Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Big River (Jimmy Nail song)

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Released
  
1995

Length
  
6:00

Writer(s)
  
Jimmy Nail

Genre
  
Rock, Pop, Country

Label
  
Warner Music UK

"Big River" is a song written and performed by Jimmy Nail and released on the album Big River. It was released as a single in 1995. In 2011, it was recorded by Joe McElderry for the DVD, Big River Big Songs: The Tyne. McElderry also performed it for Sunday for Sammy in 2012.

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".

Some of the guitar work on the song was provided by Mark Knopfler.

References

Big River (Jimmy Nail song) Wikipedia