Amtap to play
Emtap to play
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
Am · Em · G · D · C
Gordon Lightfoot’s epic folk ballad about the 1975 sinking of a Great Lakes freighter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A chords as written for a slightly deeper tone.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A E
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
D A
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
A E
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
D A
When the skies of November turn gloomy
Verse 2
A E
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
D A
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
A E
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
D A
When the gales of November came early
Chorus
D A
The ship was the pride of the American side
E D
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
D A
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
E D
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Verse 3
A E
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
D A
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
A E
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
D A
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
Verse 4
A E
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
D A
And a wave broke over the railing
A E
And every man knew, as the captain did too
D A
‘Twas the witch of November come stealin’
Chorus
D A
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
E D
When the Gales of November came slashin’
D A
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
E D
In the face of a hurricane west wind
Verse 5
A E
When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
D A
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
A E
At seven PM a main hatchway caved in, he said
D A
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
Verse 6
A E
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
D A
And the good ship and crew was in peril
A E
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
D A
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitz-gerald
Chorus
D A
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
E D
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
D A
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
E D
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
Verse 7
A E
They might have split up or they might have capsized
D A
They may have broke deep and took water
A E
And all that remains is the faces and the names
D A
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Bridge
E D
Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
A E
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
E D
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
A E
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
Verse 8
A E
Far below Lake Huron
D A
The mighty Fitz rests in peace
A E
And the wind in the wires makes a mournful sound
D A
For the lives that were lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald
Chorus
D A
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
E D
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
D A
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
E D
When the gales of November come early
Practice tip: Master the A, D, and E chords first, then focus on the narrative flow of the song; let the lyrics guide your dynamics, playing softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.
Amtap to play
Emtap to play
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
Am · Em · G · D · C
Gordon Lightfoot’s epic folk ballad about the 1975 sinking of a Great Lakes freighter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A chords as written for a slightly deeper tone.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A E
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
D A
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
A E
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
D A
When the skies of November turn gloomy
Verse 2
A E
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
D A
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
A E
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
D A
When the gales of November came early
Chorus
D A
The ship was the pride of the American side
E D
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
D A
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
E D
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Verse 3
A E
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
D A
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
A E
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
D A
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
Verse 4
A E
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
D A
And a wave broke over the railing
A E
And every man knew, as the captain did too
D A
‘Twas the witch of November come stealin’
Chorus
D A
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
E D
When the Gales of November came slashin’
D A
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
E D
In the face of a hurricane west wind
Verse 5
A E
When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
D A
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
A E
At seven PM a main hatchway caved in, he said
D A
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
Verse 6
A E
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
D A
And the good ship and crew was in peril
A E
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
D A
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitz-gerald
Chorus
D A
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
E D
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
D A
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
E D
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
Verse 7
A E
They might have split up or they might have capsized
D A
They may have broke deep and took water
A E
And all that remains is the faces and the names
D A
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Bridge
E D
Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
A E
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
E D
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
A E
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
Verse 8
A E
Far below Lake Huron
D A
The mighty Fitz rests in peace
A E
And the wind in the wires makes a mournful sound
D A
For the lives that were lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald
Chorus
D A
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
E D
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
D A
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
E D
When the gales of November come early
Practice tip: Master the A, D, and E chords first, then focus on the narrative flow of the song; let the lyrics guide your dynamics, playing softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.
Amtap to play
Emtap to play
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
Am · Em · G · D · C
Gordon Lightfoot’s epic folk ballad about the 1975 sinking of a Great Lakes freighter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A chords as written for a slightly deeper tone.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A E
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
D A
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
A E
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
D A
When the skies of November turn gloomy
Verse 2
A E
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
D A
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
A E
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
D A
When the gales of November came early
Chorus
D A
The ship was the pride of the American side
E D
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
D A
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
E D
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Verse 3
A E
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
D A
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
A E
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
D A
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
Verse 4
A E
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
D A
And a wave broke over the railing
A E
And every man knew, as the captain did too
D A
‘Twas the witch of November come stealin’
Chorus
D A
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
E D
When the Gales of November came slashin’
D A
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
E D
In the face of a hurricane west wind
Verse 5
A E
When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
D A
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
A E
At seven PM a main hatchway caved in, he said
D A
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
Verse 6
A E
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
D A
And the good ship and crew was in peril
A E
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
D A
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitz-gerald
Chorus
D A
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
E D
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
D A
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
E D
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
Verse 7
A E
They might have split up or they might have capsized
D A
They may have broke deep and took water
A E
And all that remains is the faces and the names
D A
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Bridge
E D
Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
A E
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
E D
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
A E
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
Verse 8
A E
Far below Lake Huron
D A
The mighty Fitz rests in peace
A E
And the wind in the wires makes a mournful sound
D A
For the lives that were lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald
Chorus
D A
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
E D
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
D A
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
E D
When the gales of November come early
Practice tip: Master the A, D, and E chords first, then focus on the narrative flow of the song; let the lyrics guide your dynamics, playing softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.
