The rivers horses do a job right.
Tug on the River Tyne
In the years of fifties and sixties
The river was full of ships of the day
Most of the tugs are on the go
Pulling vessels each and every way
Today there is ten lying at Smith’s yard
Getting ready to do a dock
They are working by the river’s tides
Not by the hands off the clock
Once they are ready to begin
Whistles blowing for all systems go
Watch as they move you will get a shock
Thinking their skippers are putting on a show
Some have started to pull the ships
Others have now started to push
The rivers horses do a job right
Taking pride and not trying to rush
Skippers handle their tugs with ease
Towing the ships in any direction
Moving the vessels in and out of dock
All done with class and perfection
The other ships now eased beside the quays
Two whistle toots means all tugs away
That is another first class job my friend
Been done at Smith’s dry docks today
Now that the years have rolled on
The toots we no longer hear
Even your funnels true colours
Have now had to disappear
No more Malteses crosses
They have gone from the frame
Only four tugs still working
They sail under the Cory name