Gordon Lightfoot Sundown
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,099
From: central Indiana
Definitely a talent writer and storyteller. He is another on my growing list of people I never got to see perform live.
It surprises me the number of people who don’t know the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a song based on a real event.
Back when I had disposable income (B.C. Before Children) I use to snowmobile several times a year in Michigans UP.
On the first UP snowmobile trip I went on we stopped at a rest area with a lighthouse. The group spent a little time wondering around, looking out on the beach and frozen lake. The lighthouse was at Whitefish Point in Paradise.
Of course, I knew the song and the story behind it. However, standing there looking out at the water and realizing this was the spot mentioned in the song (“The searchers all said they’ve made whitefish bay If they put 15 more miles behind her”) hit me pretty hard. Kinda hard to explain, but it was at that point the story became more than something from a history book.
I had a similar experience a few years ago standing at the Flight 93 memorial in Pennsylvania. Being there is way different than just seeing it on TV.
Gordon Lightfoot definitely had a talent for putting stories to lyrics and music. That kind of writing skill is scarce today.
It surprises me the number of people who don’t know the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a song based on a real event.
Back when I had disposable income (B.C. Before Children) I use to snowmobile several times a year in Michigans UP.
On the first UP snowmobile trip I went on we stopped at a rest area with a lighthouse. The group spent a little time wondering around, looking out on the beach and frozen lake. The lighthouse was at Whitefish Point in Paradise.
Of course, I knew the song and the story behind it. However, standing there looking out at the water and realizing this was the spot mentioned in the song (“The searchers all said they’ve made whitefish bay If they put 15 more miles behind her”) hit me pretty hard. Kinda hard to explain, but it was at that point the story became more than something from a history book.
I had a similar experience a few years ago standing at the Flight 93 memorial in Pennsylvania. Being there is way different than just seeing it on TV.
Gordon Lightfoot definitely had a talent for putting stories to lyrics and music. That kind of writing skill is scarce today.
Last edited by matt69olds; May 3, 2023 at 01:56 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,564
From: Harrison, Michigan
I know exactly what you mean about seeing a actual spot something bad happened, Matt. Wife and I stopped at the Flight 93 spot on way back from Olds Nats in Gettysburg. I actually started bawling! So emotional, never had anything like that happen before. To hear all those recordings off the old answering machines of those doomed passengers!! Not to derail this thread, We here in Michigan sure did love Gordon Lightfoot.
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