vincent", by Don McLean, and "Bridge Over Troubled Water",by Simon and Garfunkel.
I was born on Nov 10th 2 years after and got wrapped up in learning about the Fitz because every Nov 10th they'd play this on the radio and be talking about the fitz.
Thank you so much for paying respects so beautifully to the men of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Fitzgerald is now resting on the lakebed of Lake Superior where she sank after splitting in two. By request of the families of the deceased the bodies were never raised but allowed to rest in peace in their final resting place.Yes November on the Great Lakes is very rough, but according to Meteorologists this storm was severe even by Lake Superior standards. Waves lifted the bow & the stern causing her to split in the middle. She was followed by the Arthur M Anderson (still in service today) & they were hugging the Canadian coast & was in contact with the Anderson by radar & radio until they could no longer see the Fitzgerald's lights. The last dives to the ship were in the mid 90's & is now protected by Canadian law.
I am told that it is possible to get a permit from the Canadian Coast Guard to dive on the wreck for scientific or educational purposes... and, that it is extremely *difficult* to get such a permit.
I was alive when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and still recall nearly 50 years later the impact the tragedy made across the US. Gordon Lightfoot's haunting tribute to they ship , and its crew will go on indefinitely .You really show your emotions, Ambrose, I'm pleased to have found your channel.
Both my dad and a cousin of his knew aleast one of the crew members who went down with the Fitz on that fateful night....absolutely brings an icy chill all the way down me everytime the song plays. Love Lake Superior and the ore freighters....and mariners who work on them
In the 70s, on Lake Superior in Michigan, one of the worst losses on the big lake. I was in the Coast Guard reserve when this happened, stationed in Detroit Michigan
You understood! Thank you. Gordon Lightfoot is Canadian. The Edmund Fitzgerald's route is near the border of USA and Canada. The border runs in the water there. A precise map may help in understanding the places it's talking about.
Thanks for your reaction to WEF. It hits me that way nearly every time I hear it. Gordon Lightfoot is as they say a Canadian song writing legend. But there are a good many of us in the US think rather highly of him too. And the song is not hard to understand and he drags you almost poetically to the decks and the holes and galley and dining room of old Fitz. I was almost 17 when she went down. It is only as got older that I understood what a disaster and tragedy it was.
True story. I remember when this happened. Then this song came out "I think it was within a year" of the sinking. No one knew what happened. People were taking their boats out in the storm to find them and were told to stop going out because at least one other boat had sunk. One of the greatest memorials ever.
This song is a tribute, not just these 29 men, but the entire maritime industry. It's for seafaring people everywhere. To this day, every time a Coast Guard ship passes over the place where the wreckage lies, they ring their ship's bell 29 times.
My father was in the US Coast Guard, stationed, among other places, in Newfoundland. He was involved in some very dangerous sea rescues in the North Atlantic. Growing up in Wisconsin, he always said that the Great Lakes can get every bit as dangerous as any ocean. Storms come up seemingly out of nowhere, and the lakes are littered with wrecks dating back to when shipping began on them a few hundred years ago. Most of those wrecks are still at the bottom, almost perfectly preserved because the water is so cold.
The thing to remember about this song is that this is not an unusual event. Around the world, this happens every few months. It has happened twice more to American ships since this accident: Marine Electric and El Faro, both with greater loss of life. Going to sea is a dangerous business, always has been, is, and always will be. The only thing that changes is the names of the wives, and the sons, and the daughters.
Love your reaction! I was three years old and living in Washington state when this happened so I didn’t know about until much later in life! I think whatever happened, happened so fast that nobody had time to abandon ship! Gordon Lightfoot also changed the line about the hatchway caving in because it was proven that didn’t happen! The ship is split in two with one piece upside down! You can find the information online including underwater pictures!
Being raised in Michigan at that time and living thru that tragic local legend,We were proud of our Canadian neighbor Gordon Lightfoot to immortalize it and put it into words and music to tell the world the story about it in a way only he could.. Your human empathy shines !...God Bless..
This amazing, beautiful, and haunting ballad always brings tears to my eyes as it most poignantly recounts a real life tragedy. 😔 *R.I.P. all who perished* 😢 5:11 I love your reaction to this song......... it moved you as it has moved most who've ever heard it.
The reason they say that, "Superior never gives up her dead" is because at depth the water is so cold that decomposition gasses do not form; therefore, bodies will not bloat and eventually float to the surface.
The bodies don't decompose at all in the cold water. The body fat converts to another form of fat; but there are bodies in the bottom of Lake Superior in several dive sites that are over 100 years old and are essentially intact. "Ice Water Mansions" refers to the fact that the ships do not degrade as well. They are fully intact and in wonderful shape except for damage caused before they were submerged and when they hit the bottom.
