The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald I was about to go to bed early and realized it was 35 years ago to the minute that she went down. I've always loved the song and singer so,.. I had do another late night edit exercise.
Thomas Benson was a high school roommate of mine (class of 70). Drove him home after graduation ceremony Saw him about 2 months before his demise. Told me he loved the Fitzgerald and his crew mates. RIP Tom.
Adam Thrussell @ My Dad Richard Thrussell a big fan of Gordon Lightfoot. Dad standing with Gordon with Saint Peter in Heaven. Big M Marathon 1981 Frankston to Melbourne Town Hall, State of Victoria, Australia. Stay healthy and fit
I might be wrong but wasn't it near Whitefish Point, on the American side. I know that ALL were involved in the rescue (Canadian and American) as it should be, but I thought the Fitz went down on the American side. Not that it matters, the tragedy is way beyond tears
I'm 64 this song. Still makes me Sad. It's the first True to life song I ever heard.. The Caption should've be put in JAIL HE loaded ship 🚢 passed there LIMITS but back then Captions weren't held for incompetence... to bad.. Bill B. Of San Diego,, California .
@@williambanning6506Technically the captain does not have the power to choose how the ship is loaded. The shipping company does though, The ship is loaded however the Great Lakes Shipping Company wants to. So don’t go pointing fingers at the captain for something he didn’t have control over.
Ur a nasty AF creepy old perverted guy who probably got a piece of the madoff bankman fried scams n don’t ever tarnish the reputations of Working Men who can’t defend themselves while u been counting $ all ur life 🇺🇸👌🇺🇸👌🇺🇸👌🇺🇸👌
The November i moved to the Upper Peninsula, a few miles from Lake Superior, the "gales came slashing." The local radio station played this song, and i finally understool those lyrics. Every November I remember the crew.
I WATCHED THIS AS A YOUNG GIRL...MY HEART IS STILL BROKEN. I lived in land locked northern Alberta Canada, crying as I'm texting. Boy oh boy, this was hard for so many of us, this was OUR TITANIC, & STILL IS.
This is one of those songs that you just never want it to end. So haunting , very emotional, and sad. It tugs on the listeners heart strings every single time. Incredible tribute to all who perished on that awful day. May they RIP.
This tragedy occurred on my 11th birthday. I still remember the news report and the picture of the Edmund Fitzgerald on the television. The story still fascinates me all these years later.
I worked a ice breaking tug in USCG on the great lakes. Very dangerous waters. This song always chills me when I hear it. Old saying in the C.G. is you have to go out but you dont have to come back. RIP merchant mariners.
I grew up in Windsor, Ontario and we drove past The Old Mariner’s Church many times when we entered Detroit… we moved to California in 1962 and when Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song, I started to question my parents about that old church and when I found out that it was one of the same… It still gives me goosebumps! This is such an amazing song…it so completely tells the entire story …. What a great loss of life….Just heartbreaking…It’s the eeriest song EVER written!
The phrase "the waves turn the minutes to hours" stands out to me. In the 3rd week of Sept. 73 or 74 I can't remember which we had a full hold and turned North leaving the snapper banks in the Bay of Campeche. On the 2nd day headed north we got word of a tropical cyclone starting to build off of Yucatan in the NW tip of Yucatan Penisula. Third day we got word trop storm building SW Gulf of Mexico. We began to put on a little more speed on the run for home on northern Gulf Coast. Fourth day storm coming north same course as us, big rollers beginning to roughen up sea conditions. Night of 4th day sea conditions such that we had to reduce speed meanwhile storm on same course now a hurricane and increasing forward speed. Later night into pre-dawn starting to take green water about every third wave. Speed reduced more due to seas. Mid day fifth day news of storm packing 135mph winds south of us and closing. Everybody was quiet and on their toes as we ran for that big bay on the Alabama coast but the waves were turning the minutes to hours, at the very least in our hearts and minds as we knew if we didn't get into that bay and behind the big peninsula with the hurricane hole of navy cove we were going down. Everyone kind of accepted what looked like a very likely end and we all layed to our jobs but we're also cutting up and laughing with one another. As we got closer and closer to the coast that storm veered off on about a 30 degree angle to the NE and went ashore near Panama City, Fla. We had continued into Port, got our pay, went for a beer or 12. Shook hands and went our ways as the snapper season was about done. I jacked around for a bit and then enlisted in the Nav. Saw some big storms 2000 miles from land in six years. Some were doozies but none tightened me up like those days and nights in the Gulf of Mexico with sure death coming up our tail.
