Origins: Streets of London (Ralph McTell)^^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: MMario
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:06 PM

I like it - the combination of lyrics and the music does something.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:00 PM

I've always had big problems with this song. Does anybody actually like it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:52 PM

Ah, this is a Don't complain about no shoes or I'll show you someone with no feet, then. Makes much more sense now.

But WHY O why does that one line just do me in?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: MMario
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:50 PM

My interpretation is that the singer is chastizing someone else (probably someone middle class or above)for griping about their life when there are so many others out there with so much less.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:44 PM

"How can you tell me you're lonely". Which of those words is causing the problem?

Subject: RE: Streets of London
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:38 PM

What does he mean when he sings "How can you tell me you're lonely?" in this song? I'm not "getting" it intellectually, but the line is breaking me up. So sad...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From:
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 09:11 PM

Louise, I found the words in the database.

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5574

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: GUEST,Louise
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 03:04 PM

Thanks for the warning, Liz - S*****s of Barnsley it ain't then!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 02:50 PM

Be very careful with this one, Ralph McTell is notoriously touchy when it comes to copyright and crediting this song, it was parodied for a football chant (OK, the fans changed ONE word) and he refused point blank for the changed version to be broadcast, so no sneaky changing London for any other city.....!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: GUEST,Louise
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 05:51 PM

Thank you. x

Subject: Lyr Add: STREETS OF LONDON (Ralph McTell)
From: Ulli
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 05:29 PM

here are the lyrics (again)

STREETS OF LONDON
(Ralph McTell)
As recorded by Ralph McTell on "Spiral Staircase" (1969)

1. 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.

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.

2. 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. CHORUS

3. 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. CHORUS

4. 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 in a world that doesn't care. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Streets of London
From: GUEST,Louise
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 05:15 PM

PS, I only want the lyrics so I can sing my toddler to sleep! Sorry if I've walked into the middle of a storm, just reread some old threads and there's obviously an ongoing battle here. Stay strong and you have my support as a newbie, for what it's worth.

Louise

Subject: Streets of London
From: GUEST,Louise
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 05:11 PM

I found the lyrics to this on the database yesterday, was daft enough not to print them off at the time and today they've been removed at the request of the publisher?

Could anyone direct me to somewhere else, please?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Louise