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To be honest, I'm fully aware there are people who dislike today's "Great Song of 1976," but I'm also sure it comes down to musical taste.
After all, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot is a repetitive sea shanty, based on an old Irish dirge. Admittedly not everyone's cup of tea.
But if you pay attention to the story being told, it's quite fascinating, AND it really hits home to those of us who grew up and/or live around the Great Lakes region.
On November 10th, 1975, the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, loaded with more than 26,000 tons of taconite (iron ore) was caught in a severe storm on Lake Superior, broke in half and sank...claiming the lives of 29 crew members.
This tragedy was felt deeply--especially in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Ontario...as the Edmund Fitzgerald's route was scheduled to pass through or nearby. Its initial destination was Zug Island near Detroit, then on to Cleveland for the winter.
Gordon was touched by the story, and felt the need to write a song to honor those who died and the families they left behind.
He bought every newspaper he could find, compiling details to turn into lyrics...and then composed the song from his notes.
(Note: The end result was essentially accurate, but Gordon did take some license on a few minor things to make them fit the rhythm of the song. For example, the song mentions Detroit's "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral," when it's actually the
Mariner's Church of Detroit.)
The song was a TRIPLE #1 in Canada, reaching the top of the Top 40, Easy Listening and Country Charts. In the US, it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100, and #9 on the Easy Listening Chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award.
Over the years, the shipwreck has been found and studied, and a few initial conclusions were found to be wrong. First and foremost, there was a theory that it all happened because of crew error--that they didn't close the hatches in time. That turned out to be false, and no one was happier than Gordon who had mentioned the theory in his lyrics.
In his words: "This finally vindicates, and honors, not only all of the crew who lost their lives, but also the family members who survived them." He vowed to change the lyrics accordingly -- which he faithfully does during each concert.
So, the legend lives on from the Chippewa on down...through Gordon Lightfoot. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is a "Great Song of 1976."
Note: In case you've always wondered, Edmund Fitzgerald owned a number of Great Lakes shipyards. The ship was named after him in 1958.
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