Thank you for this interesting (although scary) and well-written report. It brought back memories. We were living on base when my husband was stationed at Tyndall AFB in Sept 1973, and the AP were sent out to all base housing late that night to bang on our doors, instructing us to evacuate to Dothan, AL to an armory there. So we grabbed our 5-mo-old baby girl, our dog, the wedding album and a few clothes and jumped in the little green Dodge and headed out. But the highway was jammed and gridlocked with vehicles, so we didn’t make it all the way to Dothan. But I don’t recall at what little town along the way we sheltered. The hurricane (perhaps Carmen?) left little damage to Panama City, however, so we and the base escaped unharmed. Again the next year in Sept 1975, we “outran” another hurricane - Eloise was her name- but she made landfall at Destin/Eglin AFB. We had once again been instructed to head for Dothan, but opted to stay in a hotel there, as we heard there were already too many dogs and kids with their families at the armory! Weird thing: the hurricane spawned a tornado that tore right over the armory! Later report was that a family had left their cat locked in their car for safety. But when they returned to the car the next day, they could not find the cat. After an hour or so, the poor little still-terrified cat was discovered under the driver’s seat, clinging upside down to the bottom of the seat. And they had trouble prying it loose! But those were all minor incidents compared to the terror you and the rest of the crew went through out in the Gulf onboard your ship. Holy freakin heck! (We got a small sailboat when stationed at Tyndall, and I was terrified when we sailed just a bit out of sight of land when in Gulf waters. So I can’t imagine what you went through way out there in the middle in rough waters.) Anyway, thanks for your story. Glad you all made it safely back to port. Tyndall and Panama City were not as lucky in Oct 2018 when Hurricane Michael ravaged the area as a Category 5 and the eye passed right over the AFB. There was total evacuation, thank goodness, and Michael tore out almost all of base housing. Reports by AP said that the area’s black bear population came out of the pine forests and feasted on rotting foods scattered around the flattened base houses! Opportunistic little so-n-sos!
Wow thanks. I gave birth that aLabor Day weekend in San Jose CA I perform Gal's songs in Finland very popular everywhere. We ran chart ER boats out of a Monterey. Ultimate 🌎Scuba with the Cousteau s in Santa Barbara.
There is no song known to man quite like this one, how anyone could come up with these perfect words that touch the hearts of so many people is just amazing, this song is in a class of its own and always will be!
I'm 50, but this song makes me remember being 8. Sometimes, it feels good, and sometimes, it feels bad to remember. Especially since 3 of my old friends have passed on. My God, find and keep them safely. 😢
this song brings tears to my eyes even though i never knew any of the men on her but i remember i was old enough when we heard of her sinking they may be gone but all 29 men are remembered for this song to me is a very special tribute to them.
This song reminds me of my grandpa Crantford Eugene Smith Sr he loved fishing alot and boating. May the old man rest in peace and all 29 crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald as ❤️🩹
In the late 60’s & early 70’s I saw the Fitz at dock or leaving Maumee Bay. I had a very good friend who worked on the ore carriers. One was the “Reserve” and the other the “Courtney Burton”. I would take him down to the docks when he left and saw the Fitzgerald a couple times. Love this video! Thank you.
Love , love . And always will . Wow what a story . Thank you . Gordon lightfoot . A sad , but beautiful story . You are a story teller . The best in my opinion .
Probably 1 of the best videos paying tribute to the 29 sailors that I’ve seen , Thank You so much R.I.P. to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald, we will never forget you
The haunting sound of this song, makes me think a lot about all the mariners that went down with the ship. Poor people. Young.....and the heart of the Lion....still couldn't have saved them. Such a sad song that remains with me forever.
