Lyrics:

2002 album The Ragpacker's Dream
Writer(s): Mark Knopfler
featuring Jimmy Nail & Tim Healy

We had no way of staying afloat
We had to leave on a ferryboat
Economic refugees
On the run to Germany

We had the back of Maggie's hand
Times were tough in Geordie-land
We got our tools and working gear
And humped it all from Newcastle to here

Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man

Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man

We're the nomad tribes, traveling boys
(Why aye, why aye man)
In the dust and dirt and the wrecking noise
(Why aye, why aye man)
Drills and hammers, diggers and picks
(Why aye, why aye man)
Mixing concrete, laying bricks
(Why aye, why aye man)

There's English, Irish, Scots, the lot
United Nations is what we've got
Brickies, chippies, every trade
German building, British made

Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man


Why aye man
(Why aye man)
Why aye, why aye man
Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
(Why aye man)

Nay more work on Maggie's farm
Head away down the autobahn
Mine's a Portakabin bed
Or a bunk in a Nissen hut instead

There's plenty Deutschmarks here to earn
(Why aye, why aye man)
And German tarts are Wunderschon
(Why aye, why aye man)
German beer is chemical free
(Why aye, why aye man)
Germany's alright with me
(Why aye, why aye man)

Sometimes I miss my River Tyne
But you're my pretty Fraulein
Tonight we'll drink the old town dry
Keep our spirit levels high

Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man

Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
Why aye man
Why aye, why aye man
(Why aye man)