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A Passing Ship

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Gordon Lightfoot - A Passing Ship
CAPO: 4th Fret
[INTRO:]     G      C/G      G     C/G  G  
[VERSE 1:]
A passing ship, C/GI have found the open Gocean 
Give me no lip, C/Gthe waves roll by as I press Gon D  
A sunlit sea, C/Gon the first day in GApril D  
How fresh the wind, C/Gwill you miss me when I'm Ggone
[VERSE 2:]
How many words, C/Ghow many songs still unGwritten 
How many ships C/Gof the line have come and Ggone D  
In the good old days, C/Gmay they never be forGgotten D  
They had heavy wind C/Gor they had no wind at Gall
[INSTRUMENTAL:]   G     D    F     C  G  
[VERSE 3:]
A passing ship, C/Git is midnight on the Gocean 
Had a real long trip, C/GI have been at sea all Gwinter D  
When my ship came in, C/GI was giving up the Gghost D  
I think I should be C/Gleaving those passing ships aGlone
[VERSE 4:]
When the sea runs high, C/Gthe sea runs wild and I'm unGsteady 
And I think of you, C/Gin the warmth of your home and Gfamily D  
When love is true, C/Gthere is no truer occuGpation D  
And may this gale, C/Gblow us to the ones we Glove
[VERSE 5:]
Another day, C/Ganother Gocean 
Give me no lip, C/Gbut stand aside as I press Gon D  
A sunlit sea, C/Gon the last day in OcGtober D  
How fresh the wind, C/Gwill you miss me from now Gon D  
I guess I should be C/Gleaving passing ships aGlone
[OUTRO:]   G     D    F     C  G  

All chords in this song (5)

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A Passing Ship

by Gordon Lightfoot

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C/G

Gordon Lightfoot - A Passing Ship

CAPO: 4th Fret

G C/G G C/G G

[INTRO:]

[VERSE 1:]

C/G G

A passing ship, I have found the open ocean

C/G G D

Give me no lip, the waves roll by as I press on

C/G G D

A sunlit sea, on the first day in April

C/G G

How fresh the wind, will you miss me when I'm gone

[VERSE 2:]

C/G G

How many words, how many songs still unwritten

C/G G D

How many ships of the line have come and gone

C/G G D

In the good old days, may they never be forgotten

C/G G

They had heavy wind or they had no wind at all

G D F C G

[INSTRUMENTAL:]

[VERSE 3:]

C/G G

A passing ship, it is midnight on the ocean

C/G G D

Had a real long trip, I have been at sea all winter

C/G G D

When my ship came in, I was giving up the ghost

C/G G

I think I should be leaving those passing ships alone

[VERSE 4:]

C/G G

When the sea runs high, the sea runs wild and I'm unsteady

C/G G D

And I think of you, in the warmth of your home and family

C/G G D

When love is true, there is no truer occupation

C/G G

And may this gale, blow us to the ones we love

[VERSE 5:]

C/G G

Another day, another ocean

C/G G D

Give me no lip, but stand aside as I press on

C/G G D

A sunlit sea, on the last day in October

C/G G D

How fresh the wind, will you miss me from now on

C/G G

I guess I should be leaving passing ships alone

G D F C G

[OUTRO:]

About A Passing Ship Chords by Gordon Lightfoot

Learn how to play A Passing Ship by Gordon Lightfoot with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Passing Ship chords”, “A Passing Ship guitar chords”, or “Gordon Lightfoot A Passing Ship chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy A Passing Ship chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Passing Ship lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, C/G, D, F, C.

FAQ — A Passing Ship by Gordon Lightfoot

How do I play "A Passing Ship" by Gordon Lightfoot on guitar?

Open the free chords for "A Passing Ship" by Gordon Lightfoot on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "A Passing Ship" by Gordon Lightfoot free?

Yes. The chords for "A Passing Ship" by Gordon Lightfoot are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "A Passing Ship" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "A Passing Ship" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "A Passing Ship"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "A Passing Ship" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "A Passing Ship" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "A Passing Ship" by Gordon Lightfoot with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Gordon Lightfoot below.

What key is "A Passing Ship" in?

The chords for "A Passing Ship" show the original chord names (including A, G, C/G, D, F, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.