The lines of the song dig deep. It effects you as you see the unfolding story. Immortality in song,, more than most have.. Very talented and grace to those that died.
Listening to this song, I could almost feel the rain, wind, and fear the men must have felt in the midst of their struggle. My condolences to these brave men who fought Mother Nature and lost their lives. May God grant them eternal peace and rest as they so deserve it. God bless the crew of the Edmonton Fitzgerald!
This song hits me hard I was 5 years old and I remember listening to the news about it and my father took me many times to flounder fish in the Great Lakes love this song
My Dad says he remembers the day she went down. He said he was in the car running some errands when the announcement came over the radio. Such a haunting song.
I was 12. It was all over the news in the great lakes areas! This song is no joke ! The great lakes can be worse than the oceans! I was lucky enough to talk to mariners that said she was to big for the great lakes and she split in half! Good day!
Its amazing that Gordon Lightfoot released this timeless classic less than a year after "She" went down!! Seems like yesterday I learned of the Ship going down and this Song ALWAYS sparkled Deep Emotions!!!😢 To those that went down and too the families who lost!!!!💔
I remember when she sank. I was a senior in high school at the time. I remember my Dad, who grew up in Indiana on the south shore of Lake Michigan telling me that at that time of the year, the Great Lakes are like the ocean.
I have absolutely no connection to the EF, shipping, the great lakes, or anything else to do with the tragedy....but this is very touching and emotional to watch. So sad for all the crew and families 😢
This is part of our heritage, and should never be forgotten. The poignancy of the story and the music will forever be in our hearts. My mom's family comes from Belgium and settled in Superior in the 1890's. The lake took my grandfather 2 weeks before my parents wedding day in 1939. I never knew him, or my Irish grandpa, who died during WWII. All memories, made or dreamed about, come rushing back when I hear Gord's song. This video is a masterpiece in its own right. Thank you so much.
hi susan. i do love the heritage. im from buffalo. loved this song forever. im 58 , a lennon /beatles fan but in any songlist is this. the story . he sings and articulates it perfectly.your fam is from belgium . mine is from poland and ukraine. i know it was along time ago,but sorry for the loss of your gr pas.
@@julietspoto9652 Juliet. First. Love the name. And I agree John is & always will be a great looking guy!! I absolutely love the guy always have, always will. My all time favorite musician ever. So talented with lyrics and music. No one writes or sings like him.
@@julietspoto9652 thank you to all Lennon/McCartney Beatles fans for responding!! I wondered if anyone was left?! Love the conversation, the talk. We need to do more. It’s music! I just listened to “limp biskit “ break stuff!! Song is still cool. Thank you everyone. I sent this thru you , Juliet cuz I love the name and you like Lennon. 😅But let’s keep talking Lennon Beatles whatever. It damn sure beats all the awfulness going on! Sorry Juliet if annoyed you.
This song always brings tears to my eyes. I think of the scripture found in Revelation 20:13; “And the sea will give up the dead”. Rest mates until you are reunited with your loved ones.
I am the daughter of The Old Cook Robert Rafferty. There is a person on here claiming the my father was is grandfather. He is SO lying. That makes me sad
"Does anyone know where the love God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?" perfectly describes the fear and stress the crew of the Fritz experienced that night.
Between 1971 and 1982, I worked in Green Bay, Chicago and Cleveland and I saw a lot of "Lakers" in those years. I remember so clearly the night of the sinking. Monday, November 10, 1975. The preceding weekend had been beautiful but the weather turned harsh on Sunday evening. On Monday night I was on the way home from Fort Sheridan which is right on Lake Michigan. I am sure I heard the first sketchy report of a ship going down about 10 PM.
