Ralph McTell Lyrics
1944 - Ralph May born: Dec. 3rd. Famborough, Kent.
1947 - His father leaves home; the family move to Croydon.
1951 - Learns to play the harmonica and discovers Laurel
Hardy and Flash Gordon at Saturday morning pictures.
1954 - Ralph makes his stage debut at school pantomime
performing 'Where Will The Baby's Dimple Be?'
1957 - Swaps his harmonica for a ukulele and forms a band.
1959 - Takes up the guitar. Leaves school and joins the
army as a boy soldier.
1960 - Buys himself out of the Queen's Surrey Regiment
Junior Leaders Battalion More...
Submit Ralph McTell New Lyrics
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- Streets Of London Lyrics
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Submit Ralph McTell New Lyrics
Review about Ralph McTell songs
Forgotten Hero | Reviewer: minimuso
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellThis 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.
Streets of Market Harborough, Leicestershire | Reviewer: Helen Morritt
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellI 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.
An old friend | Reviewer: Allan Matthews
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellI 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
My favorite | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellThis 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...
Personal | Reviewer: Dave Hackney
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellWhen 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.
Streets of London | Reviewer: Micron
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellI 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?
I'll play it with compassion. | Reviewer: Sarah Kelly
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellBorn 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.
This song is like an old friend | Reviewer: Martin Cox
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellI 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.
streets of london (our way) | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTelli 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!
For my Father | Reviewer: Jeannie
------ About the song Streets Of London performed by Ralph McTellI 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?
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