Info Req: Edmund Fitzgerald / Back Home in Derry

Subject: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Kathleen
Date: 14 Jul 98 - 03:55 PM

O.K., I have yet another question. . .I have an album with a song called "Back Home in Derry," but it is to the same tune of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." My question in: which song is the traditional form and which is the newer version? Thanks!

Later,

Kathleen

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Jul 98 - 04:16 PM

Neither are traditional (not this trad thing again). Gordon Lightfoot wrote tune & words to the Edmund Fitzgerald, later Bobby Sands wrote Wish I Were Back Home In Derry to Gordon's tune & then gave it a chorus. Barry

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: O'Boyle
Date: 14 Jul 98 - 08:22 PM

Actually Bobby sands wrote it as a poem called "The Voyage," with no mention of the chorus "I wish I was back home in Derry. Christie Moore added the chorus/refrain when it he put it to music. The poem is bit longer than the song. It is available in the book "Writings from Prison" by Bobby Sands (1997) available through Roberts Rinehart press. Proceeds go to the Booby Sands Trust

Tiocfaidh ar la

Rick

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Kathleen
Date: 15 Jul 98 - 01:36 PM

Thanks. By the way, what is meant by "Not this trad thing again"?

Later,

Kathleen

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Jul 98 - 04:55 PM

Kathleen, that trad thing was more in jest than anything. From time to time "what's traditional & what's not" creeps up & it's a never ending discussion of personnel opinions. The topic usually needs a long rest before it rears it's head. Barry

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Kathleen
Date: 15 Jul 98 - 05:20 PM

Mr. Barry Finn, I did realize that it was not serious, but that doesn't mean I understood it. I think I get it now.

Later,

Kathleen

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Alan of Oz
Date: 16 Jul 98 - 07:58 AM

G'day,
Does anyone have dates for "The Wreck....", "The Voyage" and Christy Moore's additions?

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: O'Boyle
Date: 16 Jul 98 - 08:55 AM

Bobby Sands entered prison in late 1976 and died on may 5, 1981. He wrote "the Voyage" during that time. The copyright dates in the book mentioned above are 1983 and 1987. The copyright is owned by the Bobby Sands Trust. I'll check on the Christy Moore album. I loaned it out.

Rick

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: O'Boyle
Date: 16 Jul 98 - 09:03 AM

That was faster than I thought. "Back Home In Derry" (as it is listed on the album) was first released on the album "Ride On" in 1984. I couldn't tell you about the Gordon Lightfoot song but it was much earlier than that.

Rick

Subject: RE: Edmund Fitzgerald
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 16 Jul 98 - 10:08 AM

1976, Warner Brothers / Reprise Records 2246-2 The album "Summertime Dream"contains :The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" there was an earlier thread on this which went into the history of the song
Regards

Ted