That's gotta be one of the best stories blended to the perfect piece of music ever..it just evokes a tear and visual reaction everytime I hear it ..perfect tribute video...well done
We were freshman in high school back in 1975, when the wreck of the EDMUND FITZGERALD occurred, I remember sitting in one of our shop classes when we listened to this MEMORIAL SONG PERFORMED BY THE LATE GORDON LIGHTFOOT! You can hear the TRAGEDY unfolding in each word and line of the story he tells, it was very eerie and sad, something I'll never forget!REST IN PEACE GORDON AND THE 29 SAILORS WHOM PERISHED IN THIS TRAGEDY, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S!!!
Our neighbor was on the Duluth radar watch vectoring in Air Force in that horrid weather. They were all volunteers pilots... November is hellish for storms. What most people don't know is that some 18 other boats went down in that storm. And the Whitefish Point area had claimed at least 240 ships. 25,000 wrecks on the Great Lakes over the past 300 years. " Graveyard of the Lakes. Detroit: Wayne State University Press." Mark L. Thompson
I was a senior in highschool when this song came out and I remember thinking that it was one of the few songs of that length that was played on the radio.
This Is a very good presentation, and explanation, of what happened to the EDMUND FITZGERALD..to those who do not know, heard this song, and are curious about its origin/meaning. Thank you. I didn't even know about this tragic story of a massive ship delivering the largest load of STEEL and hard-working men. I am, however. Involved with the Steel Industry...I will say a prayer for all that perished, they are heroes, attempting to contribute to all of our success and economy... in the unforgiving/ unpredicting waters/weather. Thank You ALL CREW .... Amen.
From both old lakes sailors and experts they think they was hit by The Three Sisters, Lake Superior's unique version of rogue waves except they come in threes which pushed her onto the reef. When contact was lost the Coast Guard asked the now safe in the bay Arthur M Anderson if she could search for her to which the replied in the affirmative. Some time before communication was lost the USCGC Woodrush in Duluth had gone on alert and she left Duluth as the closest Coast Guard ship at maximum speed which must have been quite the ride and she got to Whitefish Bay 24 hours later.
@@thomasb1889 yes, they're made of iron ore and identical as far as being bulk cargo. But, she wasn't hauling steel. So what's your point, other than stating the obvious?
My 1st job was at a little burger joint on the Duluth Mn Canal. On breaks, I would watch the ships go under when the aerial bridge went up. The only name I remembered was the Edmund Fitzgerald...because I thought of our President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Mom had taken us kids downtown on the bus so that we could see his motorcade, shortly before the assassination. Later I attended the gothic old Central High School built in 1892. I watched the lake turn deep rose in storms and waves crash over the pier from the 5 story school. I live elsewhere now but so recommend the great maritime museum at the pier. It is a great family excursion on a sunny day. Feed the gulls, walk the pier, watch the bridge rise and the ships come through and of course so much to see and learn.
Thanks to Gordon Lightfoot all of the good men of the Edmond Fitzgerald will live in infamy. I was ten when he made that song. I still love hearing in 2022. All those Mariners have very dangerous jobs.
So sad. Every time I play this I just wish somehow I could change history, This wonderful song and video place me on the ship. May they all rest in peace.
I was not related to anybody on board but grew up in michigan and remember when this happened its part of my growing up and loved when this song came out in remembrance of this incident its historical and should not be forgotten
ICONIC song. Great tribute by Gordon to harding working men. I play the guitar and when I learned the chord progression and play it, you can feel the the sentiment of the waves that tragic night. May God Bless the victims and their families.
I seen one of the life boats, and actually touched it, it was in the belly of an old 600 ft ore carrier dry docked at the Sue. May God be with the families of all the brave sailors, f
Just done a crew count in the title image and all twenty nine are present in the picture, such a sad loss but God rewarded all in their afterlife, and now at peace.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours. That phrase has always stopped me in my tracks. November 10, 1975.
Loving when my family camped on lake Superior in a camp camping place and we were on our way up to Canada Ontario Canada to visit family and that's the first time I heard about the sinking of the ships
Superior they say never gives up her dead, when the gales of November comes early. I love Gordon Lightfoots music and this song hits right on the bell of this mighty ship. 🙌 May all aboard rest in eternal peace. 🙏 🤲
