Criminally underrated singer-songwriter absolute genius 🖤🤍

That is one of the purest and most poetic folk anthems of my demographic and generation. Shattering moment as he clenches a fist authenticating the will to rebuild in honour of the legacy.

I'm a Mackem...but this guy and this song sums up the north east....pure soul...

I don't think I have ever seen or heard a performance of a song given with more genuine emotion. It brought tears to my eyes.

Played this at my Dads Funeral Although he was a Scouser this song reminded him of his childhood by the mersey plus he had great friends from Newcastle

And believe me, if you ever leave the North East and go and live down-south, you really understand it even more. The line: "We build them tough, we're built to last" Is just so true. I moved to the South West about 15 years ago, and couldn't believe how sensitive everyone was.They were always whinging and complaining and getting upset about things people have said, or done. And I used to tell them: "You wouldn't last 5 minutes, in my family, mate!" And it's true! All kids in Newcastle get brought up the same way. Our parents and families toughen us up. The minute I walk into a room, in Newcastle, with my cousins, or uncles, or parents, someone has a pop at me. Not in a nasty way, but a jokey way. Banter. Wind-ups. But that's what toughens us up. It makes us who we are.

As a Tynesider from Gateshead now living in Ireland for 50 years , I have both sad and fond memories of my childhood and family. The North East gave so much to the prosperity of Brotain but got insufficient recognition. Jimmy's song brings tears to my eyes as I reflect on such a marvellous place

"The Neptune (Yard) was the last to go, I heard it on my radio". My dad and his dad both worked as drivers in the Neptune Yard.

When Jimmy Nail penned this, I imagine the following thoughts went through his mind: "My god... I'll never write a better song than this..." followed shortly by "... then again, neither will anybody else."

to everyone else this is just a song to us northerners (including scotland) its the most beautiful emotive thing ever written

This song reminds me of my own youth. When I was about ten I jumped on the tram down to the Broomielaw (on the river Clyde) to watch all the old cargo ships. One Saturday I got o talking to a couple of deckhands who were painting the ships side and told them when I left school I was going to join the merchant navy. One of the seamen took me onboard and showed me around and explained the kind of work I would be doing if I went to sea, that was when I knew this was going to be my life. After leaving school in 1962 I join the training ship "Vindicatrix" for three months (June-August) training. When I left the Vindicatrix I joined my first ship (Ferry to Belfast) as deck boy on the Clyde. I stayed at sea from 1962-1990 when the shipping Federation (Pool) closed down and the shipping companies got rid of us and started employing EU foreign seamen. We we finally get the hell out f the EU I would like to see Britain rebuild our merchant fleet and our shipbuilding. The merchant navy is the best life for youngsters.

Absolute class, being a boy myself from the North East, I salute my forefathers

how proud is jimmy, singing this song. good on yer mate

the best song he has ever done,where is he now. miss him, and his music. please help. i know he is not with his wife. he is in london. come on jimmy. i know you are doing something with mark knophler. you have a lot of fans out here. come on mate. if i have to go to york at xmas i will. i live in hull. please help me get jimmy back on the music scene. i miss him loads

Great voice, great actor, great songwriter. Love to see him back on our screens.

Jimmy Nail that was a really beautiful song brilliantly sung and you did your City Proud....God Bless you Jimmy...

Just one of the best songs ever written by anyone. Fills my heart, floods my eyes, lifts my soul. Different class, Jimmy!

What can you say , im a Longbenton lad and this song makes me so proud

A very underrated outstanding Actor and Singer,I hope whatever he is doing he is happy,and knows how much pleasure he has brought t people.an excellent ambassador for both Newcastle and Geordies every where!Thanks Jimmy!

This song reminds me of my Dad who worked as a plater in the yards on the Tees, I have tried to learn this song so many times, I can never finish it because makes me weep every time.

I'm from Liverpool, and can relate to this great song, love Jimmy Nail...lump in my throat now!

one of the heartful and touching songs that sadly never got great publicity. A perfect singer and a great songwriter.

This is a great song and a great performance by Jimmy Nail. It touches your soul. It reminded me of songs by Bruce Springsteen when I heard it first. But in fact it is better than anything Springsteen has ever done and it is the best thing that Jimmy Nail has ever done. Well done, Jimmy, and thank you.

Love this song get a lump in my throat every time I here it makes me proud 2 be a geordie

A touching song to everyone over 60 even Yorkshire man like myself

This is the only song that makes me cry we built the best ships in the world on the rivers Tyne and the Wear

Only heard this song 2 years ago for the first time recently I travelled from Edinburgh to London by train and passed through Newcastle and then I saw the big river class song really touched my heart

one of the best songs ever written! fantastic!

The North between Birmingham and Glasgow, built Britain.

Absolutely smashed it Jimmy. Your a legend

Top bloke top record from a mackem to a geordie quality 💯👏👏👌

Can't listen to the song all the through reminds me of my dad he was from Newcastle upon Tyne

I just love this song , makes me proud to be Geordie lad from Longbenton

this is a very evocative song. very emotional for many working class on the verge of distinction running for the last jobs

I have always loved this song ever since it was first released on cd, but this is the first time i have heared it played live, and i have to say, i like it more than ever now, you can really feel the pride and passion as he sings it. Gives me chills........

Love this song so much it makes the hairs on my neck stand up and makes me proud of where im from! Jimmy 'Oz' Nail is a legend. Toon Toon

hard to believe when Jimmy auditioned for Auf Wiedersehen, it was only for a role of a extra and had no past experience in tv. and has gone on to be a Geordie legend and create brilliant songs as well

What a song, and what a singer, can't believe he's hitting that high note live!

