Gordon Lightfoot – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
An evening pause: Uses nicely edited archival documentary footage and pictures to highlight to story told by the song, intercut with Lightfoot’s live performance in 1979.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
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El Faro was the most recent outrage.
One of my favorite magazines was PROFESSIONAL MARINER to read Cap’n Sweeney’s opinion pieces.
One of my cousins was on the Fitzgerald. He transferred off of the Fitzgerald that summer and went on the Munson. Was visiting a friend at The Maritime Academy in Traverse City MI just a week after The Fitz went down. I don’t think i will ever forget the mood of the students there. They either knew someone on the ship or one of their relatives knew someone.
This is a most haunting song that I have listened to at least a hundred times. Each time I have such a strong emotional response. (Ok, I’m a grown assed man and cry every time) I’ve researched the incident thoroughly. I cannot begin to imagine the terror of the crew as things went sideways.
MrBlkBird.., I can only imagine the reactions of that class. We tend to think of oceans having such conditions, but few appreciate the size of those lakes!
I had a teacher once who said every person has at least one good book within them. Lightfoot certainly had one very good song within him.
Thanks, Bob
There was an article in phys.org recently that stated some waves can still grow even after breaking.
Freak waves were long considered an excuse of poor sailoring–rogue waves thought to be non-existent.
I seem to remember a report of a ship near the Big Fitz’ that took seas from three different directions–a curiosity of the Great Lakes perhaps–mix that with a seiche….look out