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.}} | |
− | Cueball's song | + | The comic features [[Cueball]] identifiable as a {{w|minstrel}}, {{w|bard}} or {{w|Folk music|folk singer}}, performing a {{w|narrative song}} on a jetty. It parodies {{w|Gordon Lightfoot}}'s song '{{w|The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald|The Wreck of the ''Edmund Fitzgerald''}}', recounting the fate of the {{w|SS Edmund Fitzgerald|SS ''Edmund Fitzgerald''}}, a vessel famously wrecked on the {{w|Great Lakes}} and thus a promising subject for a musical retelling. The words begin with some of the original lyrics of Lightfoot's song, but soon become a direct reference to the art of songwriting itself. Rather than describing the disaster itself, the song turns out to be a description of how the disaster occurred ''for the sake of'' the song. |
− | In real life, the | + | In real life, the reason for sinking on {{w|Lake Superior}} is still unknown, but it's speculated that the ship's hull broke up in the rough waters of a storm.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIg90sVSwSE] This comic implies that the ''real'' reason for her sinking is that the songwriter bribed a mechanic to sabotage the ship into sinking, or misled the crew into making bad decisions, thus giving him sufficient material for a new song. |
− | As a punchline, the verse goes on to | + | As a punchline, the verse goes on to reveal that another even greater maritime disaster, the {{w|Sinking of the Titanic|sinking of the RMS ''Titanic''}}, occurred for the sake of a {{w|Titanic (1997 film)|film}}. While the tale of Lightfoot causing the first disaster is feasible, since the song came out a few months after the accident, this second tale is not, since the director of the film, {{w|James Cameron}}, was born more than 40 years after the ''Titanic'' sank. |
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 yet another film, ''{{w|Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon}}''. | 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 yet another film, ''{{w|Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon}}''. | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
+ | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
:[Cueball is holding a guitar and singing on a pier. Two pairs of connected eighth notes are on the left and right of Cueball, as well as a detached eighth note on his right. Three seagulls fly in the background on his left. Four pillars of the pier and the water below it are also shown. Throughout the comic, alternate pairs of lines of the song are indented as indicated below.] | :[Cueball is holding a guitar and singing on a pier. Two pairs of connected eighth notes are on the left and right of Cueball, as well as a detached eighth note on his right. Three seagulls fly in the background on his left. Four pillars of the pier and the water below it are also shown. Throughout the comic, alternate pairs of lines of the song are indented as indicated below.] | ||
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::captain well seasoned | ::captain well seasoned | ||
− | :[Zoom on Cueball | + | :[Zoom on Cueball, without the pier, water, and seagulls. A pair of connected eighth notes to his right, a half note and a detached eighth note to his left.] |
:Cueball: | :Cueball: | ||
:But taking a walk on | :But taking a walk on | ||
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::''Edmund Fitzgerald'' | ::''Edmund Fitzgerald'' | ||
− | :[Zoom back to second panel | + | :[Zoom back to second panel. A pair of connected eighth notes to Cueball's right, a separated eighth note and a pair of connected eighth notes to his left.] |
:Cueball: | :Cueball: | ||
:Perhaps it was wrong, | :Perhaps it was wrong, |