Amtap to play
Emtap to play
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
Am · Em · G · D · C
Gordon Lightfoot’s epic folk ballad about the 1975 sinking of a Great Lakes freighter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A chords as written for a slightly deeper tone.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A E
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
D A
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
A E
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
D A
When the skies of November turn gloomy
Verse 2
A E
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
D A
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
A E
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
D A
When the gales of November came early
Chorus
D A
The ship was the pride of the American side
E D
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
D A
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
E D
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Verse 3
A E
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
D A
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
A E
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
D A
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
Verse 4
A E
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
D A
And a wave broke over the railing
A E
And every man knew, as the captain did too
D A
‘Twas the witch of November come stealin’
Chorus
D A
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
E D
When the Gales of November came slashin’
D A
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
E D
In the face of a hurricane west wind
Verse 5
A E
When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
D A
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
A E
At seven PM a main hatchway caved in, he said
D A
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
Verse 6
A E
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
D A
And the good ship and crew was in peril
A E
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
D A
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitz-gerald
Chorus
D A
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
E D
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
D A
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
E D
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
Verse 7
A E
They might have split up or they might have capsized
D A
They may have broke deep and took water
A E
And all that remains is the faces and the names
D A
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Bridge
E D
Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
A E
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
E D
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
A E
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
Verse 8
A E
Far below Lake Huron
D A
The mighty Fitz rests in peace
A E
And the wind in the wires makes a mournful sound
D A
For the lives that were lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald
Chorus
D A
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
E D
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
D A
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
E D
When the gales of November come early
Practice tip: Master the A, D, and E chords first, then focus on the narrative flow of the song; let the lyrics guide your dynamics, playing softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.
Amtap to play
Emtap to play
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
Am · Em · G · D · C
Gordon Lightfoot’s epic folk ballad about the 1975 sinking of a Great Lakes freighter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A chords as written for a slightly deeper tone.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A E
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
D A
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
A E
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
D A
When the skies of November turn gloomy
Verse 2
A E
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
D A
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
A E
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
D A
When the gales of November came early
Chorus
D A
The ship was the pride of the American side
E D
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
D A
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
E D
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Verse 3
A E
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
D A
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
A E
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
D A
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
Verse 4
A E
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
D A
And a wave broke over the railing
A E
And every man knew, as the captain did too
D A
‘Twas the witch of November come stealin’
Chorus
D A
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
E D
When the Gales of November came slashin’
D A
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
E D
In the face of a hurricane west wind
Verse 5
A E
When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
D A
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
A E
At seven PM a main hatchway caved in, he said
D A
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
Verse 6
A E
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
D A
And the good ship and crew was in peril
A E
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
D A
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitz-gerald
Chorus
D A
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
E D
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
D A
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
E D
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
Verse 7
A E
They might have split up or they might have capsized
D A
They may have broke deep and took water
A E
And all that remains is the faces and the names
D A
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Bridge
E D
Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
A E
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
E D
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
A E
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
Verse 8
A E
Far below Lake Huron
D A
The mighty Fitz rests in peace
A E
And the wind in the wires makes a mournful sound
D A
For the lives that were lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald
Chorus
D A
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
E D
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
D A
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
E D
When the gales of November come early
Practice tip: Master the A, D, and E chords first, then focus on the narrative flow of the song; let the lyrics guide your dynamics, playing softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.
Amtap to play
Emtap to play
Gtap to play
Dtap to play
Ctap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
Am · Em · G · D · C
Gordon Lightfoot’s epic folk ballad about the 1975 sinking of a Great Lakes freighter. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.
Folk Ballad Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret and play G shapes to sound in the key of A, or play the A chords as written for a slightly deeper tone.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A E
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
D A
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
A E
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
D A
When the skies of November turn gloomy
Verse 2
A E
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
D A
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
A E
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
D A
When the gales of November came early
Chorus
D A
The ship was the pride of the American side
E D
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
D A
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
E D
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Verse 3
A E
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
D A
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
A E
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
D A
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?
Verse 4
A E
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
D A
And a wave broke over the railing
A E
And every man knew, as the captain did too
D A
‘Twas the witch of November come stealin’
Chorus
D A
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
E D
When the Gales of November came slashin’
D A
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
E D
In the face of a hurricane west wind
Verse 5
A E
When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
D A
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
A E
At seven PM a main hatchway caved in, he said
D A
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
Verse 6
A E
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
D A
And the good ship and crew was in peril
A E
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
D A
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitz-gerald
Chorus
D A
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
E D
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
D A
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
E D
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
Verse 7
A E
They might have split up or they might have capsized
D A
They may have broke deep and took water
A E
And all that remains is the faces and the names
D A
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters
Bridge
E D
Lake Huron rolls, superior sings
A E
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
E D
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
A E
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
Verse 8
A E
Far below Lake Huron
D A
The mighty Fitz rests in peace
A E
And the wind in the wires makes a mournful sound
D A
For the lives that were lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald
Chorus
D A
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
E D
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
D A
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
E D
When the gales of November come early
Practice tip: Master the A, D, and E chords first, then focus on the narrative flow of the song; let the lyrics guide your dynamics, playing softer in the verses and with more intensity in the choruses.