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BIG RIVER words and music by Jimmy Nail walking on cobble stone, little bits of skin and bone jumping on the tram car for a ride I can remember then, I was just a boy of ten hanging out along the old quayside not 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 that was when coal was king, the river a living thing and I was just a boy, but it was mine, the coaly tyne 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 fther 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 the bills to pay then came a time for him to sail across the sea and far away finally when the war was won you brought him home and home he stayed and when his days were done, under a golden sun you carried him to where he longed to be, back to the sea 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 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 you believed that there's a bond between our future and our past then try to hold on to what we had, we build them strong, we built to last 'cause this is a mighty town, it's built upon solid ground and everything they tried so hard to kill, we will rebuild 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 this is a big river, and in my heart I know it will rise again the river will rise again Jimmy Nail - Vocals Mark Knopfler - Lead Guitar Hugh Burns - Acoustic Guitar Melvin Duffy - Pedal Steel Guitar Alan Clark - Organ Guy Chambers - Piano Danny Schogger - Synthesiser Fionn O'Lochlainn - Bass Guitar Geoff Dugmore - Drums/Percussion Andy Caine - Backing Vocals Tessa Niles - Backing Vocals Dedicated to Jimmy Bradford (1914 - 1990)