Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon of Darkness"—a number one hit on the U.S. country chart with Marty Robbins's cover in 1965—and "Black Day in July," about the 1967 Detroit riot, brought him wide recognition in the 1960s. Canadian chart success with his own recordings began in 1962 with the No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm the One", followed by recognition and charting abroad in the 1970s. He topped the US Hot 100 or AC chart with the hits "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Sundown" (1974); "Carefree Highway" (1974), "Rainy Day People" (1975), and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976), and had many other hits that appeared in the top 40.
Several of Lightfoot's albums achieved gold and multi-platinum status internationally. His songs have been recorded by renowned artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr., The Kingston Trio, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Herb Alpert, Harry Belafonte, Sarah McLachlan, Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, Peter, Paul and Mary, Glen Campbell, The Grateful Dead, Nico, and Olivia Newton-John.
Robbie Robertson of the Band described Lightfoot as "a national treasure". Bob Dylan, also a Lightfoot fan, called him one of his favorite songwriters and, in an often-quoted tribute, Dylan observed that when he heard a Lightfoot song he wished "it would last forever". Lightfoot was a featured musical performer at the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Trent University in Spring 1979 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in May 2003. In November 1997, the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, was bestowed on Lightfoot. On February 6, 2012, Lightfoot was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. June of that year saw his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. On June 6, 2015, Lightfoot received an honorary doctorate of music in his hometown of Orillia from Lakehead University.
As an individual, apart from various awards associated with his albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot has received sixteen Juno Awards—for top folk singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,[67] 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, for top male vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, and as composer of the year in 1972 and 1976. He has received ASCAP awards for songwriting in 1971, 1974, 1976, and 1977, and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. In 1974 Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named pop record of the year by the Music Operators of America. In 1980 he was named Canadian male recording artist of the decade, for his work in the 1970s.
Lightfoot was chosen as the celebrity captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the NHL's 75th anniversary season in 1991–1992.
Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998. In May 2003 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour. Lightfoot is a member of the Order of Ontario, the highest honour in the province of Ontario. In 1977, he received the Vanier Award from the Canadian Jaycees. In 2007 Canada Post honoured Lightfoot and three other Canadian music artists (Anne Murray, Paul Anka, and Joni Mitchell) with postage stamps highlighting their names and images. On June 24, 2012, Lightfoot was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in a New York City ceremony, along with Bob Seger.
Between 1986 and 1988, Lightfoot's friend Ken Danby (1940–2007), the realist painter, worked on a large (60 × 48 inches) portrait of Lightfoot dressed in the white suit he wore on the cover of the album East of Midnight. The picture was backlit by the sun, creating a visually iconic image of the singer.
On June 16, 2014, Lightfoot was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by SOCAN at the 2014 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.
On October 23, 2015, Lightfoot was honoured with a 4-metre tall bronze sculpture in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario. The sculpture, called Golden Leaves—A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, features Lightfoot sitting cross-legged, playing an acoustic guitar underneath an arch of golden maple leaves. Many of the leaves depict scenes from Lightfoot's 1975 greatest hits album, Gord's Gold.
In 2017, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
He was the subject of Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni's 2019 documentary film Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind.
Gordon passed away on May 1st, 2023 at the age of 84.
Edmund Fitzgerald
Gordon Lightfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ship's bell rang
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too
T'was the witch of November come stealin'
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashin'
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'
"Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya"
At seven PM, a main hatchway caved in, he said
"Fellas, it's been good to know ya"
The captain wired in he had water comin' in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her
They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the maritime sailors' cathedral
The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early
Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a moving tribute to the tragic incident that happened on Lake Superior. The song recounts the events of November 10, 1975, when a giant ore carrier named the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in the middle of a raging storm, killing all 29 crew members on board.
The opening lines establish the powerful reputation of Lake Superior: it never gives up the dead it claims. The next lines show the irony of the powerful and good ship being overpowered by the gales of November that came early. This paints a picture of a tragic moment in time that is connected to an age-old tale about the power of Mother Nature.
The song also conveys the tragedy and the bravery of the crew, who remained calm even as they knew their fate was sealed. The line "the captain wired in he had water comin' in" shows the calmness of the captain and the gravity of the situation. The chorus of "The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee Superior, they said, never gives up her dead When the gales of November come early” keeps the memory of the tragedy alive for future generations.
Line by Line Meaning
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
This is a story that has been passed down over time, starting with the Chippewa people who lived near the lake.
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
This is the name given to the big lake that was once called Gitche Gumee.
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
It is believed that the lake never gives up the bodies of those who die in its waters.
