He stood there on the quayside looking out to sea
The bitter wind burnt his face this was no place to be,

But this old man was made of sterner stuff
He came from a time when things were tough

His mind went back to those yesterdays
And thoughts began drifting through the haze

To the times when the river was alive
With hundreds of ships of all shapes and size,

they vied with each other to unload at the quayside,
waiting to be told to tie up alongside

Sugar, cotton wheat and grain
All where unloaded again and again,

Other vessels took people away
Into the sunset day after day

Husband daughter son and wife
Sailed away in the hope of a better life

Off they went into the unknown
to find some land and build a home.

All the great liners of the day
Had anchored here in the bay

Blue Funnel, Cunard and the White Star line,
Made they’re home here in this port so fine

But time and tide waits for no man, so they say
Now all those big ships have had their day,

That wizened face those tired old eyes
recalled the halcyon days and its sad demise

but no matter what the old man sees
it cant take away his memories.