Northwest Passage (song)
Encyclopedia
"Northwest Passage" is one of the best-known songs by Canadian musician Stan Rogers
. An a cappella
song, it features Rogers alone singing the verses, with several guest vocalists harmonizing with him in the chorus. It is not to be confused with the big band
tune of the same name by Ralph Burns
.
While it recalls the history of early explorers who were trying to discover a route across Canada
to the Pacific Ocean
(especially Sir John Franklin
, who lost his life in the quest for the Northwest Passage
), its central theme is a comparison between the journeys of these past explorers and the singer's own journey to and through the same region. The singer ultimately reflects that, just as the quest for a northwest passage might be considered a fruitless one (in that a viable and navigable northwest passage was never found in the days of Franklin and his kind), a modern-day sojourner along similar paths might meet the same end. The song also references the geography of Canada, including the Fraser River
("to race the roaring Fraser to the sea") on the western coast and the Davis Strait
to the east. He is driving across the Prairies, allowing him to view cities behind him fall and cities ahead rise.
The song appears on an album of the same name
released by Rogers in 1981, and is considered one of the classic songs in Canadian music history. In the 2005 CBC Radio One
series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version
, "Northwest Passage" ranked fourth, behind only Neil Young
's "Heart of Gold
", Barenaked Ladies
' "If I Had $1,000,000" and Ian and Sylvia
's "Four Strong Winds
". It has been referred to as one of Canada's unofficial anthems by Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
, and former Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson
quoted the song both in her first official address and in her speech at the dedication of the new Canadian embassy in Berlin
.
The song also appeared in the final episode of the television
series, Due South
and has been covered in acoustic form by the British duo Show of Hands
on their album Cold Frontier
. Show of Hands do not perform the song a capella but use guitar
and violin
to provide musical backing. It also appeared on an episode of the PBS series NOVA
about the discovery of gravesites belonging to members of the Franklin Expedition. The exhumation and study of the bodies revealed that the crew of the Franklin Expedition suffered from lead poisoning, possibly contributing to the catastrophic failure of the men to survive.
The song was used on October 9, 2007 by the BBC World Service
's World Today programme during a story about the expansion of Canada's efforts to confirm its sovereignty over the arctic region through which the Northwest Passage runs.
The narrator states that he is taking "passage overland in the footsteps of brave Kelso" three centuries after. This refers to Henry Kelsey
, an English explorer of what is now northern Canada, who had explored the area 290 years prior. Whether the name "Kelso" is in itself an error or a diminutive
nickname is unclear. The lines "To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea" and "seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered broken bones/and a long-forgotten lonely cairn of stones" commemorate the Franklin expedition. Stan Rogers indicated that he was unsure of details in writing the song, and worked from memory.
in the 2001 album Cold Frontier
, by Coyote Run in Don't Hold Back, by Clishmaclever in Hearing Double, by the Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh in Ready for the Storm, and by Chris Ricketts in Port of Escape. It was performed by Modabo on the 1995 tribute album Remembering Stan Rogers
. It was performed by Paul Gross
in the season finale
of Due South
. Rogers's own version appeared over the credits.
Stan Rogers
Stanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing...
. An a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
song, it features Rogers alone singing the verses, with several guest vocalists harmonizing with him in the chorus. It is not to be confused with the big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
tune of the same name by Ralph Burns
Ralph Burns
Ralph Burns was an American songwriter, bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and bebop pianist.-Early life:...
.
While it recalls the history of early explorers who were trying to discover a route across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
(especially Sir John Franklin
John Franklin
Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin KCH FRGS RN was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as governor of Tasmania for several years. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic...
, who lost his life in the quest for the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
), its central theme is a comparison between the journeys of these past explorers and the singer's own journey to and through the same region. The singer ultimately reflects that, just as the quest for a northwest passage might be considered a fruitless one (in that a viable and navigable northwest passage was never found in the days of Franklin and his kind), a modern-day sojourner along similar paths might meet the same end. The song also references the geography of Canada, including the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
("to race the roaring Fraser to the sea") on the western coast and the Davis Strait
Davis Strait
Davis Strait is a northern arm of the Labrador Sea. It lies between mid-western Greenland and Nunavut, Canada's Baffin Island. The strait was named for the English explorer John Davis , who explored the area while seeking a Northwest Passage....
to the east. He is driving across the Prairies, allowing him to view cities behind him fall and cities ahead rise.
