It's the 30th anniversary of this great ship's passing.

[Chris Benvenuto]

in 2 days it will be the 30th annivarsary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, A Michigan legend.

 

in tribute here are the lyrics to the well known song, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald:

 

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

Of the big lake they call 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 - 26,000 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 Wisconson

As the big freighters go it was bigger than most

With a crew and the 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 ships bell rang

Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

 

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound

And a wave broke over the railing

And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,

T'was the witch of November come stealing.

 

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait

When the gales of November came slashing

When afternoon came it was freezing rain

In the face of a hurricane West Wind

 

When supper time came the old cook came on deck

Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya

At 7PM a main hatchway caved in

He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

 

The Captain wired in he had water coming in

And the good ship and crew was in peril

And later that night when his lights went out of sight

Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

 

Does anyone know where the love of God goes

When the words turn the minutes to hours

The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay

If they'd 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 ruins 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 29 times

For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

 

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee

Superior, they say, never gives up her dead

When the gales of November come early.

 

RIP ol' Fitz and her Crew!

[SharkTums]

OMG! Thank you for bringing back horriffic childhood memories of my dad blasting that song at top volume while working out!!!

[Nrthwnd]

And many thanks to Canadian Icon, Gordon Lightfoot for a thoroughly haunting and still timely histronics sing-song about the fated ship. Still chilling to hear it, when it's sung and orchestrated right.

 

~ ~ ~

[PhishyBrewer]

Mmm... I feel like drinking an Edmund Fitzgerald now. What's this about a ship? I just know the beer.

 

Trust me, when you live on Lake Erie for most of your life, you know about the Edmund Fitzgerald

 

 

ABV: 5.8%

ABW: 4.7%

IBU: 37

 

TYPE/STYLE

Porter: Originated in Great Britain and named after the porters who hauled goods from wagons to the stands at the open air markets common to England at that time.

 

FOOD COMPLEMENTS

Roasty and smoked flavors like barbecued ribs, steaks and oysters. Also a favorite with chocolate desserts.

 

BRAND NAME

Named after the ship that frequently docked in Cleveland and sunk in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975 with many Northeast Ohioans on board.

 

AWARDS

Bronze Medal, 2004 Great American Beer Festival

 

Gold Medal, 2003 World Beer Championships

 

Gold Medal, 2002 Great American Beer Festival

 

Gold Medal, 2002 World Beer Championships

 

World Champion, Gold Medal, 2001 World Beer Championships

 

Gold Medal, 1997 World Beer Championships

 

Silver Medal, 1997 World Beer Championships

 

Gold Medal, 1996 World Beer Championships

 

Bronze Medal, 1996 World Beer Cup, Colorado

 

World Champion, Platinum Medal, 1994 World Beer Championships

 

Gold Medal, 1993 Great American Beer Festival

 

Gold Medal, 1991 Great American Beer Festival

[ChrisZer0]

Again, thank you for pistol-whipping us 20somethings whose parents loved that song. Thank christ Gordon Lightfoot hasnt wrecked anything since.

[PhishyBrewer]

I don't know why, but I just bought the song from iTunes :?

[ChrisZer0]

wrong wrong wrong

 

Though, if like to see if I could find the beer,whos the brewer??

[PhishyBrewer]

^Great Lakes Brewing Co of Cleveland, Ohio

[ChrisZer0]

^ thank ya sir!

[PhishyBrewer]

Found this really cool website http://www.ssefo.com/

 

[FlyingScooter]

I just saw something on the EF on the history channel a few weeks ago.

A legend of the Great Lakes.

Always loved the FX on the guitar in that song.

[dandaman]

I kid you not, that used to be one of my favourite songs...

 

Still is, I guess, with all this crap being put out these days.

[SLUSHIE]

I've never heard the song.

 

And by seeing what people say about it, I'm glad I haven't

[Chris Benvenuto]

I just thought this would be a recollection of the ship's untimely passing. Not a headache to the 20something's memories

[Chris Benvenuto]

1 more day you guys, one more day....don't let it slip away!!!!!!!

[Chris Benvenuto]

30th anniversary to the Fitz's sinking!

 

RIP Fitz and her crew!