On Morecombe Bay by Kevin Littlewood as sung by Christie Moore
Am Em
Out beyond the street lamps, where the calliopes roar
Am Em
Past the wrack and samphire, beyond the shore
C Dsus2
I've seen them walking through the tide, as the rain cuts through the spray
Am Em E
Chinese cockle pickers on the sands of Morecambe bay
Am Em
I stood beside them in the corner shop, and in the market too
Am Em
I should have spoken to them, told them everything we knew
C Dsus2
Like our mothers told us, as we went out to play
Am Em E
Never try to race and tide, on the sands of Morecambe Bay
C G
For the tide is the devil, it will run you out of breath
F G E
Race you to the seashore, chase you to your death
C G
The tides the very devil, and the devil has its day
F G Am
On the lonely cockle banks of Morecambe bay
Am Em
Saw them sending money orders home, their hard earned pay
Am Em
Tales of crossing borders, on the road to Morecambe bay
C Dsus2
Sleeping in crowded rooms, on cold hard floors
Am Em E
Such dreamless life, is not worth dying for
Am Em
And now we see them in the distance, laid out in the morning light
Am Em
Migrant workers, twenty three were drowned last night
C Dsus2
There final phone calls, halfway round the world crossed
Am Em E
As between two river estuaries, they raced the tide and lost
C G
For the tide is the devil, it will run you out of breath
F G E
Race you to the seashore, chase you to your death
C G
The tides the very devil, and the devil has its day
F G Am
On the lonely cockle banks of Morecambe bay
C G
In Fugian and Xelang, they mourn their next of kin
F G E
Gang masters, with snake tattoos, calling money loans back in
C G
Broken hearted parents, watch their children stole away
F G Am
To die upon the cockle banks of Morecambe bay
Am Em
The tides the very devil, and the devil has its day
F G Am
On the lonely cockle banks of Morecambe bay
Mike Hesp
