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Quiz about Anatomy of a Song Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald
Quiz about Anatomy of a Song Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald

Anatomy of a Song: "Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald" Quiz


Just how much do you know about Gordon Lightfoot's classic "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"? Pit yourself against 15 questions about the song and/or associated facts. Song #16 in the 'Anatomy' series.

A multiple-choice quiz by FussBudget. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
FussBudget
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
207,692
Updated
May 19 23
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
11 / 15
Plays
5044
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: firemike1016 (15/15), BlueBlaze722 (15/15), Guest 174 (11/15).
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. The freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in 1975. Which of the Great Lakes claimed the vessel? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. The lake that claimed the Edmund Fitzgerald is alternately known by what Native American name? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. What type of cargo was being carried aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald during the fateful voyage? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. According to the song, how much did the cargo on the Edmund Fitzgerald weigh? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. "The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in ______"

Where was the ship returning from?
Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. "Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for ______"
Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Which wind directions get mentioned in the song's lyrics? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. In which month of the year did the disaster occur? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Apart from the Captain, which other member of the crew is specifically mentioned in the lyrics?

Answer: ("Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya")
Question 10 of 15
10. When the Captain sent a distress call, according to the lyrics, what message did he send? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Tragically, the Edmund Fitzgerald was close (in relative terms) to safety. The lyrics describe the location of that safety, which was? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. How many miles lay between the Edmund Fitzgerald and safety, according to the song? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Where is the "maritime sailors' cathedral" located? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. What was the name of the Edmund Fitzgerald's Captain? (Before you go insane, no, this is not mentioned in the song!) Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. How many times does "the church bell chime"? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 23 2024 : firemike1016: 15/15
Mar 14 2024 : BlueBlaze722: 15/15
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 174: 11/15
Mar 11 2024 : BigTriviaDawg: 14/15
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 166: 13/15
Feb 27 2024 : ranjanbest: 15/15
Feb 26 2024 : Darrelly: 15/15
Feb 22 2024 : haydenspapa: 12/15
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 184: 7/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in 1975. Which of the Great Lakes claimed the vessel?

Answer: Lake Superior

The tragedy occurred on 10 November, 1975.

"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call 'Gitche Gumee'
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early"
2. The lake that claimed the Edmund Fitzgerald is alternately known by what Native American name?

Answer: Gitche Gumee

"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called 'Gitche Gumee'
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy"
3. What type of cargo was being carried aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald during the fateful voyage?

Answer: Iron Ore

"With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand 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"

According to www.songfacts.com: "This (song) was nominated for the "Song Of The Year" Grammy, but it was beaten by Barry Manilow's "I Write The Songs".
4. According to the song, how much did the cargo on the Edmund Fitzgerald weigh?

Answer: 26,000 tons

"With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty"

According to www.songfacts.com: "On a sunny afternoon on the 9th of November, the 729 foot Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin, heavy with 26,918 long tons of iron ore (taconite) pellets".

There! Just so you can't say you didn't know!
5. "The ship was the pride of the American side Coming back from some mill in ______" Where was the ship returning from?

Answer: Wisconsin

"The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin"
6. "Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms When they left fully loaded for ______"

Answer: Cleveland

"Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland"

There is some debate about Cleveland. According to www.songfacts.com: "...although the Fitz was indeed leaving with iron ore pellets from Superior, Wisconsin, it was headed to Detroit, not Cleveland" ... "She was bound for the steel mills of Zug island, just off Detroit".
7. Which wind directions get mentioned in the song's lyrics?

Answer: North and West

It's North and West:

"And later that night when the ship's bell rang
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?"

and

"When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind"
8. In which month of the year did the disaster occur?

Answer: November

"When the skies of November turn gloomy"

"When the gales of November came slashin'"

"'Twas the witch of November come stealin'"

"With the gales of November remembered"

and

"Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early"
9. Apart from the Captain, which other member of the crew is specifically mentioned in the lyrics?

Answer: cook

"When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'
Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya
At seven p.m. a main hatchway caved in, he said
Fellas, it's been good to know ya"
10. When the Captain sent a distress call, according to the lyrics, what message did he send?

Answer: He had water coming in

"The captain wired in he had water comin' in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
11. Tragically, the Edmund Fitzgerald was close (in relative terms) to safety. The lyrics describe the location of that safety, which was?

Answer: Whitefish Bay

"The searches all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her"
12. How many miles lay between the Edmund Fitzgerald and safety, according to the song?

Answer: Fifteen

"Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours
The searches all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her"
13. Where is the "maritime sailors' cathedral" located?

Answer: Detroit

"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the maritime sailors' cathedral"

According to www.songfacts.com: "...the story about the church in Detroit is true, but it is called the Old Mariner's Church, not the "Maritime Sailor's Cathedral"
14. What was the name of the Edmund Fitzgerald's Captain? (Before you go insane, no, this is not mentioned in the song!)

Answer: Ernest McSorely

It was Captain Ernest McSorely. As for the other names listed here, Eugene O'Brien was the Wheelsman, Ransom Cundy was the Watchman and Robert Rafferty was a Steward.
15. How many times does "the church bell chime"?

Answer: Twenty-nine

"The church bell chimed till it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald"

"In the US, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was held out of the #1 spot by Rod Stewart's "Tonight's The Night". Enough said...
Source: Author FussBudget

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series Anatomy of a Song - Part 1:

This is part 1 of a collection of all of my "Anatomy of a Song" quizzes. They were the originals, much imitated since. I guess I should take that as a compliment!

  1. Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie" Average
  2. Anatomy of a Song: "Puff The Magic Dragon" Average
  3. Anatomy of a Song: "Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald" Average
  4. Anatomy of a Song: "Werewolves of London" Average
  5. Anatomy of a Song: "Sounds Of Silence" Average

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