Today Is the 101st Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic. Time for Some Nautical Disaster Songs.
Countless songs have been written about the cruelty of the sea and the Titanic disaster of April 15, 1912, generated more than a few–and only a tiny handful involve Celine Dion or James Cameron. For example:
The Huffington Post as a few more here. Meanwhile, here’s the Tragically Hip singing not about the Titantic but about an unspecified naval tragedy. The Lusitania? MV Goya? SS Thielbek? RMS Lancastria?
None of the above, actually. Gord Downie says the inspiration was the sinking of the Bismarck in 1941.
"Ocean Rising" by Justin Sullivan is probably my favourite. Technically it's a happy ending because the crew is saved, but it's a bittersweet ending at best, and the lyrics really get across how extraordinary the visage of the James Caird was.