I love Gordon Lightfoot & have watched many reactions to his songs. I will say, yours is the best I have seen. You got it. The storytelling & emotions, you got it all & I agree with you, the lines, “Fellas it’s been good to know ya” & “Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours”, are so powerful & moving! Thank you x
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by that violent winter hurricane/storm happened on November 10, 1975, and I was 19 at that time. The first time it was launched was on June 7, 1958. Those 29 men were between their early 20's into their 60's, and their bodies were never recovered due to the fact Lake Superior's waters are just too deep and too cold, even during the summer months. So for those 29 crewmen who perished, Lake Superior is their gravesite, and the Edmund Fitzgerald is still down there as well. Excellent reaction to Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald."
When Gordon recorded this he made sure that all the proffets went to "The Wifes, The Sons, and The Daughters". When they finally found the wreck on the lake bottom the families all agreed that they wanted the bodies to remain together on the ship on the bottom of the lake and not be recovered.
Once worked on an ore boat called the JP Morgan Junior back in the 1960's. In september they tied a line from one end of the ship to the other where the lifeboats were. I asked and they said it was to allow the men up front to it make to the lifeboats in the rear. When loaded the deck was less than three feet above the water line. Any strong waves would going over the ship deck and hatches for sure. That was a very old boat even then with a 1903 date on engine. It was a coal burner; we sailed up to Duluth, MN for pellets of iron ore that I think was called taconite. We took those pellets to steel miles located on south lake Michican and south lake Erie. I worked for about a month and got off in Cleveland to for the fall semester of college. We also loaded limestone and coal IIRC.
I Was 7 Years Young When This Happened! I Am Now Retired U.S. Navy, Was Stationed On 3 Ships! The Sea & The Great Lakes Is Treacherous! RIP Gordon Lightfoot & The Crew Of The Edmund Fitzgerald 👏🙏🏾!
Gordon went to every surviving family members home to ask permission to write & sing this song. Every dollar made from this song was donated to the next of Kin.
Personally, ANYONE who lives right near any of the Great Lakes should know and understand the history of this song! I live 3 streets south of Lake Erie. Superior is much bigger and deeper than us, yes, but deep wasn't the problem here.... The gale literally opened the Lake they were on up... the ship fell to solid ground and a second later the water washed over the wreck... that's why the other boat thought "One second you were there, the next you were not".... speaking of the other boat, called the Arthur Andersen, their captain called for volunteers to search for the Edmund Fitzgerald and every sailor on their ship agreed to search! They could have been killed too... so BRASS PAIR OF BALLS! Bravery should be taken from the rest of this story. Here so close to Lake Erie, blizzards are an issue too.... every now and then we get a good one.... 100 people died here in 1978 because of what Lake Erie (and others depending on wind direction) does in the winter..... I hike in similar blizzards.... Jan 19th, 2019 was very similar LOL haha.... I'm a little unhinged so, I take it as testing myself in the eyes of the Gods of my ancestors.... I went RIGHT up to Lake Erie that day...lol... 40 mph winds, snow was up to my thigh ( I'm 6'3) in an hour and a half... it was fun! My thought was ( I swear the waves out on the lake that night were like 40 ft high) "Maybe I could sing to the lake and she'll calm down".... the answer was no and a wave went over the embankment I was standing on and hit me in the face.... human reaction is to cover your face with your arm... which was kinda bad because my beard had already frozen... when I pulled it away it had ripped a patch of beard from the roots! HAHA I epiladied my face! I had a hole when I grew my beard for awhile... bare patch... grows back fine now, but it was kind of funny. I love to hike in conditions like that but I am designed for it and have gear... but the air and the land is very different physics than the water!
Your reaction the moment he sang the bell rang 29 times was exactly what I hoped I would see. What an emotional song and a difficult story to accept. You are a good person
A great and well done song by Gordon. His lyrics and story telling is deep and so emotional that it always sends chills down my spine. Your reaction is as mine always is. I love these songs and you hosting them with your beautiful voice and reactions. Thank you so much. I love you and your videos. Love ya
The North American Indians/Aboriginals that lived in the Great Lakes region are called the Chippewa nation. The Great Lake Superior is called "gitchie goomie" in the native tongue of the Chippewa. The Great lakes are: Huron, Michigan, Superior, the Lakes Erie and Ontario. Collectively, these lakes are the largest bodies of fresh water on the planet...
Gordon donated all the profits from the song to the families of the deceased crew, and attended every memorial service at the Maritime Sailor's Cathedral for many years afterward. When he passed away in May of 2023, the Cathedral held a special service where they rang the bell 30 times, symbolically adding him as an honourary crewmember. Amazing tribute to an amazing artist and person. RIP. ❤😢
Thank you for your very touching and astute review!
Thank you for rembering the cathedrals ringing of 30 to honor Gordan, RIP
Wow. That is such a wonderful and deserved tribute. I believe there is no deeper tribute than keeping the memory of someone alive. Gordon helped keep the memory of the crew alive, and now those memories and this song are keeping the memory of both alive. It's lovely.
