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Northwest Passage

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Chorus]
Ah, for Gjust one Dtime,
I would Ctake the Northwest EmPassage
To fCind the hand of GFranklin,
Reaching Amfor the Beaufort CSea.
Tracing Gone warm Dline,
Through a Cland so wide and Emsavage, and
CMake a Northwest GPassage, Dto the sGea.    
[Verse 1]
CWestward from the GDavis Strait,
'Tis  Dthere was said to  Emlie,
The  Csea route to the  GOrient,
For  Amwhich so many  diCed,
CSeeking gold and  Gglory,
Leaving  Dweathered broken  Embones, and
A  Clong forgotten  Glonely Dcairn of  Emstones. 
[Chorus]
Ah, for Gjust one Dtime,
I would Ctake the Northwest EmPassage
To fCind the hand of GFranklin,
Reaching Amfor the Beaufort CSea.
Tracing Gone warm Dline,
Through a Cland so wide and Emsavage, and
CMake a Northwest GPassage, Dto the sGea.    
[Verse 2]
Three Ccenturies there - Gafter,
I take Dpassage over Emland,
In the Cfootsteps of brave GKelso,
Where his Am"sea of flowers" be-Cgan.
Watching Ccities rise beGfore me,
Then be - Dhind me sink a -Emgain,
This Ctardiest ex - Gplorer,
Driving  Dhard, a - cross the Emplains. 
[Chorus]
Ah, for Gjust one Dtime,
I would Ctake the Northwest EmPassage
To fCind the hand of GFranklin,
Reaching Amfor the Beaufort CSea.
Tracing Gone warm Dline,
Through a Cland so wide and Emsavage, and
CMake a Northwest GPassage, Dto the sGea.    
[Verse 3]
And Cthrough the night be - Ghind the wheel,
The D/ mileage clickinEmg west,
I Cthink upon Mac - Gkenzie,
David AmThompson, and the Crest,
Who Ccracked the mountain Gramparts, and
Did Dshow a path for Emme,
To Crace the roaring G/ FraserD, to thGe sea.  
[Chorus]
Ah, for Gjust one Dtime,
I would Ctake the Northwest EmPassage
To fCind the hand of GFranklin,
Reaching Amfor the Beaufort CSea.
Tracing Gone warm Dline,
Through a Cland so wide and Emsavage, and
CMake a Northwest GPassage, Dto the sGea.    
[Verse 4]
How Cthen am I so Gdifferent,
From the Dfirst men through this Emway,
Like Cthem, I left a Gsettled life,
I Amthrew it all a - Cway,
To Cseek a Northwest GPassage,
At the Dcall of many Emmen,
To Cfind there, but the Groad back Dhome a - Emgain. 
[Chorus]
Ah, for Gjust one Dtime,
I would Ctake the Northwest EmPassage
To fCind the hand of GFranklin,
Reaching Amfor the Beaufort CSea.
Tracing Gone warm Dline,
Through a Cland so wide and Emsavage, and
CMake a Northwest GPassage, Dto the sGea.    

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

"Northwest Passage" weaves together the journeys of early explorers seeking a sea route to the Orient and the singer's own travels across Canada. It reflects on the idea that, just as the historical quest for a viable passage proved fruitless for many, a modern journey along similar paths might lead to a similar end—perhaps finding only "the road back home again." The song paints a vivid picture of Canadian geography, from the roaring Fraser River to the Beaufort Sea, as it explores the enduring human drive to explore and the often-elusive nature of its ultimate reward. It's a song that captures the spirit of adventure mixed with a touch of wistful resignation.

AI-written from these sources:Northwest Passage (song) — Wikipedia ↗Stan Rogers — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Northwest Passage

Northwest Passage

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Northwest Passage

by Stan Rogers

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Chorus]

G D

Ah, for just one time,

C Em

I would take the Northwest Passage

C G

To find the hand of Franklin,

Am C

Reaching for the Beaufort Sea.

G D

Tracing one warm line,

C Em

Through a land so wide and savage, and

C G D G

Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

[Verse 1]

C G

Westward from the Davis Strait,

D Em

'Tis there was said to lie,

C G

The sea route to the Orient,

Am C

For which so many died,

C G

Seeking gold and glory,

D Em

Leaving weathered broken bones, and

C G D Em

A long forgotten lonely cairn of stones.

[Chorus]

G D

Ah, for just one time,

C Em

I would take the Northwest Passage

C G

To find the hand of Franklin,

Am C

Reaching for the Beaufort Sea.

G D

Tracing one warm line,

C Em

Through a land so wide and savage, and

C G D G

Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

[Verse 2]

C G

Three centuries there - after,

D Em

I take passage over land,

C G

In the footsteps of brave Kelso,

Am C

Where his "sea of flowers" be-gan.

C G

Watching cities rise before me,

D Em

Then be - hind me sink a -gain,

C G

This tardiest ex - plorer,

D Em

Driving hard, a - cross the plains.

[Chorus]

G D

Ah, for just one time,

C Em

I would take the Northwest Passage

C G

To find the hand of Franklin,

Am C

Reaching for the Beaufort Sea.

G D

Tracing one warm line,

C Em

Through a land so wide and savage, and

C G D G

Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

[Verse 3]

C G

And through the night be - hind the wheel,

D Em

The / mileage clicking west,

C G

I think upon Mac - kenzie,

Am C

David Thompson, and the rest,

C G

Who cracked the mountain ramparts, and

D Em

Did show a path for me,

C G D G

To race the roaring / Fraser, to the sea.

[Chorus]

G D

Ah, for just one time,

C Em

I would take the Northwest Passage

C G

To find the hand of Franklin,

Am C

Reaching for the Beaufort Sea.

G D

Tracing one warm line,

C Em

Through a land so wide and savage, and

C G D G

Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

[Verse 4]

C G

How then am I so different,

D Em

From the first men through this way,

C G

Like them, I left a settled life,

Am C

I threw it all a - way,

C G

To seek a Northwest Passage,

D Em

At the call of many men,

C G D Em

To find there, but the road back home a - gain.

[Chorus]

G D

Ah, for just one time,

C Em

I would take the Northwest Passage

C G

To find the hand of Franklin,

Am C

Reaching for the Beaufort Sea.

G D

Tracing one warm line,

C Em

Through a land so wide and savage, and

C G D G

Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

About Northwest Passage Chords by Stan Rogers

Learn how to play Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Northwest Passage chords”, “Northwest Passage guitar chords”, or “Stan Rogers Northwest Passage 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 Northwest Passage chords and for experienced players who want accurate Northwest Passage lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, C, Em, Am, A.

FAQ — Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers

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