Ralph McTell Lyrics

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

Back in the troubled times of the late 60's and 70's in Northern Ireland, there were 2 artists who religiously played The Ulster Hall, Belfast during the Christmas / New Year period . Rory Gallagher and Ralph McTell -and what a contrast. Back then, we ached for entertainment and both Rory and Ralph answered our call. McTell was the main reason why many of us picked up an acoustic guitar (along with "House of the rising sun") and to this day, it is the classic song to get everyone singing at a party.
Thanks Ralph, for taking the time to visit Northern Ireland during the dark days of the bombs and bullets and to anyone who only knows "The Streets of London", check out his albums (sorry, I mean CD's) and listen to some of the lyrics and finger pickin' tunes.

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

The Lyrics were written to explain to a friend of McTell's who felt life was really hard and was also suffering with depression and felt lonely. It was said most of the lyrics were written in Paris?? The song reached No2 in the charts

This version is told at live shows and was also repeated on live TV today. Most times there is a simple answer.....

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

An earlier review gets it partly right about the origins of this beautiful song. Ralf was indeed touring Europe, when he visited Paris. Upon seeing the many, many homeless people, not only on the streets, but camped out below the cities famous bridges, including the world famous 'Pont Neuf' (Bridge Nine), McTell decided to write this song to highlight the situation. By the time he returned home and composed a draft of the lyrics, coincidently another artist had released a different song, highlighting the same issues in Paris. So McTell then proceeded to alter the lyrics to become the famous song that we know and love today.
It seems that you English need to brush up a bit on your own history :-) Absolutely NO Offense Intended guys :-) Love from 'The Big Guy', Belfast

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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.

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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.

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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...

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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.

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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?

    ------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTell

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.