Jimmy Nail – Big River Chords

Walking on cobble stone, little bits of skin and bone
Jumping on a tramcar for a ride
I can remember when, I was just a boy of ten,
Hanging around the old quay side

Now all the capstans and the cargo boats and stevedores are gone
to where the old ships go, but memories
just like the seas live on

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 the union card
out of the Neptune yard
mouths to feed and bills to pay
then came a time for him to sail across the sea and far away
finally when that 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

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

The Neptune was the last to go, I heard it on my radio
then 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,
try to hold on to what we have
we build them strong we build to last
‘cause this is a mighty town
built upon solid ground
and everything they 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 is a big big river
and in my heart I know it will rise again
the river will rise again!!!