the immigrant lad

and here i sit with a tear in my eye

the waters of tyne in between you and i

and here i sit with a tear in my eye

the waters of tyne in between you and i

as a child i dreamed of her

on the far banks of the river

i knew she could not be reached

for my mind was forever wondering

far above his head

as he tried his best to teach me

the river was muddy and black

black as the coal she carried

impossible to cross

many men had tried

the old sailor told me

another life is lost

and here i sit with a tear in my eye

the waters of tyne in between you and i

and here i sit with a tear in my eye

the waters of tyne in between you and i

black was the colour of my childish dreams

impressions that would last

black coal

coal black pit yacka's face

escaping the coal dust blast

blind pony stumblin' to the light of day

to retire in the green fields forever

and i'll build me a bridge of steel

to beat the black river forever

i'll beat that black river forever

i'll beat that muddy river forever

and here i sit with a tear in my eye

the waters of tyne in between you and i

and here i sit with a tear in my eye

the waters of tyne in between you and i