My great great uncle died on the Edmund Fitzgerald he was the 2nd assistant engineer Russell Haskell
I always cry for your great, great uncle
And the others.
Damn man i just found this song thats sad rip just a man doing his job like the rest of us. My dad showed me this song
I am 57 years old and the tears start with the opening chords.
Godspeed Captain McSorley and crew, and Gordon Lightfoot for keeping their memories alive.
RIP Bruce Hudson, Deckhand Edmund Fitzgerald. 22 yrs old. North Olmsted, Ohio 🙏
Thank you Mr Lightfoot for writing a wonderful, emotional tribute to a tragedy. I went to high school in the 70's in Ohio with Bruce. I always be sure to listen to this song in November and remember in honor.
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10, 1975. Lake Superior is the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes that border Canada and the United States, and its storms can be dangerously ferocious. Thank you for your reaction video, Cynthia. It's nice to see Gordon Lightfoot is still appreciated. He's a Canadian icon.
My husband’s family were from the Great Lakes area. His auntie dated someone who perished on the Fitz.
Some of Sailors were from a nearby town not far from me so, it hits close to home to say
I had the privilege of seeing Gordon Lightfoot live. I was in the 3rd row front and center. 1993 I can still remember it like it was yesterday.
Every year, on the anniversary of the sinking, there is a bell that rings out once for each man that was lost from a Detroit museum.
@@tomwilliams5933last year, it rang 30 times, to include Gordon Lightfoot.
This song carries a message which those who don't live in the Great Lakes States sometimes miss: Sailing on these lakes is, in most every way, like sailing on a another ocean on another planet. To most, this is alien territory. With any of the Great Lakes, you can't see from where you are on the shore to any distant land. Likewise, you can't get in airplane and see land without a long time flying. For all human-scale purposes, you are at the shore of an ocean - with all the awe and fear that invokes. This is a climate, weather, risk, and environment like no other on earth. At the time of this song, it was the beating, industrial heart of the USA. In ways few acknowledge, it still is.
I never sailed on the lake but one of the coldest places I ever been was when I had to deliver to a port in Cleveland one winter. I drove most the night got there at 3 AM took a nap got up at 7 AM put on my jacket and stepped out of the truck. The wind off the lake hit me in the face and took my breath away. I climbed back in the truck and put on my insulated coveralls and heavy jacket.
@@anthonyfoutch3152. Being from Detroit, I’ve been to Northern Michigan many many times. Lake Superior is absolutely terrifying. I camped in Canada in October along the eastern shoreline once. A blizzard and probably 25 foot waves came in during the evening. My tent was shredded. It had been 75 and sunny during the day. I’m old enough to have seen the Edmond Fitzgerald My grandfather worked at Great Lakes Steel. He used to take us to a park along the Detroit River for lunch and watch the freighters go by.
Superior is considered to be an inland Sea - rather than a lake. And ALL the Great Lakes are "owned" by the US and CANADA, equally.
Totally agree. The freighter’s are still going strong and still a very significant part of the US’s still vibrant industrial complex.
@@wandamundy1759lake Michigan is the only one entirely in US territory. The other 4 are shared.
This is a 100 percent true story. This is the epitome of a singer, song writer, and story teller
Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian legend and icon and still performing! He donated all the money he made from this song to the families of the men who went down on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
He passed away on the 1st of May, 2023 at the age of 84... RIP.
Few songs, if any, convey the unfolding of a human disaster and its immediate aftermath more cogently than this one. My goodness Cynthia. Your facial expressions track the songs lyrics perfectly.. Each expression echoing the lyrics emotional impact. The instrumentals vividly recreate the environment of a doomed ship at sea. That was an amazing reaction Luv. One of your finest and most endearing videos I have seen yet. Please take care of that headache. Bye Hun, RNB
When he passed away on Monday, 01 May 2023 - the Detroit Mariners' Cathedral rang the bell 30 times. 29 for the mariners who perished in the wreck - and 1 for our Gordon.
Lake Superior has claimed lives for 300 years. And there is truth to the saying “Superior does not give up her dead”. She is deep and she keeps all that find peril upon her.
only 300 years? pretty sure it has been around a lot longer than that and people have sailed boats on it for longer than that too. Or are you only counting from when white people were dying on it?
You are very perceptive, as you perceived when the cook said "Fellas it's been good to know you", it meant he knew they were going to die. You are a very compassionate person. Your reaction was so touching. Thank you.
"All that remains is the faces and the names of their wivesand their sons and their daughters." That line get me everytime. Couldnt imagine.
The raising of the fitz bell well was a huge controversy back in the 90's. The families of those lost finally agreed to the bell being raised and a replacement bell with the names of those lost being put in it's place. Every year since the bell is rung for each soul lost that night by a surviving family member. If no family is present it falls to a n active member of our Coast Guard to ring the bell. It's streamed on the anniversary every year if you ever want to watch . Thank you for diving into Michigan's and the Lakes history,
Canada's greatest song writer. Having met Gordon on numerous occasions he is a finer human.
