Jimmy Nail: 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.