Definitely makes your eyes sweat, Brother.

There's a video on here somewhere of one of these sorts of ships in a heavy sea state when the ships spine cracks. You can almost feel the sound as though you were standing on the deck plates yourself. And hearing the dread in the voices of the bridge crew is haunting. Another ship nearby manages to capture exactly how long it takes to go down. It isn't long.

@@balrozgul705 If that is indeed the sound of the keel breaking that is heard then only water tight integrity where it is set can save the portions of the vessel and crew.

@@08191906 they know it too. The keel breaking is doom for the ship and literal two minute warning to find your way to safety or else. Especially so in these sorts of ships that are huge spaces of cargo hold, much less internal support.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jql8ppxlmcCvl3k.html 6 people died in this one. Rogue waves breaking the keel was also one of the best theories for Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking too.

The captain of the Anderson was in contact with captain McSorley on the Fitz at about 7 pm. The Fitz was about ten miles ahead and he asked how they were doing and the answer came back " We are holding our own". Those were the last words ever heard from the Fitzgerald. Fifteen minutes later they were gone.

It's incredible to think that the Fitzgerald could still be operating if it had not gone down in what was a one in a million accident.

As a early teen in Manitowoc, WI (1963+) I lived across the street from the Manitowoc River and would watch both the Fitz & Anderson come & go when they made periodical stops in Manitowoc (not sure if they sere going to Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. which was a little ways up the river.) I remember how the crew would start waving to us kids before we could start waving.

@@AFmedic Wow, what an interesting piece of history.

My best friend spent about fifteen years on the Anderson starting in the mid 80's .

I grew up in the Chesapeake bay! Mostly calm -until it is not!

Ditto✌

I'm from northern Michigan too I was in highschool when this happened

That's good because the insurance only gave each family $600 per family.

there are so many inaccuracies in this song though.

Listen to: Ode to Big Blue, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, The Watchman's gone and Cold on the Shoulder for a change from the big hits you know because that's all the DJs ever used to play. He's got a huge catalogue, be brave and venture out into the unknown!

And “Carefree Highway”

They ARE poetry. He just had an engaging melody that highlighted his poetry.

I'm from Long Island NY, and every time I drive past Great South Bay, it reminds me of the perils these men face to bring me the fish, and clams I love to eat so much. I'm not a believer, or a praying man, but I always, without fail, give appreciation to the men who brought me the food I'm about to eat.

Absolutely amazing!

I remember getting ready for school when I heard about it.. you ever been to the Soo locks

I didn't know they had recovered the bell.

@@christinerobinson9372 Yeah actually, they found her so they were able to figure out exactly what happened. Families said to leave them together on their ship they so loved. Yet, they did get the Ship's Bell and now it's in the cathedral and it's now used to ring for the new lost at "sea"

When I heard they found her and recovered the bell...I balled. Then watched the TV thing so people could understand what happened. I believe it was the Captain's wife who rang her for the first time since she was lost.

@@christinerobinson9372 20 years after the Fitzgerald went down the bell was raised by divers from Canadian Navy’s HMCS Cormorant and a memorial bell with all the crews names replaced it. The actual bell from the Fitz is the center piece of the memorial at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society Museum in Whitefish point, Michigan. Every November 10th they ring the bell 29 times !

Agree

​@Gordon Lightfoot This a most unexpected pleasure. Thank you Gordon for your timeless songs and showing us mere humans how to approach, assess and arrange a piece of music. Back in March of1974 (I was 4 months shy of my 15th birthday. My Mom would drive me to baseball practice. For about 2 months with the radio blasting she would sing Sundown at the top of her lungs, She loved your music. My Father was in the Navy in WWII and was shipped off to Pearl Harbor on Dec 8th 1941. He was a man of the sea his entire adult life (passing in 2002). I remember coming down for breakfast and he was openly crying. He had just read about the Edmund Fitzgerald's foundering. He said to me "Son, these men went through Hell on Earth . They died at their post and we shall honor them. He changed into his Navy uniform and saluted his fallen brothers of the sea. I never forgot that moment. A year later when we listened to The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, he wept. He said he had never heard a song convey the feeling of camaraderie of those on a ship. Or how the song captures the feeling of being on a ship tilling its way on the water. Or a song that evoked the majesty and deadly power of the sea so vividly. He cried every time he heard it. Your music touched his very soul and I thank you for that. As a musician coming of age in the mid 1970's I remember reading how John Lennon tried to write the perfect linear melody in a song. Mentioning the melodies of his verses in Help! and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. To me the greatest use of this technique are your chorus's in If You Could Read My Mind. This song is so well crafted, a masters coarse could be taught on this absolute Masterpiece. It is one of my All Time favorite songs. I NEVER get tired of hearing it. The use of the capo is so effective. I could go on and on for hours but I don't want to take up any more of your time. You Sir are a Living Treasure. Your music will echo long after we've all gone to that Great Gig In The Sky. That is an amazing achievement Gordon and we are all in your debt. Best wishes, Rick

I just want to hug and kiss you!

Wow! He did so well by that donation. Thank you for the info @Key Mack

Longfellow also uses the name in his poem “The Song of Hiawatha”.

Yes, the "shining Big-Sea-Water." That is where I first heard it.

Wow! I’m so sorry about your daughter’s best friend’s father and son. May their souls Rest In Peace 🕊

​@@EMPRESSJOYJEANthe bodies of the 29 workers are still entombed in Superior. Nobody is allowed to dive in that spot