A calm but solemn and reverent true tale of tragedy on the water. What a rich and unmistakable storytelling voice Gordon has... Thanks for watching! 🥰

R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot, what a songwriter.

A beautiful yet extremely sad song about a wrecked vessel. R.I.P. to all the people who passed. ~ C 02 - 07 - 24

Yes! You said the one word that encapsulates this song...reverence. First one of dozens I've listened to have said that. Thank you.

Another great reaction, Brandon! This is such a haunting song.

My father worked on the boats as a cook for many years.....including the Fitz.... I've been aboard her a few times myself.... We knew many of the men personally...... Rest in Peace.... Michael Armagost- 37- Third Mate- Iron River, Wisconsin Fred Beetcher- 56- Porter- Superior, Wisconsin Thomas Bentsen- 23- Oiler- St. Joseph, Michigan Edward Bindon -47- First Asst. Engineer- Fairport Harbor, Ohio Thomas Borgeson -41- Maintenance Man- Duluth, Minnesota Oliver Champeau- 41-Third Asst. Engineer- Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Nolan Church -55 -Porter -Silver Bay, Minnesota Ransom Cundy- 53- Watchman- Superior, Wisconsin Thomas Edwards-50- Second Asst. Engineer- Oregon, Ohio Russell Haskell -40- Second Asst. Engineer- Millbury, Ohio George Holl -60- Chief Engineer- Cabot, Pennsylvania Bruce Hudson- 22- Deck Hand -North Olmsted, Ohio Allen Kalmon -43- Second Cook- Washburn, Wisconsin Gordon MacLellan- 30- Wiper- Clearwater, Florida Joseph Mazes- 59- Special Maintenance Man -Ashland, Wisconsin John McCarthy -62-First Mate -Bay Village, Ohio Ernest McSorley -63 -Captain -Toledo, Ohio Eugene O'Brien- 50- Wheelsman -Toledo, Ohio Karl Peckol -20- Watchman -Ashtabula, Ohio John Poviach -59- Wheelsman- Bradenton, Florida James Pratt -44- Second Mate- Lakewood, Ohio Robert Rafferty -62 -Steward -Toledo, Ohio Paul Riippa -22 -Deck Hand -Ashtabula, Ohio John Simmons -63 -Wheelsman -Ashland, Wisconsin William Spengler -59- Watchman- Toledo, Ohio Mark Thomas -21- Deck Hand- Richmond Heights, Ohio Ralph Walton -58- Oiler- Fremont, Ohio David Weiss -22 -Cadet -Agoura, California Blaine Wilhelm -52- Oiler- Moquah, Wisconsin

Rest in Peace Mr Gordon Lightfoot. I love you and miss you so much.❤

HEY BRANDON! 😊YOU WANT A FEW MORE FROM GORDON? IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND, SUNDOWN, CAREFREE HIGHWAY 💯👍 RIP☹GORDON!

I was a teenager in Florida when this came out. Until then The Great Lakes were just big blue blobs on the map up around the Canadian border. We had studied lock transportation waterways so I knew they had them up there. Like the Panama Canal and the Suez, but that was all. The area became real for me after the media coverage and documentaries the song generated.

They rang the bell 29 times each year since it happened. After Gordon died they went to 30 times. Canadian treasure, and the first song on CBC Radio Canada on New Years 1967, our centennial year, was The Canadian Railroad Trilogy which was commissioned by the CBC. Early Morning Rain, If You Can Read My Mind, Sundown are the next major ones. Thank you Brandon for performing these music reactions.

Great pick Brandon! fantastic and beautiful song, the Gordon's voice is unique, my fave from him (almost on par with this one) is "Ghosts Of Cape Horn"

Thank you Brandon for giving a listen to one of the best, not only a singer songwriter, but a worldy minstrel, bard, and balladeer. I knew Gordon's music would touch your soul. The entire Summertime Dream album is dream like in its ethereal, acoustic soundscapes. I highly recommend for your listening pleasure these Lightfoot classics: Rainy Day People, The Minstrel of the Dawn, Beautiful, and his fist huge hit, If You Could Read My Mind. Peace ✌️ ☮️ 🕊

Got to meet Gordon twice, fine Canadian gentlemen with the gift of the word

What a classic song!! He’s got several hits that I’m famous with, but I didn’t really follow him. RIP Gordon….appropriate timing as he passed away May 1, 2023.

Thank you for this.

