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The Last Farewell

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
    C      Csus      C      Csusx2
[Verse 1]
N.C.                            C              G        C  G  
There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbour
Ctomorrow for ol' C7England she sFails
far aDmway from your lFand of endless sDmunshineF  
to Dmmy land full of rainy skies and Ggales
and CI shall be on Gboard that ship tComorrowG  
Cthough my heart is full of tC7ears at this farFewell
[Chorus]
DmFor yGou are CbeautiAmful and DmI have loved you dG7early
more dDmearly than the sG7poken word can tCell
Dmfor yGou are CbeautiAmful and DmI have loved you dG7early
more dDmearly than the sG7poken word can tCell
[Verse 2]
GI hCeard there's a wGicked war a-bClazingG  
and the tCaste of war I C7know so very Fwell
Even Dmnow I see that Fforeign flag a-rDmaisingF  
their Dmguns on fire as we sailed into Ghell
I haCve no fear of Gdeath it brings no sCorrowG  
Cbut how bitter will be this C7last fFarewell
[Chorus]
DmFor yGou are CbeautiAmful and I Dmhave loved you G7dearly
more dDmearly than the sG7poken word can tCell
Dmfor yGou are CbeautAmiful and I hDmave loved you G7dearly
more dDmearly than the sG7poken word can tCell
[Verse 3]
GThough Cdeath and darkness Ggather all Cabout meG  
and my shCip be torn aC7part upon the Fsea
I shall Dmsmell again the fFragrance of these DmislandsF  
in the Dmheaving waves that brought me once to Gthee
and should CI return sGafe home again Cto EnglanGd
CI shall watch the English C7mist roll through the Fdale
[Chorus]
DmFor yGou are CbeautiAmful and DmI have loved you dG7early
more dDmearly than the sG7poken word can tCell
Dmfor yGou are CbeautAmiful and I hDmave loved you G7dearly
more dDmearly than the sG7poken word can tCell

All chords in this song (8)

The story behind the song

"The Last Farewell" captures the poignant moment of departure, as a ship lies ready in the harbor and a heart is heavy with tears. The lyrics paint a picture of watching a foreign flag rise and the English mist roll, evoking the bittersweet feeling of leaving home for distant shores. The song originated from a poem by Ron A. Webster, who found inspiration on a cold, rainy bus ride, wishing he were somewhere warmer. Roger Whittaker, known for his baritone voice and whistling, brought this evocative poem to life, making it one of his signature folk-pop songs. It plays like a tender ode to goodbyes and the journeys that call us away.

AI-written from these sources:The Last Farewell — Wikipedia ↗Roger Whittaker — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

The Last Farewell

The Last Farewell

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The Last Farewell

by Roger Whittaker

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Csus

[Intro]

C Csus C Csus

[Verse 1]

C G C G

N.C.

There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbour

C C7 F

tomorrow for ol' England she sails

Dm F Dm F

far away from your land of endless sunshine

Dm G

to my land full of rainy skies and gales

C G C G

and I shall be on board that ship tomorrow

C C7 F

though my heart is full of tears at this farewell

[Chorus]

Dm G C Am Dm G7

For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

Dm G7 C

more dearly than the spoken word can tell

Dm G C Am Dm G7

for you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

Dm G7 C

more dearly than the spoken word can tell

[Verse 2]

G C G C G

I heard there's a wicked war a-blazing

C C7 F

and the taste of war I know so very well

Dm F Dm F

Even now I see that foreign flag a-raising

Dm G

their guns on fire as we sailed into hell

C G C G

I have no fear of death it brings no sorrow

C C7 F

but how bitter will be this last farewell

[Chorus]

Dm G C Am Dm G7

For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

Dm G7 C

more dearly than the spoken word can tell

Dm G C Am Dm G7

for you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

Dm G7 C

more dearly than the spoken word can tell

[Verse 3]

G C G C G

Though death and darkness gather all about me

C C7 F

and my ship be torn apart upon the sea

Dm F Dm F

I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands

Dm G

in the heaving waves that brought me once to thee

C G C G

and should I return safe home again to England

C C7 F

I shall watch the English mist roll through the dale

[Chorus]

Dm G C Am Dm G7

For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

Dm G7 C

more dearly than the spoken word can tell

Dm G C Am Dm G7

for you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

Dm G7 C

more dearly than the spoken word can tell

About The Last Farewell Chords by Roger Whittaker

Learn how to play The Last Farewell by Roger Whittaker with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Last Farewell chords”, “The Last Farewell guitar chords”, or “Roger Whittaker The Last Farewell 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 The Last Farewell chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Last Farewell lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Csus, G, C7, F, Dm.

FAQ — The Last Farewell by Roger Whittaker

How do I play "The Last Farewell" by Roger Whittaker on guitar?

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Can I transpose "The Last Farewell" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Last Farewell"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Last Farewell" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Last Farewell" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Last Farewell" by Roger Whittaker with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Roger Whittaker below.

What key is "The Last Farewell" in?

The chords for "The Last Farewell" show the original chord names (including C, Csus, G, C7, F, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.