Tom: Dm
Am F
the big ships sail up, the big ships sail down
Dm
a great northern river
Am F
funnels of red, funnels of black
Dm
banded with yellow and silver
C F
bringing in cargos of oil and wood
Am
taking home girders of steel and pig iron
Am F
oh, coloured faces, flags from all places
Dm
high from the sternposts are flying
Am F
down on the docks, down on the wharves
Dm
lofty cranes standing
Am F
stevedores working and rivermen shouting
Dm
crews making ready for London
C
ropes black and tarry
F
chains rusty and red
Am
lay among timber and bollards and packing
Am F
seagulls wheel over wild river cats
Cm
down on the jetties are watching
[Interlude]
Am F Dm
Am F Dm
C F
Am
Am F Dm
Am F
nights by the docks, packed smoky pubs
Dm
plenty of shouting and swearing
Am F
heavy brown ale, thick muddy stout,
Dm
and nobody's caring
C F
a lass starts to warble a popular song
Am
they're throwing her pennies and pieces of silver
Am F
closing time called, silence then falls
Dm
on a great northern river
