Streets Of London Lyrics

This is such a great song. People often know the tune yet have no idea that this was not just a one hit wonder. Ralph McTell is a prolific writer who has done masses of wonderful stuff but somehow seems to have escaped the prominent adulation ought to go with such a gift. I hope people find out more about the writer who had so many profound thoughts and shared them in songs and poetry. How sad if he too were a "forgotten hero" - sad for the everyone I think.

I love this song by Ralph McTell.
Some alternate lyrics could be related to Market Harborough's town. The Public Houses, the Clubs, Shops, Supermarkets. Some of the people live in the town who I always see walking around.
I shall work out the lyrics and put them on here.

I played this long ago for some friends at a party, i always loved the lyrics, supprisingly i've just been presented with a photo albun celebrating my 60th birthday, and this song they added to the end of the photo DVD,wow wasn't the word, tears last forever

This is my absolute favorite song. One of my friends used to pull out his guitar and play this song. Never really knew who wrote it, but always loved the lyrics. Lots of fond memories bound to this song...

When Ralph McTell released Streets of London the homeless problem was very much about older people, thus the lyrics 'Old man', 'Old Girl'. This song changed the nations attitude to homeless people, it resulted in more hostels and much of the rough sleeping was reduced, however the problem did not go away, but it did change, the age of the homeless in London and our other major cities dropped. 11 years ago whilst at Birmingham University studying Youth and Community Work we had a module called 'Informal Education in Alternative Environments'. A student colleague and I chose Homlessness as our 'alternative environment' We visited several projects including St Basil's. At the time I was perhaps a 'little more spiritual' than I am at the moment. These words came to me, or were given to me in 'one shot' there has been no revision of them from the first writing (interpret that as you will). The last verse which talks of 'One more potential hero'' makes my eyes well up today almost as much as when I first wrote them down. Since that time i have worked with a number of young people, who despite my best efforts have disappeared into the twilight zone of homelessness, all of them are still potential hero's.

Streets of London is a clasic, and i would hate to thing that the following version would take anything away from it.

I would welcome any comments

Have you seen the young man outside the Job Centre

Kicking at a can with his worn trainers

In his eyes you see no pride

and held loosely at his side

Yesterday's paper with no jobs inside.




Ch. 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 Brum now,

let me show you something

that'll make you change your mind.




Have you seen the young girl

who walks the streets of Brum now

Selling the Big Issue

with a smile on her face,

She's no time for talking,

she just keeps right on calling,

hiding her true feelings

behind the smile on her face.




Ch.




Have you seen the young ones

sitting in the subway,

Plucking out a tune

with their frozen hands

shoppers pass with bulging bags

don't even give a second glance

maybe drop a penny,

pretending that they care.




Ch.




In the all night café,

at a quarter past eleven,

same young man

sitting there on his own

looking at the world

over the rim of his coke can

each can lasts an hour then he wanders home alone




Ch.




Have you seen the young man

outside the drop in centre

memories of his childhood

in the pain on his face

in our winter city

the rain cries a little pity

for one more potential hero

in a world that doesn't care.




Ch.

Ch.

I love this song too and play it often. Now I seem to remember reading that this song was written during a tour of Europe and Ralph was appalled by the scenes of poverty he saw in Paris. He wrote the song and titled it London to avoid offending the French. Anyone care to comment?

Born an English Girl, working as a nurse in cardiology in Canada,lucky enough to be a camp nurse this summer in Ontario playing the piano for some camp songs. I'll play this with pride to help others to continue to try to be more compassionate and kind and to try to make a difference for the good. It's brings back stories as told by my (missed) grand parents.

I picked up my guitar today and without thinking played through the chord sequence of this song. When I realised what I was playing I started to sing, but could only remember the last verse, so I was glad to find this set of lyrics. It just felt to natural to sing and play it again, then I realised I probably haven't done so for nearly 30 years! I used to sing it all the time while at school and even performed it in assembly once... Great song.

i used to sing this at primary in the school choir and it made the year 3 teacher cry (which at the time you can imagine we all thought was pretty funny!) and the song for us was split in to 4/5 parts 2 people did solo's on parts of the first verse we all sang the chorus all the time and and so on and then everyone sang the last verse. i can still even now remember my few lines: in the all nightcafe, at a quarter past eleven, same ols man sitting there on his own (my friend sang the next line then together we sang) each tea lasts an hour and he wanders home alone. then it was just another song to me, but now as i take singing more seriosly and i am older i understand the meaning, and just like my old year 3 teacher, it makes me cry!

I had to have the words to this. My father was born and raised in the east end of London and remembers WWII well. He told me many stories over the years. This song just says it all and my only question remains - Why haven't things changed?

This song is so true, people complain about so much but fail to see that others have it worse.

Been singing the bits I could remember from time to time over the years and now I wanted to have all the lyrics. Simple and to the point. Thing is, why are things still the same???!! We should be able to say in 2006, that things are different now. If anything, the divide has grown.

An extremely touching song which depicts the unfortunately true but darker side of London. A side of London that many are not aware of.
The song makes one appreciate life.

What a fantastic piece of songwriting.The lyrics are so heartfelt and really quite moving.A milestone achievement.
Todays alleged songwriters could learn alot from this fantastic piece of social commentary set to music.
Simply magnificent.

I Just want the words of this song. I was on holiday in Ireland with my mother. We met Ralph's Mother and I can remember her saying that Ralph use to write his music on the kitchen table.