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Forefathers

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Cmajor

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FOREFATHERS
Dan Fogelberg
Capo 2
[Intro]
C  F   C  F   C  F   C  F
[Verse 1]
They cCame from Scandinavia, the laFnd of midnight sun,
And cCrossed the North Atlantic when this cAmentury was young.
They'd heFard that in America every man was free 
To lFive the way Che chFose to live and Gbe who he could Cbe.F  C  
[Verse 2]
CSome of them were farmers there and tiFlled the frozen soil. 
But aCll they got was poverty for Amall their earnest toil. 
They sFay one was a sailor wCho sFailed the wide world round, 
Made home port, gCot drFunk one night, walked oGff the pier and drCowneFd.C  F  C  F  C  F  
[Verse 3]
My mCother was of Scottish blood, it's tFhere that she was born.
They bCrought her to America in Am1924. 
They lFeft behind tAmhe hiFghlands aAmnd the hFeather-covered hills 
And came to find AmAmeFrica with brGoad expectant dreams and iron wiClls.F  C  
[Verse 4]
My gCranddad worked the steel mills of cFentral Illinois.
His daCughter was his jewel, his Amson was just his boy. 
For thFirty years he worked the mills and stoked the coke-fed fires 
And looked toward the day when he'd at lGast turn 65 and could reCtireF. C  
[Chorus]
And the sEmons become the fathers and their daughterAms will be wives 
As the toFrch is passed from hand to hand 
And we stCruggle through our liGves.
Though the geEmnerations wander, the AmlineaGge survAmives,Am7  
And aFll of us, fAmrom dFust to dust, Amwe aGll become forefathers by and Cby.
[Interlude]
C  F   C  F   C  F   C  F  C  F   C  F   C  F
[Verse 5]
The wComan and the man were wed jFust after the war 
And they sCettled in this river town and tAmhree fine sons she bore.
OFne became a lawyer and one fine pictures drew
And oFne became tAmhis lFonely soul Amwho sFits here now 
And sGings this song to yCou.
[Chorus]
And the sEmons become the fathers and their daughterAms will be wives 
As the toFrch is passed from hand to hand 
And we stCruggle through our liGves.
Though the geEmnerations wander, the AmlineaGge survAmives,Am7  
And aFll of us, fAmrom dFust to dust, we aGll become forefathers by and CbyF.  C  F  
By and bCy..F.C  F  
By and bCy..F.C  F  
[Outro]
C  F   C  F   C  F   C  F

All chords in this song (6)

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Forefathers

by Dan Fogelberg

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

FOREFATHERS

Dan Fogelberg

Capo 2

[Intro]

C F C F C F C F

[Verse 1]

C F

They came from Scandinavia, the land of midnight sun,

C Am

And crossed the North Atlantic when this century was young.

They'd heard that in America every man was free

F C F G C F C

To live the way he chose to live and be who he could be.

[Verse 2]

C F

Some of them were farmers there and tilled the frozen soil.

C Am

But all they got was poverty for all their earnest toil.

F C F

They say one was a sailor who sailed the wide world round,

C F G C F C F C F C F

Made home port, got drunk one night, walked off the pier and drowned.

[Verse 3]

C F

My mother was of Scottish blood, it's there that she was born.

C Am

They brought her to America in 1924.

F Am F Am F

They left behind the highlands and the heather-covered hills

Am F G C F C

And came to find America with broad expectant dreams and iron wills.

[Verse 4]

C F

My granddad worked the steel mills of central Illinois.

C Am

His daughter was his jewel, his son was just his boy.

For thirty years he worked the mills and stoked the coke-fed fires

G C F C

And looked toward the day when he'd at last turn 65 and could retire.

[Chorus]

Em Am

And the sons become the fathers and their daughters will be wives

As the torch is passed from hand to hand

C G

And we struggle through our lives.

Em Am G Am Am7

Though the generations wander, the lineage survives,

F Am F Am G C

And all of us, from dust to dust, we all become forefathers by and by.

[Interlude]

C F C F C F C F C F C F C F

[Verse 5]

C F

The woman and the man were wed just after the war

C Am

And they settled in this river town and three fine sons she bore.

One became a lawyer and one fine pictures drew

F Am F Am F

And one became this lonely soul who sits here now

G C

And sings this song to you.

[Chorus]

Em Am

And the sons become the fathers and their daughters will be wives

As the torch is passed from hand to hand

C G

And we struggle through our lives.

Em Am G Am Am7

Though the generations wander, the lineage survives,

F Am F G C F C F

And all of us, from dust to dust, we all become forefathers by and by.

C F C F

By and by...

C F C F

By and by...

[Outro]

C F C F C F C F

About Forefathers Chords by Dan Fogelberg

Learn how to play Forefathers by Dan Fogelberg with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Forefathers chords”, “Forefathers guitar chords”, or “Dan Fogelberg Forefathers 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 Forefathers chords and for experienced players who want accurate Forefathers lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, Am, G, Em, Am7.

FAQ — Forefathers by Dan Fogelberg

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What key is "Forefathers" in?

The chords for "Forefathers" show the original chord names (including C, F, Am, G, Em, Am7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.