When the skies of November turn gloomy
This event occurred during the month of November, when the weather turned bad.
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
The ship was carrying a very heavy load of iron ore, weighing more than 26 thousand tons.
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
When the ship was empty, it weighed less than the amount of iron ore it was carrying on this voyage.
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
The ship was strong and reliable, but it was no match for the storm that was to come.
When the gales of November came early
The storm that caused the shipwreck happened earlier in the month than usual.
The ship was the pride of the American side
This ship was an important symbol of American history and achievement.
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
After carrying iron ore to a steel mill in Wisconsin, the ship was returning to Cleveland.
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
Compared to other large freighters, this one was especially big.
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
The ship was manned by an experienced crew and a capable captain.
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
Before leaving for Cleveland, the ship had completed some important business deals with steel companies.
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
The ship left Wisconsin fully loaded with iron ore, headed for Cleveland.
And later that night when the ship's bell rang
During the night, something happened on the ship that caused the bell to ring.
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The crew wondered if the strong north wind they had been feeling might have caused the bell to ring.
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
The sound of the wind in the ship's wires was loud and concerning.
And a wave broke over the railing
A large wave crashed over the ship's railing, causing damage.
And every man knew, as the captain did too
Everyone on board understood the danger they were facing, including the captain.
T'was the witch of November come stealin'
The crew considered the November storm to be like a witch that had come to steal them away.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
The storm caused the sun to rise later than usual, and the crew had to delay breakfast.
When the gales of November came slashin'
The November storm was particularly vicious, with strong winds and heavy rain.
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
As the afternoon progressed, the rain turned to freezing rain, making conditions even worse.
In the face of a hurricane west wind
The ship was facing a very strong, westward wind that felt like a hurricane.
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'
The ship's cook came out to the deck during suppertime to speak to the crew.
"Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya"
The cook told the crew that the rough weather made it too dangerous to serve dinner.
At seven PM, a main hatchway caved in, he said
Later that night, part of the ship's structure collapsed, causing further damage.
"Fellas, it's been good to know ya"
The cook said goodbye to the crew, understanding the danger they were all facing.
The captain wired in he had water comin' in
The captain sent a message concerning the growing amount of water entering the ship.
And the good ship and crew was in peril
The ship and the crew were in great danger, with no easy way to escape the storm.
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
As the storm raged on, the captain's lights disappeared from view.
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The ship was wrecked, causing the loss of life and cargo.
Does any one know where the love of God goes
The singer is pondering whether God's love has any role to play in this tragedy.
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The rough waves were so intense that time seemed to be moving very slowly.
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
Searchers believed the ship might have been able to make it to Whitefish Bay, but it was too far away.
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her
If the ship had traveled a little further, it might have been able to find safety.
They might have split up or they might have capsized
The ship might have broken apart or capsized during the storm.
They may have broke deep and took water
Water may have entered the ship, causing it to sink.
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Only memories are left of the crew members who perished in the storm.
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Families of the lost crew members still feel the pain and the loss of their loved ones today.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
The songwriter is alluding to the lakes as if they are living beings with moods and emotions.
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
Each lake is compared to a mansion, with rooms made of ice-cold water.
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams
The lake's steaming waves are compared to the reckless dreams of a young man.
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
The islands and bays on the lake are popular spots for recreational activities.
And farther below Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is at a lower elevation than the other Great Lakes.
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
Water flows from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
Ships made of iron sail on the lake, and sailors understand the risks and challenges that come with it.
With the gales of November remembered
The November storm is still remembered and respected by the Great Lakes' mariners.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
The families and friends of the lost crew members gathered in Detroit for a memorial service.
In the maritime sailors' cathedral
The memorial service was held in a cathedral that was dedicated to sailors and their families.
The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times
The church bell rang 29 times, once for each of the crew members who perished in the storm.
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
The bell rang for every man who went down with the ship.
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
It is said that Lake Superior never gives back the bodies of those who perish in its depths.
When the gales of November come early
The November storm was especially early and severe, making it even more deadly for those out on the water.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DWilly116
Their memory lives on ...
Ernest McSorley (captain)
John McCarthy (first mate)
James Pratt (second mate)
Michael Armagost (third mate)
David Weiss (cadet).
Ransom Cundy (watchman, marine veteran of WW2)
Karl Peckol (watchman)
William Spengler (watchman)
John Simmons (senior wheelman, on his last trip before retirement)
Eugene O’Brien (wheelman)
John Poviach (wheelman)
Paul Riippa (deckhand)
Mark Thomas (deckhand)
Bruce Hudson (deckhand)
George Holl (chief engineer)
Edward Bindon (first assistant engineer)
Thomas Edwards (second assistant engineer)
Russell Haskell (second assistant engineer).
