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

[Xessive1972]

"The rain cries a little pity

For one more forgotten hero

And a world that doesn't care"

That always brings tears to my eyes.

[Laura Dhert]

'The Leaving of Eli' by Mark Roberts << I urge you as strongly as possible as it's possible to listen to this song! I saw him (Mark) playing with Ralf about 6 years ago now, he was absolutely captivating but I've found nothing of him since (he boasted to me afterwards about how he was playing with a thumb pick that Ralf had given him!) Just by chance found 'The Leaving of Eli' today and it made my day! Go and search for it, trust me you won't regret it!

[cruellacru]

beautiful song!!

[Liz Hegarty]

We sang this in harmony in Primary School..it gave me goose-bumps back then and it still does now. The words really moved me as a 7 year old child. Brilliant song!

[MrChedomir]

My most favorite song!!!!! Sad but beautiful.

[Jim Young]

Many old men and women are tired, frustrated, and lamenting.

They may have tried hard in their youth on something, but it came to nothing much, and at a certain point abandoned that cause and started to concentrate on their retirement.

If they could be 20 again you'd see a different attitude from old people looking at young people wasting and enjoying their youth.

Old people 20 again would be far more ferocious than current 20 year olds.

But they're too tired from age.

[Pat TheHombre]

True and also sad.

[Heddy Bougni]

the streets of London are not a special case....there are people suffering, especially childre, women and the old...so please try to help even by saying sth nice to them..

[MRMILO57]

If one does not have at least 1 friend, one person to love or 1 little pet dog, that's not living, that's loneliness. Its a bad place to be, even if you're wealthy.

Everyone deserves a friend.

[Derek Jones]

Sang to this at primary school. Brought a tear to my eye then and still does ! brilliant and unforgettable

[acotcha]

Buckets really? Wow that's going to hurt. Everybody has their own cross to bare I suppose