EEsus4EA
walking on cobbled stones, little bits of skin and bone
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
jumping on a tram car for a ride
EEsus4EA
I can remember then, as I was just a boy of ten
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
hanging around the old quayside
AEC#m
now all the capstans and the cargo boats
A
and stevadores are gone
E
to where all the old ships go
F#sus4F#Bsus4BE
but memories just like the seas live on
Esus4
that was when coal was king,
EA
the river a living thing
C#mG#mF#m
and I was just a boy, but it was mine,
Bsus4BEAB
the coaly tyne
EAB
for this was a big river,
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
I want you all to know that I was proud
EABC#mG#m
this was a big river, but that was long ago,
F#mBsus4BE
that's not now, that's not now
EEsus4
my father was a working man,
EA
he earned our living with his hands
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
he had to cross the river every day
EEsus4EA
he picked up a union card out of the Neptune yard
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
mouths to feed and bills to pay
AEC#mA
there came a time for him to sail across the sea and far away
AE
finally when the war was won
F#sus4F#Bsus4BE
you brought him home and home he stayed
EEsus4EA
and when his days were done, under a golden sun
C#mG#mF#m
you took him back to where he longed to be,
Bsus4BEAB
Back to the sea
EAB
for this was a big river,
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
I want you all to know that I was proud
EABC#mG#m
this was a big river, but that was long ago,
F#mBsus4BE
that's not now, that's not now
Repeat Intro
EEsus4
the Neptune was the last to go,
EA
I heard it on my radio
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
and then they played the latest number one
EEsus4
but wadda they do all day?
EA
and what are they supposed to say?
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
what does a father tell his son?
AEC#mA
if you you believe that there's a bond between our future and our past
EF#sus4
try to hold on to what we had,
F#Bsus4BE
we build them strong, we build to last
EEsus4EA
'cause this is a mighty town, built upon a solid ground
C#mG#mF#m
and everything they tried so hard to kill,
Bsus4BEAB
we will rebuild
EAB
for this was a big river
C#mG#mF#mBsus4B
I want you all to know I'm so very proud
EABC#mG#m
this was a big river, but that was long ago,
F#mBsus4B
that's not now
EA
and this is a big big river,
C#mG#mA
and in my heart I know it will rise again
BEEsus4E
the river will rise again