STREETS OF LONDON
(Ralph McTell)

Ralph McTell - 1969
Mary Hopkin - 1971
Heorge Hamilton IV & The Hillsiders - 1971
Glen Campbell - 1977

Also recorded by:
Schooner Fare; Anti-Nowhere League; Roger Whittaker;
John Williams; Cliff Richard; Raffi; Sinéad O'Connor;
Phil Coulter; Shaw Brothers; Stars Unlimited Singers;
Liz Queler; Liam Clancy; Count Basie; Ronald Radford;
Val Doonican; Fade II Black; Adelaide Hall; Tony Rice;
Pat Surface; Charlie McCoy; The Johnstons; Jim McCann;
Cleo Laine; Blackmore's Night ............ and others.



Have you seen the old man
In the closed down market
Kicking up the papers with his worn out shoes
In his eyes you see no pride
Hands 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

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

In the all-night café
At a quarter past eleven
The same old man sitting there on his own
Looking at the world over the rim of his teacup
And each tea lasts an hour
And he wanders home alone

So how can you tell me that 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

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

So how can you tell me that you're lonely
And say for you that the sun don't shine
Well, 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