The song appears on an album of the same name
Northwest Passage (album)
-Track listing:# "Northwest Passage"# "The Field Behind the Plow"# "Night Guard"# "Working Joe"# "You Can't Stay Here"# "The Idiot"# "Lies"# "Canol Road"# "Free in the Harbour"# "California"...
released by Rogers in 1981, and is considered one of the classic songs in Canadian music history. In the 2005 CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version
50 Tracks: The Canadian Version
50 Tracks: The Canadian Version was a Canadian radio series, which aired across Canada on CBC Radio One in 2005. The show, hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, was a competition to determine the 50 most essential songs in English language Canadian pop music history...
, "Northwest Passage" ranked fourth, behind only Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's "Heart of Gold
Heart of Gold (song)
"Heart of Gold" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. Released from the 1972 album Harvest, it is so far Young's only U.S. #1 single. In Canada, it reached #1 on the RPM national singles chart for the first time on April 8, 1972, on which date Young held the top spot on both the...
", Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
' "If I Had $1,000,000" and Ian and Sylvia
Ian and Sylvia
Ian & Sylvia were a Canadian folk and country music duo which consisted of Ian and Sylvia Tyson, née Fricker. They began performing together in 1959, married in 1964, and divorced and stopped performing together in 1975.-Early lives:...
's "Four Strong Winds
Four Strong Winds
"Four Strong Winds" is a song written by Ian Tyson in the early 1960s. It was first recorded by The Brothers Four in a version that "Bubbled Under" the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1963...
". It has been referred to as one of Canada's unofficial anthems by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, and former Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
quoted the song both in her first official address and in her speech at the dedication of the new Canadian embassy in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
The song also appeared in the final episode of the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series, Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
and has been covered in acoustic form by the British duo Show of Hands
Show of Hands
Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots and folk duo comprising singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer. In recent years they have been accompanied on tour and in the studio by jazz double-bassist Miranda Sykes.-Origins:...
on their album Cold Frontier
Cold Frontier
Cold Frontier is a 2001 studio album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands."Are We Alright" was re-recorded for their best of album, Roots: The Best of Show of Hands. The song itself has become a live staple of the duo...
. Show of Hands do not perform the song a capella but use guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
to provide musical backing. It also appeared on an episode of the PBS series NOVA
NOVA (TV series)
Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
about the discovery of gravesites belonging to members of the Franklin Expedition. The exhumation and study of the bodies revealed that the crew of the Franklin Expedition suffered from lead poisoning, possibly contributing to the catastrophic failure of the men to survive.
The song was used on October 9, 2007 by the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
's World Today programme during a story about the expansion of Canada's efforts to confirm its sovereignty over the arctic region through which the Northwest Passage runs.
Lyrics
The chorus is:- Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
- To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort SeaBeaufort SeaThe Beaufort Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska, west of Canada's Arctic islands. The sea is named after hydrographer Sir Francis Beaufort...
- Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage
- And make a northwest passage to the sea
The narrator states that he is taking "passage overland in the footsteps of brave Kelso" three centuries after. This refers to Henry Kelsey
Henry Kelsey
Henry Kelsey , aka the Boy Kelsey, was an English fur trader, explorer, and sailor who played an important role in establishing the Hudson's Bay Company. Kelsey was born and married in East Greenwich, south-east of central London...
, an English explorer of what is now northern Canada, who had explored the area 290 years prior. Whether the name "Kelso" is in itself an error or a diminutive
Diminutive
In language structure, a diminutive, or diminutive form , is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment...
nickname is unclear. The lines "To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea" and "seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered broken bones/and a long-forgotten lonely cairn of stones" commemorate the Franklin expedition. Stan Rogers indicated that he was unsure of details in writing the song, and worked from memory.
Covers
The song has also been performed by Show of HandsShow of Hands
Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots and folk duo comprising singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer. In recent years they have been accompanied on tour and in the studio by jazz double-bassist Miranda Sykes.-Origins:...
in the 2001 album Cold Frontier
Cold Frontier
Cold Frontier is a 2001 studio album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands."Are We Alright" was re-recorded for their best of album, Roots: The Best of Show of Hands. The song itself has become a live staple of the duo...
, by Coyote Run in Don't Hold Back, by Clishmaclever in Hearing Double, by the Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh in Ready for the Storm, and by Chris Ricketts in Port of Escape. It was performed by Modabo on the 1995 tribute album Remembering Stan Rogers
Remembering Stan Rogers
Remembering Stan Rogers: An East Coast Tribute is a tribute album to Canadian folk singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, released in 1995 on EMI Music Canada. The album was recorded live over two nights of concert performances at Halifax's Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on April 23 and 24, 1995...
. It was performed by Paul Gross
Paul Gross
Paul Michael Gross is a Canadian actor, producer, director, singer and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the television series Due South as well as his 2008 war film Passchendaele, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in...
in the season finale
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
of Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
. Rogers's own version appeared over the credits.
External links
- Lyrics
- A video montage featuring the song, from The National