Gordon Lightfoot passed away 4 days ago, at the age of 84.
He had many hit songs, with powerful lyrics and melodies.
He is reported to have donated all of his profirs from this song to the survivors of the 29 men who died with their ship.
This is a working man's lament... fully acknowledging that sometimes, even with the best men and equipment, the forces of nature will overbear.
The five Great Lakes are like inland seas, on the US - Canadian border... they have been transportation routes for as long as people have lived by their shores.
The importance of this transportation was key to several battles in the War of 1812, which sealed the separaton of the USA from the British colonies that later became Canada.
Many tragedies have come to befall people on and around these bodies of water. The Edmund Fitzgerald hit hard, because she was a very modern ship, launched in 1957 - 58, not even 20 years old when she went down in1975.
And, when the weather improved in April of 1976, the freighters resumed their travels on the Great Lakes, bringing iron ore and wheat to the Eastern US & Canada, and shipping wheat for export from Duluth and Thunder Bay.
Men... and these days many women... Americans and Canadians for the most part... accept the risks of the weather in return for the good pay and good work transporting cargo and some people around the Lakes... generally in good safety.
Mr. Lightfoot's song is a powerful reminder that when things go wrong in the Winter up there, it's almost certainly fatal.
Footnote: Lake Superior - Gitche Gumi in Ojibwa - is an extremely *COLD* body of freshwater... rust and decay are inhibited. As a result, bodies do not decompose, as the bacteria which digest the dead body cannot live under those conditions. This means that there are no decomposition product gases to bloat the corpses, so the bodies sink to the bottom... hence, Superior never gives up her dead.
This happened when i was nine years old. Lake Superior's water is so cold that bodies remain preserved at the bottom, truly an "ice water mansion" and she doesnt give up her dead. Those men are still there. And it's so large that it can get storms at near-hurricane levels.
The musty old hall in Detroit they call it the Maritime Sailor's Cathedral. The Bel now has rung 30 times. They alled Gordon Lightfoot to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Gordon Died just a little while ago. The Maritime Sailor's Cathedral is a class act. They added one more toll of the bell ... For Gordon. You can just imagine Gordon Lightfoot approaching Heaven's Gate. Saint Peter looks down from his platform. "Gordon Lightfoot...There are some sailors up here who will very much want to meet you." Did you know he took no profit from this song. Every penny went to the surviving families of the Crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald.... I remember when this ship went down. I was living in Wisconsin at the time. it was big news. Very Very Sad.
Gordon Lightfoot, a Canadian national treasure, read an article about the wreck and felt it didn't do the ship and her crew justice. She was named after Mr. Edmund Fitzgerald, a CEO of an insurance company that owned her as an asset. The most poignant line for me has always been, does anyone know whether the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours. Captain McSorley was going to retire the following year. She was located about nine days after she was last heard from and the ship's bell was brought up to the surface. Thanks to Gordon's song, the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew are known world wide. Always remembered; never forgotten.
Hi Cindy. I was 14 years old. I remember watching this event every night with my dad as we watched this tragic event and the search and attempt to find the ship and crew. No bodies where ever found. I have spent many days visiting family and camping up there. Been on the lake fishing. Been on the gichi goomi trail. Overlooking the lake. Looking out into the empty vastness of the lake. The area is so beautiful. Yet when you see the big ore ships heading out. I am still haunted by the tragedy. Yes. When the November storms roll in just watching those giant waves coming at you. You pray to God for your safety. Superior really never gives up what she takes.
They found only one body but it's in bones because the ship
@@MattHDPlayzYT yes I know about the one body.
I was also 14 and live in WASHINGTON State when this tragedy happened.
I really think this whole Country as well as Canada, it was a National tragedy, touching everyone.
This story that Gordon Lightfoot sang, touched us all and we all wept.
Beautiful reaction.
@@MattHDPlayzYT the body isn't in that condition at all! Because of the temperature of the water the bodies can't decompose, and get covered in a waxy covering from the body fat's...smfh...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇲🤠
i'm from marquette. marquette is right on lake superior. i'm about 2 miles from the shores of the lkae. i'm about 3 to 3.5 hours from where the "fitz" sank. i think that the ship sank on the canadian side of the border.. the "fitz" was about 15 miles from whitefish bay, which would have provided them protection. i remember that night when the ship sank. it was a nasty storm on land. i stood on my porch watching the lightening and thunder. i knew that the lake would have been vicious. where i lived the winds where at least 45-60 miles per hour. it was that night that i heard that the "fitz" went missing. the next day was when i heard that it had sunk and there were no survivors. by the following december, when going to my grandparents house, the radio stations had gotten the song about the "the wreck of the edmund fitzgerald." it was the one and only time that my dad told us kids to shut up and turned up the radio to listen to the song. every other time, he would complain about the "noise." it was feb. or march of 1976 that the album would have come out. i had a neighbor that was on the "anderson" ship that was om radop contact and followed the ship. the anderson ore ship went out to look for survivors in the storm. they risked their own lives.
