39 years ago today...

[Markbnj]

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on Lake Superior. My grandfather, father, and both uncles all came from Detroit and worked the iron boats, so this was kind of a big deal in our house in November of '75.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adZiVjXFfKk

 

[KillerBee]

this has lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

(whoops didn't see your link)

 

[IronWing]

I was amazed how many kids in my class had family connections to the men who died.

<== cheesehead

 

[brianmanahan]

that is one of my favorite songs of all time

and one of my least favorite shipwrecks

a few guys from around the cleveland area died IIRC

 

[Iron Woode]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald

 

[KillerBee]

I remember this other Gordon Lightfoot song from being a kid in the 70's

but seeing the lyrics now - kind of wondering what exactly he was singing about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8rR7E6NfY4

 

[Markbnj]

I remember this other Gordon Lightfoot song from being a kid in the 70's

but seeing the lyrics now - kind of wondering what exactly he was singing about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8rR7E6NfY4

A hard-lovin' woman?

 

[master_shake_]

where i live was on it's shipping route.

 

[MongGrel]

Really? well I guess ya would be real about it, sorry.

I always got my ass busted for liking that song back then, when I was growing up in Indiana.

Not like I was living on the lakes, but we had relatives up in Michigan and went up there a lot.

Still do, but haven't been up that way in ages.

I still fire it up now and then occasionally.

 

[KillerBee]

A hard-lovin' woman?

after reading the lyric meaning sites

I now think it refers to drinking :/
rather than a girl that looked hot in jeans

 

[tcsenter]

There is an almost reverence for the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald in Michigan (where I'm from), largely due to the haunting song by Lightfoot. Bob Dillon said something like "Every time I hear a Gordon Lightfoot song, I wished I had written it." No small compliment. While drinking with friends around the anniversary, we raised many a beer to the souls lost on The Mighty Fitz, though none of us had any real connection to them or even to merchant mariners, fisherman, or whatever on the Great Lakes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My Mom grew up in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan and I'm from upstate NY. I was 8 years old when that happened so I do remember it. I used to crew on a 30' racing sailboat on Lake Ontario when I was in my early 20s. The Great Lakes can be fierce.

 

[waffleironhead]

Wow, can't believe I missed it this year. We usually head up to split rock lighthouse, as they run the light in memory of the sinking.

 

[echo4747]

Does any one know where the love of God goes..
when the waves turn the minutes to hours?

 

[Scarpozzi]

Didn't Gordon Lightfoot write a song about it? Let me see if I can find a link...

 

[Markbnj]

Wow, can't believe I missed it this year. We usually head up to split rock lighthouse, as they run the light in memory of the sinking.

Well next year will be 40 years, so you have another and even more meaningful opportunity .

 

[Captante]

Saw a really interesting documentary about this awhile back.

Still recall that song giving me chills too.

 

[natto fire]

Also honored by Great Lakes Brewing Co. in the form of a tasty porter beer.

 

[DrPizza]

Interesting that the ship was nearly 200 feet longer than the depth it sunk at.

 

[echo4747]

anniversary bump

40 years now

 

[z1ggy]

You old.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm the grandson of one of those twenty-nine men.

 

[John Connor]

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead When the skies of November turn gloomy....

 

[Jadow]

if she'd only put 15 more miles behind her...

I always wonder when a ship sinks, can't someone just throw on a life jacket and jump off? even if water is too cold and they die, should someone be able to find the body.

 

[John Connor]

I'm the grandson of one of those twenty-nine men.

My condolences.