Ralph McTell - Streets Of London

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
And held loosely at his side
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news

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
I'll 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.

In the all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven,
Same old man is sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his tea-cup,
Each tea last an hour
Then he wanders home alone

And 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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ralph
• McTell
• Streets
• Of
• London

[ForgeValleys]

How to ruin a good video - read all political diatribe that is in the comments...

[haroldbhoy67]

@Barrowslegion The Scottish and Polish have taken over as the London homeless now. The saddest thing is they are not old, many still in their early 20`s. Very sad indeed. We spend billions on the Olympics in London yet there are people sleeping outside tonight in sub zero tempratures, Very sad. Lovely song though.

[gorbi122gmail]

Suuper



[joeytwosubs]

@haroldbhoy67 I'm not sure, but I think it might be George Bush's fault.

[karlmall]

Klasse Video- und Audioqualität - dafür, dass die Aufnahme von 1975 ist! Super!

[ForgeValleys]

@alanschapira I'm just bored with people dragging politics into things. Blaming this government or that government... Maybe I have got it wrong. Maybe the youtube comments section is where people should have their political rant. Personally, I can't be bothered having politcal arguments in this forum. I don't need to emotively relate - I have been at the bottom in London, so to me this is just another song about 'hey, sometimes life sucks'. Time for some PULP...

[Psychedynamo1]

@ForgeValleys go do something useful and sign the CRISIS petition.

crisis.org.uk/pages/no-one-tur­ned-away.html

It is shocking that single people are still ending up homeless and on the streets because the law does not protect them enough, 40 years after the first Crisis at Christmas. Most single homeless people are not considered to be in ‘priority need’ for social housing, meaning that the council has no duty to find them accommodation.

[alanschapira]

@ForgeValleys sorry, but theres a lot more to music than sound and i think uve missed the point of the song. how can you emotively relate and not feel the same as that guy?

[ForgeValleys]

@Psychedynamo1 I come here for the music. People like you like to hear the sound of their own voices spewing forth political opinions. So... Carry on. Enjoy your soapbox if that is what makes you happy. Righto, I'm off to listen to more music!

[tukspeacepipes]

This is a beautiful song:very powerful words:as true today as they were all those years ago when this classic first came out.A big thumbs up to you for this upload.

[Psychedynamo1]

@ForgeValleys its attitudes like yours that are total diatribe!!!

[Psychedynamo1]

@tommy444ish what a load of tosh!

People who are homeless need extra support to help them back on their feet, and then ongoing support to ensure they do not succumb to another spell of homelessness. Specialized housing centres/hospital units with group psychotherapy linked to job placements would be a good start.

Be more positive cos its attitudes like yours that do absolutely no good. It could be your son or daughter one day soon that is homeless!!!!