The Northwest Passage

Originally written by famed songwriter Stan Rogers of Nova Scotia (who also wrote Barrett's Privateers), "Northwest Passage" is another instant classic of Rogers' that rapidly spread through the folk community. Rogers wrote the song in 1982.

Though long a favorite for livestreams and performances, the Johns did not release an official album version of the song until 2023's The Longest Pony, in collaboration with El Pony Pisador.

## Factoids

Rogers' own recording of the song features an error, wherein he refers to British explorer Henry Kelsey as "Brave Kelso." Rogers admits in a 1982 interview that he hadn't been sure of the name when recording the song, as reported in *Canadian Literature in English* by Laura Moss (2008). The Longest Johns correct this error in their rendition.

The song commemorates the numerous expeditions to find a northern sea route around Canada, and offers direct homage to the Franklin expedition in particular.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams; except as noted above the lyrics do not differ from Rogers' original.

>
> {Chorus}
>
> Ah for just one time I would take the Northwest passage
>
> To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea
>
> Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage
>
> And make a Northwest passage to the sea
>
>
>
> Westward from the Davis Strait 'twas there 'twas said to lie
>
> The sea route to the Orient for which so many died
>
> Seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered broken bones
>
> And a long forgotten, lonely cairn of stones
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Three centuries thereafter I take passage overland
>
> In the footsteps of brave Kelsey, where his "Sea of Flowers" began
>
> Watching cities rise before me, then behind me sink again
>
> This tardiest explorer, driving hard across the plain
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> And through the night, behind the wheel, the mileage clicking West
>
> I think upon McKenzie, David Thompson and the rest
>
> Who cracked the mountain ramparts and did show a path for me
>
> To race the roaring Fraser to the sea
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> How then am I so different from the first men through this way?
>
> Like them I left a settled life, I threw it all away
>
> To seek a Northwest passage at the call of many men
>
> and to find there but the road back home again
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Stream/Purchase

* Amazon
* Anghami
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Deezer
* Spotify
* Tidal

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video w/El Pony Pisador
* Dread Hunger with The Longest Johns
* Album Animation

#### Gig Videos

* The Origin Cafe, Thornbury (2013)
* Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, 2014
* Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, 2016
* Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival, 2017
* The Three Tuns - Bristol (29 Nov 2018)
* Bie Daip - Appingedam (24 Aug 2019)
* Festival Maritim Bremen Vegesack, 2019
* Shrewsbury Folk Festival (27 Aug 2021)

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
* The Longest Johns Impromptu Singing Stream! (17 Nov 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, March. w/Sam Brookes (22 Mar 2019)
* Singing Live Stream and Special Announcement... (7 Aug 2019)
* TLJ & Friends! | Natalie Holmes (27 Nov 2019)
* TLJ Christmas Party!! (18 Dec 2019)
* Isolation Stream 'n' Skypeathon! (1 Apr 2020)
* Album Launch Party! Cures What Ails Ya, Available June 10th (Preorder Now) (10 Jun 2020)
* Welcome to the Live Stream, We've got Fun and Sings! (22 Jul 2020)
* Carry On My Wayward Stream (16 Sep 2020)
* (New Merch) I'm Goin' Off the Rails on a Crazy Stream (14 Oct 2020)
* I Stream, You Stream, We all Scream for Live Stream (20 Jan 2021)
* Stream If You Wanna Go Faster (12 May 2021)
* Nice Stream Sundae (Wednesday) (1 Sep 2021)
* THE SING ALONG! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 6! w/ The Longest Johns (9 Dec 2021)
* Streamage Mutant Ninja Turtles (3 May 2022)
* Heinz Baked Stream (14 Sep 2022)
* Jingle Jam 2022 (10 Dec 2022)
* Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)
* Big Announcement Stream (22 Nov 2023)
* Jingle Jam 2023 | Day 4 (4 Dec 2023)
* JINGLE JAM DAY 8! The Longest Johns Live Jingle Jam Concert (8 Dec 2023)

#### Chill Stream

* Chillbury Town: Population You! With Andy & JD - 30/03/2020
* It's music stream time, everybody loves music stream time... - 11/05/2020

#### Gaming Streams

* Anyone for a Shanty? (Part 1) (23 Sep 2020)
* Ocean of Larcenists! - Sailing & Singing with Jd, Andy & Dave (21 Feb 2019)
* Sail and Sing! Sea of Thieves Stream - 18/05/2020
* Sing and Sail 2: Damp Boogaloo - 25/05/2020
* Sail & Sing! Lets get damp and sing shanties! - 08/06/2020
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity (Part 2) (24 Jun 2020)
* Sea of Sings: Sing harder! - 06/07/2020
* Sea of Sings. Tonight we hit the high C's... - 10/07/2020
* Sea of Sings! Let's ride the waves like majestic manatees! - 17/07/2020
* Sea of Sings! Let's get boaty! - 20/07/2020
* I like big boats and I cannot lie - 17/08/2020
* \*bangs table\* boat boat dogs vaults sing boat! - 11/09/2020
* It's boat time! Sea of Sings! - 21/09/2020
* Yarr harr fiddley dee and all that. Sea of Sings! - 28/09/2020
* SHANT! - 02/10/2020
* Sea of Thieves? Singing? Splendid! - 09/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! with Captain\_Falcore! SHANT! - \*[2/11/2020
* Welcome to the Shantdome! - 4/12/2020
* Let's do a sing and get in the sea !drops - 11/12/2020
* Let's get piratical! Sea of sings! - 8/01/2021
* Sea of Sings! Let's get splashy! - 06/02/2021
* Sea of Sings! With Dave, JD and @Krotukk - 05/03/2021
* Sea of Sings with Kharites\_! Let's help her celebrate reaching 7k followers! - 19/03/2021
* Sing and Sail with Friends! Joined by @brionykay - 09/08/2021
* \*\*Insert Stream Title Here\*\* - Sea of Sings with SneakyBeagle - 30/08/2021
* Splashy splashy! Sea of Sings with Freyline - 11/10/2021
* Sailing with friends and singing shanties? I'd ship that! with Krotukk - 15/10/2021
* SING OF THIEVES! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 14! - THE LONGEST JOHNS (17 Dec 2021)
* Sea of Sings for War Child - 30/05/2022