Masterclass tribute and story telling by: Gordon Lightfoot. He was and always will be a world treasure. Boy is he missed. A beautiful heartfelt reaction. This song never fails to move me. Thank you kindly…..
Your reaction to this song is as priceless as the song. True human emotion.. not everyone has it.. you do.. God bless you for your empathy.
I wish I could give you a big hug right now. Yes, it's a sad song. Lightfoot was so moved by the tragedy, he penned an extraordinary memorial song. The memory of the crew of the Fitzgerald lives on because of it. Much love, my dear. Find a happy song now.😉
your emotions are a tribute to those poor souls and their families.....RESPECT to you!
You have done a fantastic reaction,.it's a true story and very dear yo all of us that live on the great lakes.
So many think it's just a song
In the late afternoon early evening of November 10th, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald's Captain told the Captain of the Aurther M Anderson, another big iron ore carrier that had been sailing with the Fitz that he lost radar, sometime later he reported his pumps were having to work overtime and he was slowing down to let the Arther M Anderson close the distance a bit. By 630 PM the Anderson had the Fitz on radar and was near enough that they could occasionally see her lights on the horizon. at about 650 the Arther was hit by a freakishly large swell from behind but with the sea topping out at 30-40 feet every swell was a toe curler. However, the event shook the Captin of the trailing ship enough to make him worry about the Fitz. So, within a moment of recovering the captain of the Arther M Anderson called and made a point of asking the Fits; "How are you holding up", The captain of the Fitz replied, "We are holding our own, going along like an old shoe". After that the Captain of the Anderson went below and they did a shift change. At 705 the captain of the Anderson came back up and was thinking of calling the Fitz again because he was worried about the way the other captain had sounded and the reference to plodding along got him thinking what if he bottomed out on a shole they passed earlier, and the Fitz was taking on more than they knew. Thats when another big swell swung the Aurther hard, and he was takin up with maneuvering and checking on his ship for a bit. At 708 he looked up and watched the Fitz disappear into a snow squall. Something made him walk to the Radar to double check her position, but she was not showing up on his radar. It was 710 PM and the Fitz was off radar, yet it was working, and he had literally just seen her a few miles ahead. He called numerous times and had all able crew up scanning with lights and looking for her. When the wreck was found the ship was in two parts and there was some bow damage. Some years later after the final inquiries he was Recalling the big swell that rocked them just before he lost sight of her in the snow that night and looking at the damage, he surmised that Fitz being overloaded and taking on water was overcome by the swell from her stern. Her bow shot under and hit the lake bottom, (Fitz was 728 feet long and rests now in 530 feet but the shole she passed over was 310 feet), the stern sheared off instantly and both halves would have been completely submerged in a matter of moments. To him this was the only way to explain her disappearing so fast. I grew up in a commercial fishing Family from Alaska and that story fascinated me. I have lost family and friends to the sea and even spent many scarry nights out in bad weather while I listened to others calling out for help on the radio. The radio calls from that night are surreal to listen to. Professional yet heart breaking. Its here on youtube at; ruclips.net/video/W1fOWi0teiY/видео.html
I'm 73 and to see and hear a beautiful young woman , listen too, and share wit younger folks makes me feel very proud of y'all. ❤️🇺🇸👍
nice empathy n astute listening miss, yes its a sad touching song, teary eyed whn i hear vis song, im an ex sailor.. haunting guitar n lyrics
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.
Gordon made it so all monies from this goes to the families of the sailors. What a gentleman.
Being from Detroit, I’ve been to Northern Michigan many many times. Lake Superior is absolutely terrifying. I camped in Canada in October along the eastern shoreline once. A blizzard and probably 25 foot waves came in during the evening. My tent was shredded. It had been 75 degrees and sunny during the day. I’m old enough to have seen the Edmond Fitzgerald My grandfather worked at Great Lakes Steel. He used to take us to a park along the Detroit River for lunch and watch the freighters go by.
Thank you, your reaction was really heartfelt. When I was in the Navy that line about does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours, ran through my head as we were dead in the water 400 miles out off of San Francisco. It obviously turned out fine because I am still here. Whenever the Navy or the Coast Guard crosses the spot where the Edmund Fitzgerald lays, we ring out bell 29 times. 🌎✌️
Respectful reaction. This is what folk music can do.
Without a doubt, The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the most emotional songs ever recorded. As Gordon Lightfoot does so amazingly, you get a visual as the song rolls on. Please give yourself a gift of some of the best songwriting ever recorded and download his CD Gords Gold. A collection of beautiful songs from Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s most elite songwriter. I think you’ll be happy to discover his musical gifts to us all. He’ll be missed.
