A Great Northern River Lyrics - Singles - The Unthanks

the big ships sail up, the big ships sail down 

a great northern river 

funnels of red, funnels of black 

banded with yellow and silver 

bringing in cargos of oil and wood 

taking home girders of steel and pig iron 

oh, coloured faces, flags from all places 

high from the sternposts are flying 

down on the docks, down on the wharves 

lofty cranes standing 

stevedores working and rivermen shouting 

crews making ready for London 

ropes black and tarry 

chains rusty and red 

lay among timber and bollards and packing 

seagulls wheel over wild river cats 

down on the jetties are watching 

nights by the docks, packed smoky pubs 

plenty of shouting and swearing 

heavy brown ale, thick muddy stout, 

and nobody's caring 

a lass starts to warble a popular song 

they're throwing her pennies and pieces of silver 

closing time called, silence then falls 

on a great northern river