Other Peoples' Songs Request Line: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Safe travels, Mr. Lightfoot

The pride of the American side

You asked for it, and now you shall receive it. Here’s me doing the late, great Gordon Lightfoot’s epic boatsong “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” to the best of my abilities.

To be perfectly frank with you, I’ve always been more of a “Sundown” kinda guy. Gordon Lightfoot wasn’t a staple in my house growing up, so I think I might lack some of the heavy nostalgia vibes that lots of people my age pull from these songs. I know, I know. I’ve dined out on capsized boats and drowning sailors my whole adult life — shouldn’t “The Wreck of the Edmund F” be a foundational touchstone? For whatever reason, it never quite resonated. It might be a bit too AM Gold for my tastes. NONETHELESS, this song was the overwhelming favorite amongst the suggestions you (paid) subscribers threw at me on Sunday, and I felt like it would be a disservice to my loyal Machinists to ignore it. For your listening pleasure, here ‘tis!