Thank you!
RIP Mr. Troubadour. 🙏
I've been on the sister ship and so the ship 🚢 has three separate functions. In the front (bow) you have the Bridge that consists of the ship's steering, communication, navigation, mess (kitchen) and living quarters.
At the very back, (stern or aft) you have engineering, which deals with all the mechanical needs of the ship like the engine, power, hydraulics.
Between Bow and Stern, is the Cargo Hold and it is a large and deep sections that takes iron ore. Once it's filled, Hold Covers are used to close off the top in order to keep water out.
It is believed, that because the ship was overloaded and setting too deep into the water (displacement) and that the hold covers were old and not sealing out water and because they were going through extremely rough seas, that water filled the cargo space and the ship sank, with all crew going down with the ship
You are a beautiful soul sister 🤗🇨🇦
The Mariner's Church of Detroit rang their bell 30 times on Tuesday, May 2nd. Twenty-nine times for every man lost in the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
And once for Gordon Lightfoot.
Thank you, Ambrose Cynthia, for your reaction to this song. The emotions you feel are the same as I feel when I hear this song. You are helping all of us to remember the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. You are wonderful!
I live on an island in the Gulf of Maine..have for 68 years..most of my people are fishermen..in my lifetime I've known exactly 12 people who went out on the North Atlantic and never came back..most of them we never even found...
Gordon Lightfoot is a legend. A beautiful reaction, Miss Cynthia.
Your favourite singer-songwriter's singer-songwriter.
Rest in peace, Gordo.
When Gordon Lightfoot passed away, that church bells chimed 30 times.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
And may he rest in peace.
Amen.
The clanging guitars in this song provide an absolutely perfect storm feel that makes the song all the more haunting.
You've now seen and heard a concrete example of the amazing ability Gordon Lightfoot had to evoke haunting images. Some of his other songs in which he demonstrates this gift are in 'Canadian Railroad Trilogy', 'Song for a Winter's Night', 'Minstrel of the Dawn' and 'If You Could Read my Mind'.
Some of the lyrics contained in the song stray from what actually happened. At 7:10 p.m. on that night in 1975, Fitzgerald Captain Ernest McSorely told the Arthur Anderson, 'We're holding our own.'. Minutes later, there was nothing. The Arthur Anderson survived a trio of massive rogue waves, but they probably proved to be the knockout punch to the Edmund Fitzgerald. In addition, the fact the Fitzgerald disappeared without a mayday call suggests the ship most likely went down suddenly and catastrophically. The captain and his crew didn't even realize they were going down.
While the Fitzgerald was an American ship, the fact that it sank on the Canadian side of Lake Superior makes it somewhat appropriate that Canada's famed folk balladeer would write a song that ensures the memory of the 29 crew members are never forgotten.
This tribute song was so well done and the fact that all of the proceeds from this song were and still are donated to the families of those who lost their lives shows the values and class of Gordon and his band members. Also, Ambrose, kudos to your hairdresser as you look absolutely stunning in this one.
Hey Cynthia, great reaction. Here's two classics that pack an emotional wallop, "Vincent", by Don McLean, and "Bridge Over Troubled Water",by Simon and Garfunkel.
Now you're talking about beautiful music ❤️, Also The RAIN SONG by Led Zeppelin ❤️
This song and the memory of the crew makes me cry everytime I hear it. May GOD bless the souls of the crew and the families. 🙏🏼
I was born on Nov 10th 2 years after and got wrapped up in learning about the Fitz because every Nov 10th they'd play this on the radio and be talking about the fitz.
Your reaction shows depth of your feelings and soul. God bless you.
Beautiful, and intelligent reaction. Thank you.
It’s ok to cry, Gordon Lightfoot tells a story so well and you appreciate what. The men went thru
Thank you so much for paying respects so beautifully to the men of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Fitzgerald is now resting on the lakebed of Lake Superior where she sank after splitting in two. By request of the families of the deceased the bodies were never raised but allowed to rest in peace in their final resting place.Yes November on the Great Lakes is very rough, but according to Meteorologists this storm was severe even by Lake Superior standards. Waves lifted the bow & the stern causing her to split in the middle. She was followed by the Arthur M Anderson (still in service today) & they were hugging the Canadian coast & was in contact with the Anderson by radar & radio until they could no longer see the Fitzgerald's lights. The last dives to the ship were in the mid 90's & is now protected by Canadian law.
I am told that it is possible to get a permit from the Canadian Coast Guard to dive on the wreck for scientific or educational purposes... and, that it is extremely *difficult* to get such a permit.
@@chemechand diving without said permit will net you a million dollar fine.
I grew up in Michigan and remember when this happened.
I was alive when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and still recall nearly 50 years later the impact the tragedy made across the US. Gordon Lightfoot's haunting tribute to they ship , and its crew will go on indefinitely .You really show your emotions, Ambrose, I'm pleased to have found your channel.