Oliver "Buck" Champeau (third assistant engineer, marine veteran of Korean War)
Ralph Walton (oiler)
Blaine Wilhelm (oiler, navy veteran of WW2 and Korea)
Thomas Bentsen (oiler)
Gordon MacLellan (wiper)
Robert Rafferty —(steward and cook)
Allen Kalmon (second cook)
Joseph Mazes (special maintenance man)
Thomas Borgeson (maintenance man)
Frederick Beetcher (porter)
Nolan Church (porter).
@maggiev53
"Mariners’ Church of Detroit Mourns the Passing of Gordon Lightfoot
Mariners’ Church of Detroit is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gordon Lightfoot on May 1st.
We are forever grateful to him for honoring the 29 men who lost their lives on November 10, 1975, in his immortal song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” That song referenced Mariners' Church and its late Rector, Bishop Richard Ingalls Sr., ringing the bell 29 times to honor the crew of the Fitzgerald.
Lightfoot’s song included the line, “The church bell chimed ‘til it rang twenty-nine times…” recalling the early morning of November 11, 1975, as word of the Fitzgerald tragedy began to spread. Bishop Ingalls woke early that morning to ring the church’s Brotherhood Bell to honor the Fitzgerald. Ingalls said he paused between each of the 29 pulls, allowing the sound to echo over the quiet city on that cold November dawn.
In honor of Gordon Lightfoot, Mariners’ Church will ring its bell 30 times today, May 2 at 3:00 p.m. We invite you to join us in a moment of silence as the bell tolls.
The Trustees of Mariners’ Church of Detroit"
@NemesisDawn
RIP
10 NOVEMBER 1975
Ernest McSorley — Captain born in 1912.
John McCarthy — First mate born in 1913.
James Pratt — Second mate born in 1931.
Michael Armagost — Third mate born in 1938.
David Weiss — Cadet born in 1953.
Ransom Cundy — Watchman born in 1922.
Karl Peckol — Watchman born in 1955.
William Spengler — Watchman born in 1916.
John Simmons — Senior wheelman born in 1913.
Eugene O’Brien — Wheelman born in 1925.
John Poviach — Wheelman born in 1916.
Paul Riippa — Deckhand born in 1953.
Mark Thomas — Deckhand born in 1954.
Bruce Hudson — Deckhand born in 1953.
George Holl — Chief engineer born in 1915.
Edward Bindon — First assistant engineer born in 1928.
Thomas Edwards — Second assistant engineer born in 1925.
Russell Haskell — Second assistant engineer born in 1935.
Oliver Champeau — Third assistant engineer born in 1934.
Ralph Walton — Oiler born in 1917.
Blaine Wilhelm — Oiler born in 1923.
Thomas Bentsen — Oiler born in 1952.
Gordon MacLellan — Wiper born in 1945.
Robert Rafferty — Steward born in 1913.
Allen Kalmon — Second steward born in 1932.
Joseph Mazes — Special maintenance man born in 1916.
Thomas Borgeson — Maintenance man born in 1934.
Frederick Beetcher — Porter born in 1919.
Nolan Church — Porter born in 1920.
@LowerMichigan248
I put this here in hope that after weeks, months, years , whenever someone likes it I will be reminded of this song.
@silverperryhobart6560
🫡☮️💖🌬✨️💐
@mrrexychomp9829
48 years and 3 days
@SeboltLawnLandscape
Never forget 🫡
@gammothdraws
Here you go
@leejacoby5610
All yours Bud ❤
@Hunter-qu3xn
Gordon Lightfoot, who wrote and performed this song, died last night, May 1, 2023. International Workers' Day. He wrote this song to honor those regular men, who suffered a horrific death while they were just doing their everyday job. Let us all pause to remember and give thanks for the everyday working people, those people we never see or think of who make our own lives easier by their labor and sacrifices. Sailors, soldiers, truckers, longshoremen, farmers, pilots, firefighters, nurses, teachers, veterinarians, caregivers... So many people who are on the fronlines yet in the background, working hard, just struggling to survive and take care of their families and others and do good things in this life. Some of them do not make it out alive. Honor them. ❤
@amylynnhunt55
@Hunter, thank you for mentioning that, lovely and meaningful comment.
@MrFritz6940
Wow. Well said!!!
@junehenderson7072
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL thoughts ...I'll keep Him and all in prayer!thanks for sharing..this truly touched my heart ❤and soul. 😢