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DJ Goes Through the Lyrics of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot
Brought to you by someone who has been obsessed with this story since age 9.
Brought to you by someone who has been obsessed with this story since age 9.
"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee"
The Ojibwe name for Lake Superior is 'gichi-gami', which means... big lake.
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee"
The Ojibwe name for Lake Superior is 'gichi-gami', which means... big lake.
"The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy"
There's a pretty popular anecdote that the average temperature of Superior is SO low that bodies can't float to the surface. November's a very thrashy time of year on the lake as well.
When the skies of November turn gloomy"
There's a pretty popular anecdote that the average temperature of Superior is SO low that bodies can't float to the surface. November's a very thrashy time of year on the lake as well.
"With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty"
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald (built in 1958 in River Rouge, MI) had a gross tonnage of 13,632. Her carrying record was 27,402 tons of ore in 1969.
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty"
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald (built in 1958 in River Rouge, MI) had a gross tonnage of 13,632. Her carrying record was 27,402 tons of ore in 1969.
"That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early"
The gales of November are like the equivalent of the Atlantic hurricane season for the Great Lakes. They're historically Not Nice to ships.
When the gales of November came early"
The gales of November are like the equivalent of the Atlantic hurricane season for the Great Lakes. They're historically Not Nice to ships.
"The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin"
The Edmund Fitzgerald's nickname on launch was "the Pride of the American Flag". Also, she was coming from Duluth instead of Wisconsin, but Wisconsin fit the lyrics better.
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin"
The Edmund Fitzgerald's nickname on launch was "the Pride of the American Flag". Also, she was coming from Duluth instead of Wisconsin, but Wisconsin fit the lyrics better.
"As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned"
The Fitz was a whopping 729 ft long and was the largest on the Lakes until 1971! And Captain Ernest M. McSorley had 40 years of sailing experience.
With a crew and good captain well seasoned"
The Fitz was a whopping 729 ft long and was the largest on the Lakes until 1971! And Captain Ernest M. McSorley had 40 years of sailing experience.
"Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland"
She was actually bound for Zug Island (a steel mill; the black area in the picture) in Detroit, but again, 'Cleveland' sounded better lyrically.
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland"
She was actually bound for Zug Island (a steel mill; the black area in the picture) in Detroit, but again, 'Cleveland' sounded better lyrically.
"And later that night when the ship's bell rang
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?"
Not much to comment on here, but mariners do tend to have a kind of sixth sense when it comes to which storms are going to be nasty!
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?"
Not much to comment on here, but mariners do tend to have a kind of sixth sense when it comes to which storms are going to be nasty!
"The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing"
The "tattle-tale sound" would be the sound of the wires clanging and ringing.
And a wave broke over the railing"
The "tattle-tale sound" would be the sound of the wires clanging and ringing.
"And every man knew, as the captain did too
T'was the witch of November come stealin'"
The decision to take the Fitz out in the storm was incredibly risky. Even with the technology of 1975, Great Lake sailors knew it wasn't much against a really terrible gale.
T'was the witch of November come stealin'"
The decision to take the Fitz out in the storm was incredibly risky. Even with the technology of 1975, Great Lake sailors knew it wasn't much against a really terrible gale.
"The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashin'"
Fun fact! One of the nicknames for Lake Superior is "Old Treacherous"! Also this lyric definitely gets you in the mind of how bad the ship was pitching in the storm.
When the gales of November came slashin'"
Fun fact! One of the nicknames for Lake Superior is "Old Treacherous"! Also this lyric definitely gets you in the mind of how bad the ship was pitching in the storm.
"When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind"
The November 9-10 storm had winds between 30 to 45 knots, with gusts up to 50 knots. The waves were between 16 and 18 ft in height. It was literally a hurricane. (img: NOAA)
In the face of a hurricane west wind"
The November 9-10 storm had winds between 30 to 45 knots, with gusts up to 50 knots. The waves were between 16 and 18 ft in height. It was literally a hurricane. (img: NOAA)
"When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'
"Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya""
Obviously made up, but you get the idea! The ship was coming into eastern Upper Peninsula waters near Whitefish Point when most people were having dinner.
"Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya""
Obviously made up, but you get the idea! The ship was coming into eastern Upper Peninsula waters near Whitefish Point when most people were having dinner.
"At seven PM, a main hatchway caved in, he said
"Fellas, it's been good to know ya""
The ship sank around 19:10 (7:10 pm). The Fitz had radio contact with Grand Marais, MI (I believe Whitefish Point's radio was down in the storm), being the last land-to-ship contact.
