big river

1

big river
(Jimmy Nail)

Walking on cobble stone, little bits of skin and bone
Jumping on a tram car for a ride
I can remember then, ‘cause I was just a boy of ten
Hanging around the old quayside
Now all the capstans and the cargo boats
And stevedores are gone
To where all the old ships go
But memories, just like the seas live on
’Cause that was when coat was king,
The river was a living thing
And I was just a boy but it was mine
The coaly Tyne

For this was a big river
I want you all to know that I was proud
This was a big river
But that was long ago, that’s not now

My father was a working man,
He earned our living with his hands
He had to cross the river every day
He picked up a union card out to the Neptune yard
Mouths to feed and bills to pay
There came a time for him to sail
Across the seas and far away
And finally when that war was won
You brought him home and home he stayed
And when his days were done,
Under a golden sun
You took him back to where he longed to be,
Back to the sea

For this was a big river
I want you all to know that I was proud
This was a big river
But that was long ago, that’s not now

The Neptune was the last to go
I heard it on my radio
And the they played the latest number one
But what do they do all day?
What are they supposed to say?
What does a father tell his son?
If you believe that there’s a bond
Between our future and our past
Then try to hold on to what we have
We built them strong, we built to last
‘Cause this is a mighty town,
Built upon solid ground
And Everything they’ve tried so hard to kill,
We will rebuild

For this was a big river
I want you all to know I'm so very proud
This was a big river,
But that was long ago, that’s not now
This is a big, big river,
And in my heart I know it will rise again
The river will rise again

Zomba Music Publishers Ltd