Who sang the song about the Edmund Fitzgerald?

Gordon Lightfoot
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald/Artists
Gordon Lightfoot sings his haunting song of the freighter the Edmund Fitzgerald and the loss of her 29 crewmen on Oct.

Is The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald a true story?

Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot inspired popular interest in this vessel with his 1976 ballad, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost with her entire crew of 29 men on Lake Superior November 10, 1975, 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan.

Why did Gordon Lightfoot song about the Edmund Fitzgerald?

Lightfoot began to write lyrics about the tragedy, putting them with the melody. He had spent time on the Great Lakes and knew a little bit about how the unpredictable weather could make sailing risky near the end of shipping season. That’s how the Edmund Fitzgerald song was born.

What year did the song Edmund Fitzgerald come out?

1976
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald/Released

Are there still bodies on the Edmund Fitzgerald?

The Fitzgerald met its fate while traveling on Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975. Although the captain of the Fitzgerald reported having difficulties during the storm, no distress signals were sent. The entire crew of 29 people died when the vessel sank. No bodies were ever recovered from the wreckage.

How big were the waves that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald?

18 to 25 feet
Around the time the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, the wind was blowing around 50 mph, with gusts reported by the Anderson of 70 to 75 mph, and waves of 18 to 25 feet. Compare this Nov.

What does Gitche Gumee mean?

Is the Big Lake Really Called ‘Gitche Gumee? Loosely, it does indeed mean “Big Sea” or “Huge Water,” but just about always refers to Lake Superior. The 1878 dictionary of Father Frederic Baraga, the first one written for the Ojibwe language, says Lake Superior is Otchipwe-kitchi-gami – the sea of the Ojibwe people.

Why does Lake Superior never give up her dead?

Lightfoot sings that “Superior, they said, never gives up her dead”. This is because of the unusually cold water, under 36 °F (2 °C) on average around 1970. Normally, bacteria decaying a sunken body will bloat it with gas, causing it to float to the surface after a few days.

Were there any survivors of the Edmund Fitzgerald?

Since there were no survivors nor witnesses, their report is based on testimonies and an underwater survey of the wreck. This report suggests that the Fitzgerald was taking on water due to earlier damage from the storm and that around 7:15 p.m. it plunged headfirst into a large wave and sank abruptly.

Who played guitar on Edmund Fitzgerald?

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr.
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. CC OOnt (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s.

Can a dead body float in Lake Superior?

Normally, bacteria decaying a sunken body will bloat it with gas, causing it to float to the surface after a few days. But Lake Superior’s water is cold enough year-round to inhibit bacterial growth, and bodies tend to sink and never resurface.

Were any bodies found from the Edmund Fitzgerald?

Although the captain of the Fitzgerald reported having difficulties during the storm, no distress signals were sent. The entire crew of 29 people died when the vessel sank. No bodies were ever recovered from the wreckage.