When I was a young boy
I played on the Tyne
That river was heaven
That river was mine
I swam in its waters
And bathed on the shore
Paddled in shallow pools
Walked its long corridors
Ran along the banks
As it flowed wild and free
That river was everything
Everything to me
All manner of ships
Sailed along my river
But it was the tall ships
That gave me such shivers
A ship of the line passed
Sailors singing drifting by
I danced in its shadow
And waved it goodbye
So come on me boyos
And pull on this rope
The ship she’s a moving
And we’re full of hope
We’re off on the high seas
To lands far away
See shores of the world
Others dream of each day
I ran all the way home
Told my Ma and Da
I want to be a sailor
A jolly jack tar
They put me to bed
With a mug of warm tea
One day when you’re older
Then we’ll see
I lay awake all night
Thoughts of those sailors singing
As they sailed by
The dreams they were bringing
So early in the morn
I packed my old sack
Ran along the cobbled streets
And down to the docks
There she was berthed
Tied up on the Tyne
The sailors were singing
Cannons facing in line
Yo ho me boys
The tide will not wait
The anchors pulling in
They’re closing the gate
We’re sailing away
To a land young and free
Where fruit grows on trees
You never did see
I asked for the master
And told him you see
I want to join this ship
Be a sailor that’s me
He said you’re not very big
How old are ye
I said fourteen sirs
Though twelve I be
Well we need a cabin boy
To help fetch and carry
The last one blowed up
In to much of a hurry
Carrying powder you see
Tripped over a magazine
Sparks caught the powder
That’s last he was seen
So he took me aboard
There your bag you can stow
This hammock be yours
The crew were singing below
Well cheer up me lads
Let’s drink to a long life
The ship and the sea
And a trip without strife
To comfort and grog
A dock full of supplies
Powder and a lookout
With a good pair of eyes
We’re sailing out
On the next even tide
Come I’ll show you your duties
This ships long and it’s wide
What about your Ma and Da
They say it’s okay
I want to see the world
Earn some bonus and pay
So we sailed on the tide
Misted eyes looked back at the Tyne
That river is heaven
That river is mine
Be over twenty years
Before I would return
Away back to the Tyne
Where I played as a bairn
Back with strange stories
And tales of the sea
It was more than I hoped
Or thought it would be
We say a sailor’s life
Is a good happy one
We sing in the rain
And dance in the sun
If we see frenchy
And he wants a fight
We’ll pull out the cannon
And give him a fright
