About the song
Gordon Lightfoot, the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter, has gifted the world with countless timeless melodies. Among his most celebrated compositions is “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” a haunting ballad that pays tribute to the tragic sinking of the Great Lakes freighter in a November 1975 storm. Released in 1976, this song has since become a maritime legend, captivating listeners with its evocative storytelling and Lightfoot’s distinctive vocals.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was one of the largest freshwater cargo vessels ever constructed, and its sudden disappearance in the unforgiving waters of Lake Superior shocked the nation. Lightfoot’s song serves as a poignant memorial to the 29 crew members who lost their lives in this devastating maritime disaster. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the storm’s ferocity and the ship’s ultimate fate, while also capturing the sense of loss and longing felt by those left behind.
Key themes explored in the song include the fragility of human life in the face of nature’s raw power, the importance of remembrance, and the enduring allure of the Great Lakes. Lightfoot’s masterful songwriting and his ability to evoke powerful emotions through his music have made “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” a timeless classic.
Musically, the song is characterized by Lightfoot’s signature folk-rock style, featuring his distinctive fingerpicking guitar technique and a rich, melodic arrangement. The melancholic tone of the music perfectly complements the somber subject matter, creating a haunting and unforgettable listening experience.
Upon its release, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” quickly climbed the charts, reaching number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1976. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its universal appeal, as it resonates with listeners on both an emotional and intellectual level.
Lightfoot’s song has also had a significant cultural impact, inspiring countless books, articles, and documentaries about the Edmund Fitzgerald disaster. The song has been covered by numerous artists and continues to be a staple of folk and Americana radio stations.
In conclusion, Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is a powerful and moving tribute to the 29 sailors who perished in one of the Great Lakes’ most tragic shipwrecks. Through his evocative lyrics and haunting melody, Lightfoot has created a lasting memorial to these lost souls and a timeless masterpiece of American folk music.
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Lyrics
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too
T’was the witch of November come stealin’
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashin’
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
At 7 PM, a main hatchway caved in, he said
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the maritime sailors’ cathedral
The church bell chimed ’til it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early
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