Editing 2910: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Created by ONE OF THE FBI'S MOST WANTED, FOR CRIMES AGAINST SHIPPING - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | + | The comic features a character identifiable as a {{w|minstrel}}, {{w|bard}} or {{w|Folk music|folk singer}}, performing a {{w|narrative song}} on a jetty. The words appear to recount the fate of the {{w|SS Edmund Fitzgerald}}, a famously wrecked vessel and thus seemingly an ideal subject for a musical retelling in a traditional way that is often found in the form of a {{w|sea shanty}} and tells of events familiar to those who associate with ships. | |
− | + | The words of the song start off very much in the manner of such a nostalgic recounting, but soon becomes a direct reference to the art of songwriting itself. Rather than describing in song how a disaster occured, it turns out to be a description of how a disaster occured for ''the sake of'' a song. | |
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+ | The reason for sinking is still unknown, but it's speculated that her hull broke up in the rough waters of the Great Lakes. This xkcd is implying that the ''real'' reason for her sinking is that {{w|Gordon Lightfoot|a songwriter}} bribed a mechanic to intentionally engineer her sinking and give him sufficient material for {{w|The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald|a new song}}. | ||
+ | As a punchline, the verse goes on to reveal that another even greater {{w|Sinking of the Titanic|maritime disaster}} had already occured for the sake of a {{w|Titanic (1997 film)|film}}. The title text continues this particular cycle by suggesting that an even bigger potential disaster was orchestrated {{tvtropes|RecycledInSpace|in space}}, as the 'real life' basis for {{w|Armageddon (1998 film)|yet another film}}. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
+ | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | :[Cueball is holding a guitar and singing on a pier | + | :[Cueball is holding a guitar and singing on a pier.] |
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:The ship was the pride | :The ship was the pride | ||
:of the American side | :of the American side | ||
− | + | :It was due to set | |
− | + | :sail for Cleveland | |
:As the big freighters go, | :As the big freighters go, | ||
:it was bigger than most | :it was bigger than most | ||
− | + | :With a crew and good | |
− | + | :captain well seasoned | |
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:But taking a walk on | :But taking a walk on | ||
:the shore by the dock | :the shore by the dock | ||
− | + | :Was a songwriter named | |
− | + | :Gordon Lightfoot | |
:He was humming a tune | :He was humming a tune | ||
:but it didn't have words | :but it didn't have words | ||
− | + | :For it's challenging | |
− | + | :trying to write good | |
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:Poor Gordon sought glory | :Poor Gordon sought glory | ||
:but needed a story | :but needed a story | ||
− | + | :His career in folk | |
− | + | :music imperiled | |
:He mulled over this as | :He mulled over this as | ||
:he watched them do work | :he watched them do work | ||
− | + | :On the hull of the | |
− | + | :''Edmund Fitzgerald'' | |
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:Perhaps it was wrong, | :Perhaps it was wrong, | ||
:what he did for a song | :what he did for a song | ||
− | + | :He should never have | |
− | + | :bribed that mechanic | |
:But his maritime crimes | :But his maritime crimes | ||
:are no worse than the time | :are no worse than the time | ||
− | + | :Young James Cameron | |
− | + | :sank the ''Titanic'' | |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} |