Big River (Jimmy Nail song)

"Big River" is a song written and performed by English singer and actor Jimmy Nail, released from his fourth studio album of the same name. It was released as a single in 1995, reaching number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 in Hungary. In 2011, it was recorded by Joe McElderry for the DVD, Big River Big Songs: The Tyne.[1] McElderry also performed it for Sunday for Sammy in 2012.[2]

"Big River"
Single by Jimmy Nail
from the album Big River
Released1995
GenreRock, Pop, Country
Length6:00
LabelWarner Music UK
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Nail

Background

The big river referred to in the title is the River Tyne that runs through Nail's home town, Newcastle upon Tyne. The song is an elegy to the days when shipbuilding and industry in general were at their height in Newcastle and laments the later decline of the industry and therefore the decline of the importance and activity of the Tyne itself. However, in the last chorus, the song takes a more hopeful turn, declaring that, "the river will rise again".

The guitar work on the song was provided by Mark Knopfler who features in the music video[3].

The song was adopted as an anthem by female workers in Liverpool during a lockout the following winter.[4]

Charts
Chart (1995–1996) Peak
position
Hungary (Mahasz)[5] 10
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[6] 10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[7] 18

References
  1. Joe’s made big Tyne on DVD jarrowandhebburngazette.com. Retrieved on 27 November 2011.
  2. Sunday for Sammy 2012, MWMDVD106, Dir. Geoff Wonfor, Prod. Ray Laidlaw
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_519h95XFs
  4. Michael Lavalette; Jane Kennedy (December 1996). Solidarity on the waterfront: the Liverpool lock out of 1995/96. Liver Press. ISBN 978-1-871201-06-2.
  5. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 5. 3 February 1996. p. 13. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
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