Big River Lyrics - Singles - Jimmy Nail

Walking on cobbled stones 

Little bits of skin and bone 

Jumping on a tram car for a ride 

I can remember then 

'Cause I was a 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 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 coal 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 

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 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 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 

That's not now 

That's not now 

The Neptune was the last to go 

I heard it on my 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 a solid ground 

And everything they've tried so hard to kill 

We will rebuild 

For 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 

And this is a big, big river 

And in my heart I know 

It will rise again 

The river will rise again