The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Gordon Lightfoot
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The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they called '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 crew 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 seven pm a main hatchway caved in, he said Fellas, it's been good t'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 searches 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 till 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
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
Background FactsThe song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is written, composed and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot.
- Lightfoot released the song in 1976 on his album named "Summertime Dream."
- The song ushered his commercial peak in the United States by climbing to number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
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InspirationThe song chronicles the true incident of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a bulk freighter, on Lake Superior, during November 1975.
- The tragic incident led to the death of 29 crew members on board, and no bodies were recovered.
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CompositionThe song runs for approximately 6 minutes and 28 seconds, offering a haunting, melancholic melody paired with a detailed narrative.
- The music uniquely features a 12-string acoustic guitar, creating a distinctive, repeating riff.
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ReceptionThe song is considered one of Gordon Lightfoot's best and most popular works and has received considerable praise for its lyrical complexity.
- In 2016, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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Cultural ImpactThe ballad has been covered by several artists over the years, reiterating its impact and relevance in the music industry.
- It has also been used in multiple films and TV shows, elevating its popularity.
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LegacyLightfoot's song is believed to have played a significant role in promoting awareness about maritime safety, resulting in updated regulations and policies.
- The song has become an anthem of sorts for the Great Lakes and has helped keep the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald alive to this day.
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Live PerformancesGordon Lightfoot has been performing this song for many years, and it is often a highlight of his live concerts.
- He usually introduces the song by paying tribute to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald and their families.
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Citation
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