Walking on cobbled stones, Walking on cobbled stones, little bits of skin and bone, little bits of skin and bone,

Jumping on the tram car for a ride Jumping on the tram car for a ride

I can remember then, I can remember then, I was just a boy of ten,I was just a boy of ten,

Hanging around the old quayside Hanging around the old quayside

Now all the capstans and the cargo boats Now all the capstans and the cargo boats And stevedores are gone And stevedores are gone

To where the old ships go To where the old ships go But memories, just like the seas, live onBut memories, just like the seas, live on

'Cause that was when coal was king, 'Cause that was when coal was king, The river a living thing The river a living thing

And I was just a boy, but it was mine, And I was just a boy, but it was mine, The coaly Tyne The coaly Tyne

For this was a big river, For this was a big river, I want you all to know that I was proud I want you all to know that I was proud

This was a big river, but that was long ago This was a big river, but that was long ago That's not now, that's not now That's not now, that's not now

My father was a working man, My father was a working man, He earned our living with his hands He earned our living with his hands He had to cross the river every dayHe had to cross the river every day

He picked up a union card out of the He picked up a union card out of the Neptune yard Neptune yard

Mouths to feed and bills to payMouths to feed and bills to pay

Then came a time for him Then came a time for him to sail across the seas to sail across the seas

And far away And far away

Finally when that war was won Finally when that war was won You brought him home You brought him home and home he stayed and home he stayed

And when his days were done, And when his days were done, under a golden sun under a golden sun

You took him back to where he longed to be, You took him back to where he longed to be, Back to the sea Back to the sea

For this was a big river, For this was a big river, I want you all to know that I was proud I want you all to know that I was proud

This was a big river, but that was long ago This was a big river, but that was long ago That's not now, that's not now That's not now, that's not now

The Neptune was the last to go, The Neptune was the last to go, I heard it on my radio I heard it on my radio

And then they played the latest number oneAnd then they played the latest number one

But what do they do all day? But what do they do all day? And what are they supposed to say? And what are they supposed to say?

What does a father tell his son? What does a father tell his son?

If you believe that there's a bond If you believe that there's a bond between our future between our future

And our past And our past

Try to hold on to what we had, Try to hold on to what we had, We build them strong, we built to last We build them strong, we built to last

'Cause this is a mighty town, 'Cause this is a mighty town, Built upon a solid groundBuilt upon a solid ground

And everything they've tried so hard to kill, And everything they've tried so hard to kill, We will rebuild We will rebuild

For this was a big river, For this was a big river, I want you all to know that I was proud I want you all to know that I was proud

This was a big river, but that was long ago This was a big river, but that was long ago That's not now, that's not now That's not now, that's not now

And this is a big, big, river, And this is a big, big, river, And in my heart I know it will rise again And in my heart I know it will rise again

The river will rise againThe river will rise again

Pictures of the Shipyards on the Pictures of the Shipyards on the TyneTyne

By Year 5By Year 5