Big River

Walking on cobbled stones, little bits of skin and bone

Jumping on a tram car for a ride

I can remember when, I was a just a boy of ten

Hanging around the old Quayside

Now all the capstans and the cargo boats

And Stevadores are gone

To where all the old ships go

But memories, just like the sea live on

'Cause that was when coal was King

The river was a living thing

And I was just a boy but it was mine

The coaly Tyne

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, that's not now

My father was working man

He earned our living with his hands

He had to cross the river every day

He picked up his Union card, out of the Neptune yard

Mouths to feed and bills to pay

There came a time for him to sail across the sea and far away

And finally when the war was won

They brought him home and home he stayed

And when his days were done

Under a golden sun

They took him back to where he longed to be

Back to the sea

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, that's not now

The Neptune was the last to go

I heard it on the radio

And then they played the latest number one

But what do they do all day

And 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

Try to hold on to what we have

We build them strong, we built to last

'Cause this is a mighty town

Build upon solid ground

And everything they've tried so hard to kill

We will rebuild

This is a big river

I want you all to know I'm so very proud

This is 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

• Artist:Jimmy Nail
• Album:Big River (1995)