👍👍👍👍👍👍

Great reaction Brandon!! Gordon Lightfoot (RIP) is a true Canadian legend & treasure. His songwriting ability stands among the greats (Bob Dylan considers him one of his favourites - and that's high praise!) He indeed paid perfect respect & reverence to this tragedy (including updating the lyrics years later when it was discovered that the hatchways did not cave in - so he change the lyrics while playing this live). At the news of his passing - that churchbell at the Mariner's Cathedral in Detroit rang 30 times - 29 for the lost lives on the Edmund, and once for Gordon! If that's not acknowledgement of the lasting power of your tribute to the fallen, not sure what is! HIGHLY suggest further Gord: Sundown, Carefree Highway, If You Could Read My Mind, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Early Morning Rain, Pussywillows Cat-Tails, Song For A Winter's Night. So much good stuff! Cheers.

Master of a song, when it comes to story telling. Just a beautiful way to memorialize a brief time of history.

Love Lightfoot's music. Despite living not far from him in Ontario, I never saw him live until my karaoke partner spotted a notice he was playing the CNE Bandshell on Labour Day Saturday of 2022. Gordon was 83 then and definitely fading, but put on a great show anyway...including every last word of this epic song. He passed away nine months later in May 2023 at 84. Apparently he had performed at least once that April... Other great Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind Sundown Carefree Highway Bitter Green Song For A Winter's Night Pussywillows, Cattails Early Morning Rain Did She Mention My Name Beautiful Canadian Railroad Trilogy The Circle Is Small Restless Stay Loose ...and a bunch more.

Gord had his problems and controversies but he was one of my favorite storytellers and this is a masterpiece about a truly tragic event. So glad you are reacting to some songs from the 70s and 80s, there was so many incredible artists and music during that period.Love and respect, brother, hog fam Canada 🇨🇦 ❤

What a wordsmith this man is. Although quite simple musically, this song is so entrancing. Thanks for picking one of Lightfoot's best!

Great song. An old school ballad. This is one of those timeless tunes that gets airtime on even hard rock radio stations.

Recorded the first time they played it

For anyone who has lost a friend or family member at sea, this line hits really hard: "Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?" Musically, the power of the song derives in large part from the intensity of repetition. There is only one chord sequence; no changes for a chorus or bridge. The repeated guitar melody in the interludes between the verses adds to the sense of a saga. In this setting, any change in dynamics has great power, and this is used to great effect. Quite a brilliant performance all around.

I was 8 when this happened. I remember it being big news. I grew up in Milwaukee, where the Edmund Fitzgerald was based. I believe a number of the lost crew were locals. And I remember the song. Lightfoot is an excellent songwriter.

What a beautiful review Your face told it all ❤️👏🤗

☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥😢

Always gets me. Such reverence.

Masterpiece Memorial, as only Gordon could render it. I cry every time I listen to this. I used to work on Oil Rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, I have spent many hours in 20 foot seas, it is those times when you feel the power of the ocean, which reminds you of the fragility of life, at the mercy of such immense power of the waves.

I was barely a teen when this was released, and I was obsessed with it; the storytelling was so beautiful, and the music was perfect. Thanks for reacting to this sad, beautiful song.

Hey Brandon! Nobody wrote songs like Gordon. He was a genius that wrote and sung masterpieces. Gordon is definitely missed. Thanks Brandon for another awesome reaction!🕊🕊🕊👍😎

This song is one of my all-time favorites. Thank you for reacting.

gordon was a true poet musician genius and a national treasure of canada. so many great songs to choose from. one to consider for a future reaction is one of his finest and is called ' canadian railroad trilogy' and is about the building of the railroad across canada in the 1800's. here is a top quality live performance from 1972 to marvel at : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hNCfiJSC0MvNqqc.html

Try his Canadian Railroad Trilogy for another great historical story well told through song.

Podrías reaccionar a La Renga, en algún directo.!!?

There is a GREAT cover of this song that's even more moody and atmospheric by the Canadian band the Rheostatics.

🛳⚓☔

I took a hot girl in a mini skirt to see Gordon in Detroit on our first date. 'We'll celebrate our 48th anniversary next week. She doesn't wear mini skirts anymore but she's still hot.

I grew up in a small town on the shore of Lake Michigan (WI side, a little north of Milwaukee). In elementary school, around 1979, we had a glee club class as part of the school week and this is one of the songs we learned and sang in class. I have known this song, the words too, since I was like 9 years old. It still makes me, a godless heathen metalhead, tear up when I listen to it. I love this song. Waiting for a doom metal band to cover this tune, maybe My Dying Bride or someone like that.