Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - "The Ballad" vs. "The Wreck": Which of the two song do you like better and why?

musky_man · 06-07-2005, 11:10 AM

Both are great songs -- hard to pick one over the other ... but in terms of pure poetry, I'd have to pick the BYC. The last line just gives me goose bumps ... "Like a toy ship on a mill pond she burned all through the night, and slipped beneath the waves in the mornin'". I just envision the soul of that boat departing from here earthly hull as she departs into the depths.

Anyone ever did any research into that boat ... built, if I recall correctly, in 1927. She lead a pretty charmed life as a troop ship in the war and really never met any harm until that fateful trip.

I think I read somewhere (maybe here) that Gord should consider a CD of ship songs ..... not a bad idea.

Best to all!

06-07-2005, 11:10 AM	#16
musky_man Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 55	Both are great songs -- hard to pick one over the other ... but in terms of pure poetry, I'd have to pick the BYC. The last line just gives me goose bumps ... "Like a toy ship on a mill pond she burned all through the night, and slipped beneath the waves in the mornin'". I just envision the soul of that boat departing from here earthly hull as she departs into the depths. Anyone ever did any research into that boat ... built, if I recall correctly, in 1927. She lead a pretty charmed life as a troop ship in the war and really never met any harm until that fateful trip. I think I read somewhere (maybe here) that Gord should consider a CD of ship songs ..... not a bad idea. Best to all! __________________ musky_man