words and music by Jimmy Nail Intro Bb, Bbm, F (repeat) F Fsus4 F Bb walking on cobble stone, little bits of skin and bone Dm Am Gm C, Csus4 jumping on the tram car for a ride F Fsus4 F Bb I can remember then, I was just a boy of ten Dm Am Gm C, Csus4 hanging out along the old quayside Bb F Dm now all the capstans and the cargo boats Bb and stevadores are gone F to where all the old ships go Gsus4, G Csus4 C F but memories just like the seas live on Fsus4 that was when coal was king, F Bb the river a living thing Dm Am Gm and I was just a boy, but it was mine, Csus4C F Cb the coaly tyne F Bb this was a big river, Dm Am Gm C, Csus4 I want you all to know that I was proud F Bb Dm Am this was a big river, but that was long ago, Gm CCus4 F that's not now, that's not now F Fsus4 my father was a working man, F Bb he earned our living with his hands Dm Am Gm C, Csus4 he had to cross the river every day F Fsus4 F Bb he picked up a union card out of the Neptune yard Dm Am Gm C, Csus4 mouths to feed and bills to pay Bb F Dm Bb then came a time for him to sail across the sea and far away Bb F finally when the war was won GsusG Csus4 C F you brought him home and home he stayed F Fsus4 F Bb and when his days were done, under a golden sun Dm Am Gm you carried him to where he longed to be, Csus4 C F Bb, C Back to the sea F Bb this was a big river, Dm Am Gm C, Csus4 I want you all to know that I was proud F Bb Dm Am this was a big river, but that was long ago, Gm CCus4 F that's not now, that's not now Repeat Intro F Fsus4 the Neptune was the last to go, F Bb I heard it on my radio Dm Am Gm Csus4, C and then they played the latest number one F Fsus4 but what do they do all day? F Bb and what are they supposed to say? Dm Am Gm Csus4, C what does a father tell his son? Bb F Dm Bb if you you believed that there's a bond between our future and our past F try to hold on to what we had, GsuG4 Csus4 C F we build them strong, we build to last F Fsus4 F Bb 'cause this is a mighty town, it's built upon solid ground Dm Am Gm and everything they tried so hard to kill, CsuC4 F Cb we will rebuild F Bb this was a big river Dm Am Gm Csus4 I want you all to know that I was proud F Bb Dm Am this was a big river, but that was long ago, Gm Csus4 that's not now F Bb this is a big river, Dm Am Bb and in my heart I know it will rise again C F Fsus4 the river will rise again Dedicated to Jimmy Bradford (1914 - 1990) Tab by Alan Jenkins (alanrjenkins@yahoo.co.uk for more)