Is it too early to look back? Is it too late to change tack? Gray Street was Betjeman's for keeps But I was brought up on Durham Street Rewind the tapes to make the memories We knew we'd arrived When we rode down the Tyne Past polaroid puddles And skeletal shipyards In the blink of a bridge's eye Throwing the gauntlet down In our adopted town I couldn't tell you what it means But I know that the compass reads North by North East North by North East I couldn't tell you what it means But I know that the compass reads North by North East North by North East We ran down Wallsend hills With Super 8 cameras Creating our own world A blueprint for being Rewind the film to make the memories Days blind From the glare on the Tyne Free wine From the gallery on Friday night Meeting my future wife Throwing the gauntlet down In our adopted town I couldn't tell you what it means But I know that the compass reads North by North East North by North East I couldn't tell you what it means But I know that the compass reads North by North East North by North East Somehow I know that I'm home when I'm here