We had to leave on the ferry-boat Economic refugees On the run to Germany We had the back of Maggie’s hand Times were tough in Geordie land We got wor tools and working gear And humped it all from Newcastle to here Why aye man, why aye, why aye ma Why aye man, why aye, why aye man (x2) We’re the nomad tribes, travelling boys In the dust and the dirt and the racket and the noise Drills and hammers, diggers and picks Mixing concrete, laying bricks There’s English, Irish, Scots, the lot United Nation’s what we’ve got Brickies, Chippies, every trade German building, British-made Why aye man, why aye, why aye ma Why aye man, why aye, why aye man (x2) Nae more work on Maggie’s farm Hadaway down the autobahn Mine’s a porta cabin bed or a bunk in a Nissan hut instead There’s plenty Deutschmarks here to earn And German tarts are wun derschoen German beer is chemical- free Germany’s alreet with me Some times I miss my river Tyne But you’re my pretty Fraulein Tonight we’ll drink the old town dry Keep wor spirit levels high Why aye man, why aye, why aye ma Why aye man, why aye, why aye man (x2) Some times I miss my river Tyne But you’re my pretty Fraulein Tonight we’ll drink the old town dry Keep wor spirit levels high (2x)