"Fellas, it's been good to know ya""
The ship sank around 19:10 (7:10 pm). The Fitz had radio contact with Grand Marais, MI (I believe Whitefish Point's radio was down in the storm), being the last land-to-ship contact.
"The captain wired in he had water comin' in
And the good ship and crew was in peril"
Capt. McSorley communicated with Capt. Bernie Cooper of the SS Arthur M. Anderson, telling him the ship was taking water and then saying, "We are holding our own."
And the good ship and crew was in peril"
Capt. McSorley communicated with Capt. Bernie Cooper of the SS Arthur M. Anderson, telling him the ship was taking water and then saying, "We are holding our own."
"And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
The Fitz disappeared off the Anderson's radar shortly after contact. People on land frantically searched for any sight of her, but in the dark and the storm, there was nothing.
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
The Fitz disappeared off the Anderson's radar shortly after contact. People on land frantically searched for any sight of her, but in the dark and the storm, there was nothing.
"Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
The woman I spoke to at Grand Marais Lightkeeper's Station was there that night and said everyone was up ALL NIGHT waiting for any sign or call from the Fitz.
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
The woman I spoke to at Grand Marais Lightkeeper's Station was there that night and said everyone was up ALL NIGHT waiting for any sign or call from the Fitz.
"The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her"
It was 17 mi. between the Fitz's land known location and the safe harbor at Whitefish Bay. However, the depth of the shoals would have made navigating there very difficult.
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her"
It was 17 mi. between the Fitz's land known location and the safe harbor at Whitefish Bay. However, the depth of the shoals would have made navigating there very difficult.
"They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water"
No one knows what happened to the Fitz! The wreck is in two pieces, and the popular theory is that a lake phenomenon called the "Three Sisters" caused it to sink (1/2).
They may have broke deep and took water"
No one knows what happened to the Fitz! The wreck is in two pieces, and the popular theory is that a lake phenomenon called the "Three Sisters" caused it to sink (1/2).
The "Three Sisters" are three rogue waves of higher than average height. They were reported occurring that night, and the theory is that two waves raised the bow and stern, causing the iron ore to go to the middle of the ship and snap it in half.
"And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters"
Twenty-nine crewmen died in the wreck. Memorials for them continue to this day.
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters"
Twenty-nine crewmen died in the wreck. Memorials for them continue to this day.
"Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion"
Lake Huron is almost as bad as Superior in terms of shipwrecks. But Lake Superior is WAY colder. (Also, what a beautiful lyric!)
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion"
Lake Huron is almost as bad as Superior in terms of shipwrecks. But Lake Superior is WAY colder. (Also, what a beautiful lyric!)
"Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams
The islands and bays are for sportsmen"
Lake Michigan also has plenty of wrecks, but is better known for its waterfront communities and recreation places.
The islands and bays are for sportsmen"
Lake Michigan also has plenty of wrecks, but is better known for its waterfront communities and recreation places.
"And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her"
All of the Great Lakes are connected to one another, so technically they make One Really Big Lake! (Honestly, I don't have anything nice to say about Lake Erie, either. She's kind of stinky.)
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her"
All of the Great Lakes are connected to one another, so technically they make One Really Big Lake! (Honestly, I don't have anything nice to say about Lake Erie, either. She's kind of stinky.)
"And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered"
Sailors on cargo freighters are VERY well-acquainted with how tempestuous the gales of November can be. To quote one guy I knew, "Always expect an ocean when you get on one of those lakes."
With the gales of November remembered"
Sailors on cargo freighters are VERY well-acquainted with how tempestuous the gales of November can be. To quote one guy I knew, "Always expect an ocean when you get on one of those lakes."
"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the maritime sailors' cathedral"
The Mariners' Church in Detroit! It's right on the Detroit River waterfront and it's lovely!
In the maritime sailors' cathedral"
The Mariners' Church in Detroit! It's right on the Detroit River waterfront and it's lovely!
"The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Every year, the Mariners' Church still rings their bell 29 times on November 10th. You can watch this event here:
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Every year, the Mariners' Church still rings their bell 29 times on November 10th. You can watch this event here:
"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early"
The Fitzgerald's resting place is now a recognized graveyard, leaving her dead in peace.
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early"
The Fitzgerald's resting place is now a recognized graveyard, leaving her dead in peace.
Thank you guys for joining me! I hope people learned stuff! I just like talking about shipwrecks; especially the one that got me into shipwrecks and maritime history in the first place!
