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Big River

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C#minor

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BIG RIVER
words and music by Jimmy Nail
[Intro]
  A    Am      Ex2 (first beat on each chord arpeggiated)
Ewalking on Esus4cobbled stonEes, little bits oAf skin and bone
C#mjumping on a traG#mm car for a rideF#m  Bsus4  B  
EI can reEsus4member then, Eas I was just Aa boy of ten
C#mhanging arG#mound the old quaysF#mideBsus4  B  
Anow all the caEpstans and the C#mcargo boats
and stevadores are gAone
to where all the Eold ships go
but memF#sus4ories juF#st like the seBsus4as livBe onE  
that was when Esus4coal was king,
Ethe river a lAiving thing
C#mand I was just a G#mboy, but it was miF#mne,
Bsus4the  cBoaly tEyneA  B  
for this was a Ebig Ariver,B  
I waC#mnt you all to kG#mnow that I was proF#mudBsus4  B  
this was a Ebig rAiverB, but C#mthat was long aG#mgo,
that's not F#mnow,          Bsus4         Bthat's not noEw
Emy father was a wEsus4orking man,
Ehe earned our living wAith his hands
C#mhe had to cross the rG#miver every dayF#m  Bsus4  B  
Ehe picked up a uEsus4nion card Eout of the ANeptune yard
C#mmouths to fG#meed and bills to paF#myBsus4  B  
Athere came a Etime for him to C#msail across the sea   and faAr away
Afinally wEhen the war was won
F#sus4you   bF#rought him hoBsus4me and hoBme he stayedE  
Eand when his Esus4days were done, Eunder a Agolden sun
C#myou took him back to G#mwhere he longed to F#mbe,
      Bsus4  BBack       to the EseaA  B  
for this was a Ebig rAiver,B  
I C#mwant you all to kG#mnow that I was proF#mudBsus4  B  
this was a Ebig rAiverB, but tC#mhat was long agG#mo,
that's not nF#mow,            Bsus4       Bthat's not noEw
Repeat Intro
Ethe Neptune was the Esus4last to go,
EI heard it on my rAadio
C#mand then they played the lG#matest number onF#meBsus4  B  
Ebut wadda they Esus4do all day?
Eand what are they sAupposed to say?
C#mwhat does a fG#mather tell his son?F#m  Bsus4  B  
Aif you you beElieve that there's a bC#mond between our future and our paAst
try to hold Eon to what we F#sus4had,
we     F#build them sBsus4trong, we buBild to lasEt
E'cause this is a Esus4mighty town, Ebuilt upon a sAolid ground
C#mand everything they tG#mried so hard to kiF#mll,
Bsus4we      Bwill rebuiEldA  B  
for this was a Ebig AriverB  
I C#mwant you all to kG#mnow I'm so very prF#moudBsus4  B  
this was a Ebig rAiverB, but C#mthat was long aG#mgo,
that's not F#mnowBsus4  B  
and this is a Ebig big rAiver,
and C#min my heart I knG#mow it will rise agaiAn
the rivBer will rise aEgainEsus4  E  
Dedicated to Jimmy Bradford (1914 - 1990)

All chords in this song (11)

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Big River

by Jimmy Nail

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Esus4

C#m

G#m

F#m

Bsus4

F#sus4

BIG RIVER

words and music by Jimmy Nail

[Intro]

A Am E

x2 (first beat on each chord arpeggiated)

E Esus4 E A

walking on cobbled stones, little bits of skin and bone

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

jumping on a tram car for a ride

E Esus4 E A

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

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

hanging around the old quayside

A E C#m

now all the capstans and the cargo boats

and stevadores are gone

to where all the old ships go

F#sus4 F# Bsus4 B E

but memories just like the seas live on

Esus4

that was when coal was king,

E A

the river a living thing

C#m G#m F#m

and I was just a boy, but it was mine,

Bsus4 B E A B

the coaly tyne

E A B

for this was a big river,

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

I want you all to know that I was proud

E A B C#m G#m

this was a big river, but that was long ago,

F#m Bsus4 B E

that's not now, that's not now

E Esus4

my father was a working man,

E A

he earned our living with his hands

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

he had to cross the river every day

E Esus4 E A

he picked up a union card out of the Neptune yard

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

mouths to feed and bills to pay

A E C#m A

there came a time for him to sail across the sea and far away

A E

finally when the war was won

F#sus4 F# Bsus4 B E

you brought him home and home he stayed

E Esus4 E A

and when his days were done, under a golden sun

C#m G#m F#m

you took him back to where he longed to be,

Bsus4 B E A B

Back to the sea

E A B

for this was a big river,

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

I want you all to know that I was proud

E A B C#m G#m

this was a big river, but that was long ago,

F#m Bsus4 B E

that's not now, that's not now

Repeat Intro

E Esus4

the Neptune was the last to go,

E A

I heard it on my radio

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

and then they played the latest number one

E Esus4

but wadda they do all day?

E A

and what are they supposed to say?

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

what does a father tell his son?

A E C#m A

if you you believe that there's a bond between our future and our past

E F#sus4

try to hold on to what we had,

F# Bsus4 B E

we build them strong, we build to last

E Esus4 E A

'cause this is a mighty town, built upon a solid ground

C#m G#m F#m

and everything they tried so hard to kill,

Bsus4 B E A B

we will rebuild

E A B

for this was a big river

C#m G#m F#m Bsus4 B

I want you all to know I'm so very proud

E A B C#m G#m

this was a big river, but that was long ago,

F#m Bsus4 B

that's not now

E A

and this is a big big river,

C#m G#m A

and in my heart I know it will rise again

B E Esus4 E

the river will rise again

Dedicated to Jimmy Bradford (1914 - 1990)

About Big River Chords by Jimmy Nail

Learn how to play Big River by Jimmy Nail with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Big River chords”, “Big River guitar chords”, or “Jimmy Nail Big River chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Big River chords and for experienced players who want accurate Big River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Am, E, Esus4, C#m, G#m.

FAQ — Big River by Jimmy Nail

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The chords for "Big River" show the original chord names (including A, Am, E, Esus4, C#m, G#m). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.