Such a surprise! This song is about the Man Gulch fire.  You can read the book called Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean.  He also wrote A River Runs Through It.  Those crosses are just 20 miles from where I sit typing this comment.  

Some stories are better told in a short story or book.

I agree rather hear James Keelaghan's original version

Wish this were the Keelaghan original.

Such a great song. The original James Keelaghan is better though... I'm partial.

Can't believe this isn't Richard Shindell?

Where's the part that explains why this song is so lame?

I hope I grow up to be as much of a genius as you....The plethora of negative comments get tiresome. The song is based on the book Young Men and Fire by Pulitzer Prize Winner Norman MacLean who wrote A River Runs Through It. Young Men and Fire won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1992 Just so you know, on Aug. 5, 1949, 16 Forest Service smoke jumpers landed at a fire in remote Mann Gulch, Mont. Within an hour, 13 were dead or irrevocably burned, caught in a "blowup"--a rare explosion of wind and flame. The late Norman Maclean grew up in western Montana and worked for the Forest Service in his youth. He visited the site of the blowup; for the next quarter century, the tragedy haunted him. In 1976 he began a serious study of the fire, one that occupied the last 14 years of his life. He enlisted the aid of fire experts, survivors, friends in the Forest Service and reams of official documents. The result is an engrossing account of human fallibility and natural violence. The tragedy was a watershed in Forest Service training.

I hope I grow up to be as much of a genius as you....The plethora of negative comments get tiresome. The song is based on the book Young Men and Fire by Pulitzer Prize Winner Norman MacLean who wrote A River Runs Through It. Young Men and Fire won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1992 Just so you know, on Aug. 5, 1949, 16 Forest Service smoke jumpers landed at a fire in remote Mann Gulch, Mont. Within an hour, 13 were dead or irrevocably burned, caught in a "blowup"--a rare explosion of wind and flame. The late Norman Maclean grew up in western Montana and worked for the Forest Service in his youth. He visited the site of the blowup; for the next quarter century, the tragedy haunted him. In 1976 he began a serious study of the fire, one that occupied the last 14 years of his life. He enlisted the aid of fire experts, survivors, friends in the Forest Service and reams of official documents. The result is an engrossing account of human fallibility and natural violence. The tragedy was a watershed in Forest Service training.

I was going to excoriate this guy for basically just rhythmically reading a history book to music with little attempt made to make it an actual song, but then I saw the album cover. If this junk gets those babes in the car, more power to him.

It doesn't sound particularly original or interesting to me either. I know there's a tradition in this type of "river" storytelling music, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. As for the girls, many guys (myself included) have used songwriting to get women. I wouldn't be surprised if he has these two under his spell. Musicians are notoriously bad at picking partners.

I was going to excoriate this guy for basically just rhythmically reading a history book to music with little attempt made to make it an actual song, but then I saw the album cover. If this junk gets those babes in the car, more power to him.

I was going to excoriate this guy for basically just rhythmically reading a history book to music with little attempt made to make it an actual song, but then I saw the album cover. If this junk gets those babes in the car, more power to him.

First time I heard this song I thought "hmmm, what a wonderful, thoughtful song about a horrible tragedy." After the 30th time, I think, "What a horrible song..." Thanks for the (hurl) reference to the Edmund Fitzgerald...

Love Richard Shindell's voice. Recognized it immediately, but have never heard of Cry Cry Cry. Off to buy the disc. Sweet.

The Mann Gulch incident was used in one of my Grad School classes. The class it was used in was Leadership. Very strong points about the incident concern the ability to lead people and what can happen if your people lose faith in you. I wish I could remember the name of the book we used. I will try to find it, it is excellent reading.

Originally Posted by Xpat: Hideous and steeped in bathos. Almost as bad as "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

Originally Posted by Johray63: Just like this one BTW, though it will have a more significant meaning to Americans because of the subject, I think.

Originally Posted by Xpat: Hideous and steeped in bathos. Almost as bad as "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

My name is Dodge, but then you know that It's written on the chart there at the foot end of the of the bed They think I'm blind, that I can't read it I've read it every word and every word it says is death So, confession, is that the reason that you came? Get it off my chest before I check out of the game Since you mention it, well there's thirteen things I'll name Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters August, '49, North Montana The hottest day on record and the forest tinder dry Lightning strikes in the mountains I was crew chief at the jump base, I prepared the boys to fly Pick the drop zone, C-47 comes in low Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you go See the circle of the fire down below Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters Gauged the fire, I'd seen bigger So I ordered them to side hill, we'd fight it from below We'd have our backs to the river We'd have it licked by morning even if we took it slow But the fire crowned, jumped the valley just ahead There was no way down, headed for the ridge instead Too big to fight it, we'd have to fight that slope instead Flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters Sky had turned red, smoke was boiling Two hundred yards to safety, death was fifty yards behind I don't know why, I just thought it I struck a match to waist high grass, running out of time Tried to tell them step into this fire I've set We can't make it, this is the only chance you'll get But they cursed me, ran for the rocks above instead I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters Then when I rose like the phoenix In that world reduced to ashes, there was none but two survived I stayed that night and one day after Carried bodies to the river, wondering how I stayed alive Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall I've had my say, I'll confess to nothing more I'll join them now, those that they left me long before Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters