Story Behind The Song

Hearing stories of her sinking on the 30th anniversary, I was fortunate enough to have the first verse land on me. The song came very quickly. It was one of the last songs added to the CD. May God bless their souls.

Song Description

For the Captain and crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald - lost on Lake Superior November 10, 1975. Ernest McSorley was her Captain. She went down quickly in one of those notorious "Gails of November." All 29 aboard her were lost.

Lyrics

Captain McSorley
(For the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald)
Bryan Poirier, Manitou Passage Music, ASCAP ©2006

Captain McSorley, I?m sorry to say
But, three forward hatches have all washed away
And we?re taking on water and listing hard to the port
Captain McSorley, retirement near
Feared now that that day would never appear
And I knew in my heart that, again, I would not see the shore

The waves were taller than buildings
This wind was made for the killing
It?s not the fires of hell but these forty foot swells
That will be the end of me

Chorus
Let it be fast; don?t make it last
This water?s so cold, to the depths we will pass
Pray for my children, pray for my wife
Remember I loved you, remember my life

Captain McSorley, our radar is down
The ship seems to moan as we?re tossed all around
And I worry we bottomed while passing through six fathom shoals
Captain McSorley, you?ve slept not a wink
And if we survive this I?ll buy you a drink
But, this gale from the northeast just pounds us, we pitch and we roll

The Anderson?s calling with weather
What would you like me to tell her?
Tell her, ?We?re holding our own, fifteen miles and we?re home
That?ll be the break we need.?

Chorus

Instrumental Solo

The Anderson?s calling with weather
What would you like me to tell her?
Tell her, ?We?re holding our own, fifteen miles and we?re home
That?ll be the break we need.?

Chorus Twice

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
mbirkey	New Third Coast	7/19/2012
smokewood	Smokewood Music picks	12/7/2007