Both my dad and a cousin of his knew aleast one of the crew members who went down with the Fitz on that fateful night....absolutely brings an icy chill all the way down me everytime the song plays. Love Lake Superior and the ore freighters....and mariners who work on them
I cry every time I hear this song.
RIP Gordon Lightfoot, my musical hero..
In the 70s, on Lake Superior in Michigan, one of the worst losses on the big lake. I was in the Coast Guard reserve when this happened, stationed in Detroit Michigan
Don’t feel bad for crying ma’am, you are in good company!!
You understood! Thank you.
Gordon Lightfoot is Canadian. The Edmund Fitzgerald's route is near the border of USA and Canada. The border runs in the water there. A precise map may help in understanding the places it's talking about.
Thanks for your reaction to WEF. It hits me that way nearly every time I hear it. Gordon Lightfoot is as they say a Canadian song writing legend. But there are a good many of us in the US think rather highly of him too. And the song is not hard to understand and he drags you almost poetically to the decks and the holes and galley and dining room of old Fitz. I was almost 17 when she went down. It is only as got older that I understood what a disaster and tragedy it was.
True story. I remember when this happened. Then this song came out "I think it was within a year" of the sinking. No one knew what happened. People were taking their boats out in the storm to find them and were told to stop going out because at least one other boat had sunk. One of the greatest memorials ever.
This song is a tribute, not just these 29 men, but the entire maritime industry. It's for seafaring people everywhere. To this day, every time a Coast Guard ship passes over the place where the wreckage lies, they ring their ship's bell 29 times.
I hear that the Detroit maritime church added a 30th bell for Gordon.
i always found the instumentals to this song to be very eerie, which adds to the song.
My father was in the US Coast Guard, stationed, among other places, in Newfoundland. He was involved in some very dangerous sea rescues in the North Atlantic.
Growing up in Wisconsin, he always said that the Great Lakes can get every bit as dangerous as any ocean. Storms come up seemingly out of nowhere, and the lakes are littered with wrecks dating back to when shipping began on them a few hundred years ago. Most of those wrecks are still at the bottom, almost perfectly preserved because the water is so cold.
Great Lakes shipwrecks go back to the late 1600's.
The thing to remember about this song is that this is not an unusual event. Around the world, this happens every few months. It has happened twice more to American ships since this accident: Marine Electric and El Faro, both with greater loss of life. Going to sea is a dangerous business, always has been, is, and always will be. The only thing that changes is the names of the wives, and the sons, and the daughters.
lake superior,its still down there now, never brought up -R.I.P guys
Love your reaction! I was three years old and living in Washington state when this happened so I didn’t know about until much later in life! I think whatever happened, happened so fast that nobody had time to abandon ship! Gordon Lightfoot also changed the line about the hatchway caving in because it was proven that didn’t happen! The ship is split in two with one piece upside down! You can find the information online including underwater pictures!
For anyone who doesn't know the word Gichi-Gami is what the Indigenous people call
Lake Superior
Being raised in Michigan at that time and living thru that tragic local legend,We were proud of our Canadian neighbor Gordon Lightfoot to immortalize it and put it into words and music to tell the world the story about it in a way only he could.. Your human empathy shines !...God Bless..
Amazing tribute to the captain and crew.
So many years later and it still brings tears to my eyes.
This amazing, beautiful, and haunting ballad always brings tears to my eyes as it most poignantly recounts a real life tragedy. 😔
*R.I.P. all who perished* 😢
5:11
I love your reaction to this song......... it moved you as it has moved most who've ever heard it.
The reason they say that, "Superior never gives up her dead" is because at depth the water is so cold that decomposition gasses do not form; therefore, bodies will not bloat and eventually float to the surface.
The bodies don't decompose at all in the cold water. The body fat converts to another form of fat; but there are bodies in the bottom of Lake Superior in several dive sites that are over 100 years old and are essentially intact.
"Ice Water Mansions" refers to the fact that the ships do not degrade as well. They are fully intact and in wonderful shape except for damage caused before they were submerged and when they hit the bottom.
You had the most attentive and real reaction to this song
This moving song is beautiful haunting and such a lovely eulogy to those unfortunate sailors
such a powerful song by Gordon
Recorded in one take, with a drummer who never heard the song before.
I love Gordon Lightfoot & have watched many reactions to his songs. I will say, yours is the best I have seen. You got it. The storytelling & emotions, you got it all & I agree with you, the lines, “Fellas it’s been good to know ya” & “Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours”, are so powerful & moving! Thank you x
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald by that violent winter hurricane/storm happened on November 10, 1975, and I was 19 at that time. The first time it was launched was on June 7, 1958. Those 29 men were between their early 20's into their 60's, and their bodies were never recovered due to the fact Lake Superior's waters are just too deep and too cold, even during the summer months. So for those 29 crewmen who perished, Lake Superior is their gravesite, and the Edmund Fitzgerald is still down there as well. Excellent reaction to Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald."
