He also changed another:
"At 7 pm, a main hatchway caved in. He said, "fellas, it's been good to know ya.""
Gordon Lightfoot changed the lyrics after a Canadian documentary claimed to prove that it wasn't the hatchway that caused the problem. It was supposedly a huge, powerful wave that caused the wreck.
Gordon since has changed the lyrics in his live performances to:
"At 7 pm it grew dark, it was then he said, "Fellas, it's been to know ya."
He also showed his appreciation for the songs success by setting up a scholarship fund, which is still active today, for the maritime students at Northwestern Michigan College.
https://wjon.com/lyric-changes-for-song-the-wreck-of-the-edmund-fitzgerald/