Silvertown Blues
Mark Knopfler Lyrics

On Silvertown Way, the cranes stand high
The cranes in Silvertown are prominent and visible from a distance.

Quiet and gray against the still of the sky
The cranes are tall and unoccupied, but also blend in with the cityscape.

They won't quit and lay down though the action has died
The cranes are still standing even though the docks are no longer active.

They watch the new game in town on the Blackwall side
The cranes observe the new developments across the river in Blackwall.

From the poisonous drains a vision appears
A new development is rising up from the polluted area.

New circle of cranes, a new reason to be here
More cranes are being built, signifying a new era of activity in Silvertown.

A big silver dome rising up into the dawn
A new structure is being built that is large and silver in color.

Above the church and the homes were all the silver is gone
The new development is taking the place of the old homes and buildings that used to be made of silver.

If I'd a bucket of gold, what would I do
The artist is contemplating what he would do if he had a large sum of money.

I'd leave the story untold Silvertown blues
He would keep his thoughts and feelings about Silvertown to himself.

Going down Silvertown
The singer is descending through Silvertown.

Down in Silverdown
The artist is now in a lower part of Silvertown.

A silver dawn steals over the docks
A new day is starting and everything is covered in a silver light.

A truck with no weels up on cinderblocks
There is a truck that is missing its wheels and is propped up on cinderblocks.

Men with no dreams around a fire in a drum
There are people with no aspirations gathered around a fire in a metal barrel.

Scrap metal schemes are rusted over and done
Plans for selling scrap metal have failed due to rust and disuse.

When you're standing on thin and dangerous ice
When you're in a precarious position where any misstep could be disastrous.

You can knock and walk in for citizens' advice
There are resources available to help when you need guidance or assistance.

They'll tell you the where you can turn, where you can go
The advisors will direct you to the appropriate resources.

There's nothing they can tell me I don't already know
The artist already knows what he needs to do and doesn't need advice.

From the Caning Town train I see a billboard high
The artist is viewing a billboard while riding the train.

There's a big silverplane raising up into the sky
There is a large silver airplane on the billboard.

And I can make out the words 'seven flights every day'
The billboard advertises that there are seven flights leaving every day.

Says six of those birds are bound for JFK
The majority of the flights are headed to JFK Airport.