Legendary Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot died last Monday. He was 84. I would say that he was one of my favs. Gordon and I were well acquainted. I listened to ALL of his songs. I saw my idol in three concerts. Lightfoot even came to Williamsport. Yes. The news hit me hard. The tributes and posts from my online chums have been brilliant. Regardless of age and status. Gordon Lightfoot touched so many. I shared a few pictures on some fan pages. The responses and feedback were amazing. He was special. Indeed.
If I had to pick one. Tough call, but I’d go with “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” This was my go-to karaoke song. I know her word for word. I can’t tell you the number of times I have heard those words. In the car or mowing the lawn. I even covered her at the Cell Block. Yes. Upland Road. We played every Tuesday — incredible tune. Sensational writing. If you haven’t heard it. You are lying. OK. A little background.
November can be a very turbulent month in the Great Lakes region. The warm waters can help storms intensify and produce life-threatening conditions. Edmund Fitzgerald was one of the largest carriers, kids. She weighed 3,632 tons and measured 729 feet long and 75 feet wide. She was tabbed “The Pride of the American Flag” by many. The ship was a big deal.
On November 9, 1975, the Fitzgerald departed Superior, Wisconsin. Within 24 hours, the ship was battling hurricane-force winds and 30-foot waves. The US Coast Guard asked ships to seek safe harbor as the storm strengthened. The last radio transmission from the Fitzgerald came from the captain, and he said that they were hanging in there. It was just a short time later that she vanished from radar only 17 miles from shore.
The wreck occurred just north of Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior. All 29 crew members were lost as the ship sank in 530 feet of water. Ceremonies are held for the family and friends of those who perished as a bell tolls 29 times for the 29 members. Of the more than 1,000 ships to go down in the Great Lakes, the Edmund Fitzgerald is still the largest. Fast forward.
Lightfoot heard the news immediately. He grabbed his guitar and started writing. His lyrics were always splendid, but he hit a home run with this performance. With its haunting melody and vivid storytelling, the ballad endured as Lightfoot’s personal favorite. Having grown up in Ontario, he had a close attachment to the majesty and mystery of the Great Lakes, and his spirit rang true in “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The reviews are still amazing.
The song was released in August of 1976, and it quickly rose to the top of the Canadian charts. Incredibly it reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was pure gold, and it was one of Lightfoot’s most well-known in his six decades of strumming. The words are STUPENDOUS. The lyrics continue to flow. What a brilliant song. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts.
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
At seven 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 lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Does anyone 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
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the maritime sailors’ cathedral
The church bell chimed ‘till it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
That final prose was written almost 50 years ago today. And just this past Tuesday, the bell at the Mariner’s Church in Detroit rang out again. Only this time it rang 30 times to honor those perished sailors along with the artist who famously memorialized them. Dude. Goosebumps.
ALL OF THE WORDS to this song are just perfect. Many of Gordon’s songs leave me with the same feeling. Please don’t get me starting on the “Canadian Railroad Trilogy.” That lesser known might even rival. So yes. It has been a rough week. No. I won’t drive 9 hours to witness his funeral. But many of my new friends will be there. And so will I- in spirit. RIP Gordon. Next week. We will talk about some local hoopsters. Cheers.
