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Song Parodies -> "If Gordon Lightfoot Sang "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald""

Original Song Title:

"Sundown"

 (MP3)
Original Performer:

Gordon Lightfoot

Parody Song Title:

"If Gordon Lightfoot Sang "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald""

Parody Written by:

Patrick McWilliams

The Lyrics

On November 10, 1975, the giant ore freighter Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared in a storm on Lake Superior, taking twenty-nine sailors to their deaths. The causes of the sinking are debated to this day. The families of those who were lost still grieve.
I can see her sailing out on Superior
A routine autumn trip with a load of ore
Sailor, you'd better take care
The Witch of November's flying through the air
Storm clouds, you'd better beware
A weather advisory the Coast Guard shares

The Chippewa have warned you but you never learn
Defy Gitchee Gumee and you won't return
West wind, with hurricane force
The Edmund Fitzgerald better change her course
Rogue waves break over the rail
While a warped, unseen bulkhead has begun to fail

Cook is trying to feed the crew but with no success
Skipper sends out a message, they are in distress
God's Love, they seek it in vain
In the wind and the darkness and the pouring rain
Ship's tossed, a weakness is found
And the twenty-nine mariners are swiftly drowned

The Anderson* is looking at its radar screen
But the Edmund Fitzgerald is no longer seen
Ship's down, the searchers all say
Fifteen miles from the anchorage at Whitefish Bay

Ship's gone, it's been forty years
The passage of decades hasn't dried the tears
Sundown, the Mariner's Hall
Sailors of the lake pause once more to recall
The loss of twenty-nine men
They'll return next November to remember again
*The Arthur Anderson, another freighter was sailing behind the Edmund Fitzgerald and received the last message from Captain Ernest McSorley that the Fitz was "holding its own", just before it disappeared from the radar.

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Voting Results

 
Pacing: 5.0
How Funny: 5.0
Overall Rating: 5.0

Total Votes: 9

Voting Breakdown

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User Comments

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Dr Giorgio Coniglio dec - November 10, 2015 - Report this comment
Great submission, which tickles a small funny bone somewhere, but still respects the mariners, their families, and Gord Lightfoot. Done with finesse, on time for the 40th anniversary.
Rob Arndt - November 10, 2015 - Report this comment
Good parody of a tragic situation- 555! On the side, I am upset that the Germans made a new movie on MS Wilhelm Gustloff but in German language only for the DVD! I'd like to see Cameron do THAT ship accurately (rated hard-R). No love story, but would shed light on the massive Kriegsmarine evacuation of E Prussia in 1945. British rescued 330,000 during Dunkirk. The Kriegsmarine 2.3 million military and civilian, under constant Soviet sub and air attacks.
Michael Pacholek - November 10, 2015 - Report this comment
It wouldn't be an official TWOTEF parody if I didn't at least comment. This was an interesting twist on the "If (Fill in the blank) wrote it" idea, and very appropriate.
Jonathan - November 10, 2015 - Report this comment
if Gordon Lightfoot sang "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald?" now THAT's a stretch! 5's
Callmelennie - November 10, 2015 - Report this comment
Funny how one needs to exercise a little more finesse on a significant anniversary of this event. Kind of sobers you up a little bit. Good job Patrick
Patrick - November 12, 2015 - Report this comment
Michael had commented somewhere that he was leaving the site. Glad he contributed on the anniversary. Although Tommy Turtle did an American Pie/WOTEF "smoosh" some time earlier, it was Michael Pacholek who started the "If ( ) Sang Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" series. Rob, is the Wilhelm Gustloff movie available in a US watchable format?
Rob Arndt - November 12, 2015 - Report this comment
Not that I know of Patrick. I can order from Amazon.de and my Region 0 player will play it, but no English language option. It's in German only AFAIK.
Rob Arndt - November 12, 2015 - Report this comment
Hey Patrick, I found one (not German and not documentary). It's called "The Crimson Ocean" from 2012.
Patrick - November 13, 2015 - Report this comment
I need to find one of those multi-region players. I remember back in the VHS days that there were interesting movies that could not be found here. I watched "Downfall" with subtitles, and could make out about 50% of the German. Never studied it formally. Worked in a auction house where I acquired a modest reading ability. But, a good movie, especially a drama, whose basic subject matter I'm somewhat familiar with, should be mostly visual. I had a VHS copy of "Guerra de Canudos" in Portuguese without subtitles, and did not have much trouble following the story.
Rob Arndt - November 13, 2015 - Report this comment
Patrick, despite my fondness for war movies featuring German forces (All Quiet on the Western Front, Downfall, Stalingrad, Enemy at the Gates, Sink the Bismarck, Battle of Britain, Hope and Glory, etc..) a good war film I love to watch is "Battle of Algiers." I would put that up there with "Gone with the Wind", " Casablanca ", and all the other classic masterpieces! Nothing like French Paras vs terrorists ;-)
Rob Arndt - November 13, 2015 - Report this comment
Patrick, Amazon has two Samsung Region Free players. One is $33 and the other $45. Take the latter for free shipping. Has a USB too.

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