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Streets of London (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other
uses, see Streets
of London (disambiguation).
"Streets of
London" is a song written by Ralph McTell. It was first recorded for McTell's 1969
album Spiral
Staircase but was
not released in the United Kingdom as a single until 1974.
The song was inspired
by McTell's experiences busking and hitchhiking throughout Europe,
especially in Paris and the individual stories are taken
from Parisians – McTell was originally going to call the song Streets of Paris;[1] eventually
London was chosen because he realised he was singing about London.[2] The song
contrasts the common problems of everyday people with those of the homeless,
lonely, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of society.
Lyrics
Have you
seen the old man
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes?
In his eyes you see no pride
Hand held loosely at his side
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes?
In his eyes you see no pride
Hand held loosely at his side
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news
Chorus
So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
Show you something to make you change your mind
So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
Show you something to make you change your mind
Have you
seen the old girl
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?
She's no time for talking,
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?
She's no time for talking,
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.
Chorus
In the
all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven,
Same old man sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his teacup,
Each tea lasts an hour
And he wanders home alone
At a quarter past eleven,
Same old man sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his teacup,
Each tea lasts an hour
And he wanders home alone
Chorus
Have you
seen the old man
Outside the Seaman's Mission
Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears
In our winter city,
The rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world that doesn't care
Outside the Seaman's Mission
Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears
In our winter city,
The rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world that doesn't care
Chorus
Songwriters
RALPH MC TELL
RALPH MC TELL
Published by
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