When Gordon recorded this he made sure that all the proffets went to "The Wifes, The Sons, and The Daughters". When they finally found the wreck on the lake bottom the families all agreed that they wanted the bodies to remain together on the ship on the bottom of the lake and not be recovered.
Beautiful reaction, Cynthia. Thank you for this.
Once worked on an ore boat called the JP Morgan Junior back in the 1960's. In september they tied a line from one end of the ship to the other where the lifeboats were. I asked and they said it was to allow the men up front to it make to the lifeboats in the rear. When loaded the deck was less than three feet above the water line. Any strong waves would going over the ship deck and hatches for sure. That was a very old boat even then with a 1903 date on engine. It was a coal burner; we sailed up to Duluth, MN for pellets of iron ore that I think was called taconite. We took those pellets to steel miles located on south lake Michican and south lake Erie. I worked for about a month and got off in Cleveland to for the fall semester of college. We also loaded limestone and coal IIRC.
all 29 are still in the ship. It's been declared an official gravesite
I love the way you let songs really impact you. You feel them.
The lake took a ship "weighing 26,000 tons more than it weighed empty". Chippewas had lived there for ~10,000 years, and knew Lake Superior well.
I Was 7 Years Young When This Happened!
I Am Now Retired U.S. Navy, Was Stationed On 3 Ships!
The Sea & The Great Lakes Is Treacherous!
RIP Gordon Lightfoot & The Crew Of The Edmund Fitzgerald 👏🙏🏾!
I was 11, and I remember when she went down.
Same part touched me too. Your comments were very heart felt.
Gordon went to every surviving family members home to ask permission to write & sing this song. Every dollar made from this song was donated to the next of Kin.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours."
The greatest lyrics ever written.
It’s a chilling verse that continues to make one think about that amazing lyric
The Great Lakes can be very dangerous. I served in the US NAVY and every time we left port there was no guarantee of returning.
Personally, ANYONE who lives right near any of the Great Lakes should know and understand the history of this song! I live 3 streets south of Lake Erie. Superior is much bigger and deeper than us, yes, but deep wasn't the problem here.... The gale literally opened the Lake they were on up... the ship fell to solid ground and a second later the water washed over the wreck... that's why the other boat thought "One second you were there, the next you were not".... speaking of the other boat, called the Arthur Andersen, their captain called for volunteers to search for the Edmund Fitzgerald and every sailor on their ship agreed to search! They could have been killed too... so BRASS PAIR OF BALLS! Bravery should be taken from the rest of this story. Here so close to Lake Erie, blizzards are an issue too.... every now and then we get a good one.... 100 people died here in 1978 because of what Lake Erie (and others depending on wind direction) does in the winter..... I hike in similar blizzards.... Jan 19th, 2019 was very similar LOL haha.... I'm a little unhinged so, I take it as testing myself in the eyes of the Gods of my ancestors.... I went RIGHT up to Lake Erie that day...lol... 40 mph winds, snow was up to my thigh ( I'm 6'3) in an hour and a half... it was fun! My thought was ( I swear the waves out on the lake that night were like 40 ft high) "Maybe I could sing to the lake and she'll calm down".... the answer was no and a wave went over the embankment I was standing on and hit me in the face.... human reaction is to cover your face with your arm... which was kinda bad because my beard had already frozen... when I pulled it away it had ripped a patch of beard from the roots! HAHA I epiladied my face! I had a hole when I grew my beard for awhile... bare patch... grows back fine now, but it was kind of funny. I love to hike in conditions like that but I am designed for it and have gear... but the air and the land is very different physics than the water!
We're holding our own
- The Edmund Fitz Gerald's last words -
It warmed my heart so much, when I learned all of the proceeds from this song went to the families of the Edmund Fitzgerald's crew.
Wonderful reaction, Cynthia. 🙏😟💔
It never fails to move someone.
Your reaction the moment he sang the bell rang 29 times was exactly what I hoped I would see. What an emotional song and a difficult story to accept. You are a good person
A great and well done song by Gordon. His lyrics and story telling is deep and so emotional that it always sends chills down my spine. Your reaction is as mine always is. I love these songs and you hosting them with your beautiful voice and reactions. Thank you so much. I love you and your videos. Love ya
Your response was heartfelt! God bless 🙌 you and yours 🙏 ...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
You can see the Edmund Fitzgerald resting at the bottom of Lake Superior.
The North American Indians/Aboriginals that lived in the Great Lakes region are called the Chippewa nation. The Great Lake Superior is called "gitchie goomie" in the native tongue of the Chippewa. The Great lakes are: Huron, Michigan, Superior, the Lakes Erie and Ontario. Collectively, these lakes are the largest bodies of fresh water on the planet...