Big River

Walking on cobbled stone Little bits of skin and bone Jumping on a tram car for a ride I can remember then As I was just a boy of ten Hanging around the old keyside Now all the capstans and the cargo boats And stevadores are gone To where all the old ships go But memories just like the seas 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 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 seas and far away 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 had We build them strong We built to last 'Cause this is a mighty town Built upon a 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 And this is a big, big, river And in my heart I know it will rise again The river will rise again