Posted on 05/14/2023 5:20:45 PM PDT by Leaning Right
I agree. Hard to add to what has been said already on this thread. Very touching and a little sign that there is some empathy still alive in this earthly world.
Ping
I was able to see Gordon Lightfoot in concert three times. But the first time was when he was on tour just after The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was released. It was November 11, 1976. He announced to the audience that one year ago last night was when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank. Talk about a powerful moment. I just loved his music. What a great storyteller.
Thanks for posting...
“The legend lives on...”
Thank you for posting the link to the YouTube. Very interesting, and touching.
Thanks for the post. Choked up a little.
“The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is probably the best story song ever. Most story songs have fictitious characters and situations. This doesn’t. It’s about real people in a real situation. R.I.P. Gordon.
ping
Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, MN was also lit in his honor. It only shines on November 10 every year to commemorate the Fitzgerald sinking and all others lost in Lake Superior.
Ping.
They rang the church bells 30 times at his funeral in Orillia, ON the week before as well.
I was in Detroit this past week at the convention center which is quite close by... paused a minute at the church before leaving town.
In theological circles that phrase encapsulates the notion of “ How can God be good, if bad things exist?’ A defense of the goodness of God in the face of the existence of evil is called a theodicy.
Many of Lightfoot’s songs have many deep philosophical statements, considerations, and conundrums.
Recommend listening to the following:
The Soul is the Rock
Too Late for Prayin’
Wherefore and the Why
The Gypsy
What made Lightfoot a genius was that he would wed philosophical notions into common everyday experiences and have a tight, beautiful musical composition with it.
Definitely on par with Dylan. Maybe overall, better.
IMHO
I agree. Gives me chills every time.
Hauntingly beautiful...
Lightfoot recorded a second song about a maritime disaster, “The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle.” Haunting melody, you can find it on youtube.
What an incredible thing to do.
I recall the song vividly as it came out exactly when my father was killed at work and I recall listening to it lamenting the loss of my father like all those family members did.
The song also really brought allot of understanding to a part of American life working the Great Lakes that nobody would have ever known had they not heard that beautify song from Gordon.
I listen to this song allot on Pandora and many others from that time, so doe my kids who all love his music and the many other great artists from the 60s & 70s.
I had tickets to see Gordon early this year but he cancelled so we missed out on that but he gave allot of great memories.
America was so very very different then and I miss it dearly.
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