This reminds me of the Clyde in Glasgow my cousin who was a joiner went down to London with other workers from the yards to protest when Maggie Thatcher started shutting them down. Both him and I went down to Gateshead every summer to stay with my aunt and uncle. This song always brings the mist to my eyes bt also pride in what the shipbuilders did.

A great song and a Geordie anthem.Jimmy Nail is very underrated as a vocalist,a great voice and a giant of a man with a heart to match.

Pure emotion , just magic I can smell the river !

Love this song almost breaks me everytime I here it I started work in the pits in 1981 a job for life I was told as started my training by 90's they were nearly all gone same as ship yards and steel works

Came across this song a few days ago , pure class, why didn't it make it big

I'd forgotten how damn good a singer Jimmy is. This is superb

Fabulous entertainment well done Jimmy. Nostalgia at its finest

My favourite song. My dad worked in the Neptune Yard so this song hits home.

Beautifully written and performed.

Up there with Sunshine On Leith and YNWA. Feckin love it.

An amazing song. Very moving!

from a rough arsed brickie to this. Awesome song that will resonate with all northern towns and cities that had mines,ship builders and steelworks. The Tory bastard can never take the spirit of the North.

Pure emotion, authentic performance, this guy spreads spirits and courage to make for freedom and courage in all now and thens, cladded in a grand song. I believe in every lyric he expresses!

What a song, and what an artist!!

Beautiful voice - so soulful.

Brings back fond memories, I used to hang around the river in the fifties, once went fishing when I was 15 beyond the piers for mackerel, it was a crazy thing to do as we only had a wooden dingy with oars, wow those days

Brilliant song and heartwarming performance from Jimmy.

Thank you, from this working class northerner 💜

Only just discovered this song in 2019. Lovely track

Lovely song from Jimmy Top bloke!

Absolutely love it. Talented man...

Brilliant,brilliant!!!! And every time I hear it, it makes me all choked up. Maybe 'coz I'm over in Canada

Love this tune. Just caught it on Radio 2. Totally forgot about this wee gem. Very underrated artist singing a song about his home town. Sad but beautiful at the same time.

Jimmy is wonderful singing this song this makes me cry every time I hear this my granny's family is the north east forever in my heart ❤️❤️❤️

mr jimmy nail. i salute you.

This is such a wonderful song. Absolutely perennial! It should have been a number 1 hit...for weeks!

Reminds me of my school days. Such a humble and honest performance

Thank you Jimmy for writing that song just for me, a plater's son.

well done Jimmy👏👏👏

What a great voice and a lovely song. Jimmy is the greatest!!

My favourite song of all time

6,000 Hull men sailed out of the Mouth of the Humber and never returned, over 200 ships lost at sea. Now that's a subject for a song.

No matter where I might be in the world or whenever i hear this it takes me straight back home to the north east, childhood memories and proud,proud people.

this song continues to make me cry when i hear it, a sad story of the ship yards closing and jims dad fighting for his country and then years later his ashes scattered on the tyne, jim is a very good song writer and very under estimated,thanks for posting this sir.

Awww man. Takes me back to my childhood. Living in Glasgow I can relate to this. Clyde used to have so many shipbuilders. Now it’s overpriced fancy flats. No character at all! Lot of the Old school would agree. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

Sung with passion. Brilliant.

Thank Spotify for brought me here

Born near the River Clyde next to the last integrated Steel Works in Lanarkshire.This song resonates with everything that was wrong with Britain in the early eighties.The destruction the life ,the future destroyed.I write this in 2018.It has never recovered.

I think you have to be from the North East to really understand this song. It describes the region, and who we are, perfectly. And it's not just past generations. Kids growing up now in the region, have exactly the same values. It's how we're brought up.

As a Man utd fan in the seventies Newcastle always favourite away ground great times and top fans and atmosphere was awsome

from durham u r mint jimmy like

I love this song too. I'm from a Borough of Newcastle upon tyne, so it kind of hits home with me. Theres one called Big River - then & now with Jimmy singing his song and showing places in Newcastle Then & Now, its awesome. And Jimmy Nail sings this song like he does all of his others, simply beautifully.

A brilliant song. So heartfelt.

Passion proud of his own city top man jimmy nail 🤍

Brilliant Jimmy.... You make me feel even more proud to be from our salt of the earth North East

Still brilliant

Stunning!

I must admit that I heard the song the first time today, but it will be my favorite for this year. Great song, very authentic.

"This lad is wasted laying bricks" :-)

Just perfect. One of my all time favourite songs and s superbly performed.

Its great,Jimmy👍just love your song

What a fabulous song! Well done Jimmy, you nailed it!

Jimmy has hit the parts other songs touch love the lyrics ❤👍

Im from a small town near Stonehenge, and i can see what Jimmy is singing about, quality!

Jimmy 'Oz' Nail is a legend.

I like his voice and I like his song❤️love Big River❤️

Brilliant.... superb.. Jimmy Nail gives a heartfelt and moving performance of a wonderful song that totally tugs at your heart.A great city with a great history well respected and honoured..

a song sung from the heart love it x

Beautiful song shame its all gone now end of an era... Good luck 🍀 to you Jimmy lad! 👍

Outstanding Jimmy,, well done !!!

2021what a song and I’m from the south,totally get it though👍Epic performance.

love you jimmy, your music is class mate. to the roots. A PROUD FAN FROM HULL. thank you jimmy