"Superior," they said, "never gives up her dead
when the gales of November come early!"
So ends the famous Wisconsin-connected 1976 folk ballad by Gordon Lightfoot, the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The stirring plaint tells of an ore-carrier that set out on Lake Superior from Wisconsin, headed for Cleveland, but was lost in the "gales of November." All 29 on board lost their lives.
Given the current situation in Wisconsin and the shredding of the Medicaid safety net, many more than 29 will surely lose their lives after losing their coverage, as they defer health care that they cannot afford, or go without altogether.
In that context, I find the following version of the ballad to be an excellent, powerful re-use of the original chords and framework. For further context, the "Brothers Fitzgerald" in Wisconsin are Scott Fitzgerald and Jeff Fitzgerald, Republican Majority leaders in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly.
The Wreck of the Brothers Fitzgerald
(I can't find whom to credit either for the singing or the songwriting. If anyone knows, please comment, because this is remarkably well done.) Update: And a big tip o' the proverbial hat to plankbob, who identified the singer/songwriter: Madison's own Peter Leidy.
The legend lives on from Superior on down
Of the great state we call Wisconsin
'Twas the year 2010 when disaster set in
Russ Feingold lost to Ron Johnson
With the help of Koch brothers (there were quite a few others)
Puttin' working folks over the barrel
With Governor Scott came a dastardly plot
And the wreck of the Brothers Fitzgerald!
Public employees, they serve our state well
But the Guv and the Fitzes don't think so
Giving workers a stab with their big power grab
Just one reason that this bill stinks so!
Well the Capitol dome, it's the People's home,
but democracy soon was in peril
A few with the clout began locking us out
It's the wreck of the Brothers Fitzgerald.
Does anyone know where the decency goes,
when you beat up on teachers and nurses
and take funding from those who need it the most
to fill up the millionaires' purses?
Yes the legend lives on from Superior on down
From Beloit to Viroqua to Merrill
And it's still not too late to save our great state
From the wreck of the Brothers Fitzgerald!
We're working very hard on taking back our great state via RECALL!
We'd love your help -- donations to United Wisconsin to Recall Walker would be greatly appreciated.
It's still not too late to take back our great state from the wreck of the Brothers Fitzgerald!
= = = = = = = = = =
UPDATE: Obligatory rec-list THANK YOU!
And, now that I've got your attention, I'll make so bold as to share a few of my own lyrics, a little parody I wrote after last week's rally. To the tune (and stomp-stomp-clap) of Queen's We Will Rock You:
Scotty you're a big man, bad man
Money rollin' in, you're movin' up to DC some day
With that smirk on your face
Ya big disgrace
Stompin' our rights all over the place,
I say, WE WILL RECALL WALKER! (stomp-stomp-clap)
WE WILL RECALL WALKER!
Scotty you're a small man, sad man
Hidin' from the crowd
We're gonna take our state back someday
Wipe that smirk off your face
Ya big disgrace
People are chanting all over the place,
Singin' WE WILL RECALL WALKER! (stomp-stomp-clap)
WE WILL RECALL WALKER!
Too bad it's a bigger deal to get up a Queen tribute band for a recording than it is to do a one-man Gordon-Lightfoot impression with a lone guitar...