Byker Bank By: Jack Routledge G C G D They're pulling down old Byker bank, down come those old streets rank on rank D G C G D G Oh fare you well old Raby street, you leave behind you memories so sweet G C G D And now their end those houses meet, from Union road to Dalton street D G C G D G From shepherds yard to Albion row, the wreckers pull the ropes and down they go G C G D When we were kids we used to roam, all over Byker miles from home D G C G D G Down to the burn and the old quayside, chuck bricks at ships along the river Tyne G C G D Down Granny's park we used to play, a football match lasting all the day D G C G D G Then to the plagie just to be seen, the Parky chased us of the bowling green G C G D The wash house standing in the rain, the smell of washing through a broken pane D G C G D G The tram cars rattled as they swayed along, the trolley busses sang their silent song G C G D We used to run up and down the lane, from top to bottom and then back again D G C G D G But now those back lanes they are no more, you can't play football on the fourteenth floor G C G D Cos we live in these super flats, you can't keep pigeons, dogs or cats D G C G D G To pay the rent is extremely hard, but from the lounge you can see the naval yard G C G D And now old Byker has been pulled down, they're building us a brand new town D G C G D G We hope the planners can understand, you can't build people out of bricks and sand G C G D They're pulling down old Byker bank, down come those old streets rank on rank D G C G D G Oh fare you well old Raby street, you leave behind you memories so sweet