We heard one in 1990 and it took about 15 years to locate the singer again - our own Theresa Tooley.
We can't remember the name* of the person - choose your own,the title is missing (maybe The Bag Lady Song), we don't know who wrote it and the words were incomplete but we think it's:

Me name is Annie Walker* and I'm living on the street,
I spend me mornings sleeping and the night-time on me feet.
Each afternoon I look for work, I will not stoop to theft,
But pride don't keep me warm enough, and pride's all I got left.

I spent me time at tailoring until me eyes went bad
And I felt that we could make it on the savings that we had
But me husband died ten years ago, still I could pay the rent,
But the landlord kept on raising it until it all was spent.

So I ended in a shelter with the other homeless ones:
The sick ones and the dying, someone's daughters, someone's sons,
The violent and the crazy whether white or brown or black
'Twas the nearest thing to hell on earth and I'm never going back.

I keep this bag beneath me coat to hide me one good dress,
And I put it on to look for work - me other stuff's a mess,
And I wash in public washrooms, let the others stare and blink:
It's hard enough to look for work and harder when you stink.

Now the churches in this city that the rich folk all attend,
They call me there on Sunday and they tell me God's me friend,
They give me soup on Saturday and give me things for free,
They give me soup on Saturday and call it charity.

So listen to me, people, before you walk away
Pretending you don't see me, listen hard to what I say:
This world is not so small a place as once it used to be
And whatever we create here touches you as well as me.
Yes, whatever we create here touches you as well as me.


If you know who wrote it or anything more about it I'd love to know.
Maybe when Theresa moves house she might find the words again???
Robyn