The Streets of London

The Houghton Weavers - Streets of London

Written by：Ralph McTell

Have you seen the old man

In the closed down market

Kicking up the papers with his worn out shoes

In his eyes you see no pride

Hands held loosely by his side

Yesterdays paper telling yesterday's news

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

I'll show you something

To make you change your mind

Have you seen the old girl

Who walks the streets of London

Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags

Shes no time for talking

She just keeps right on walking

Carrying her home in two carrier bags

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

I'll show you something

To make you change your mind

In the old night cafe

At a quarter past eleven

The same old man

Sitting there on his own

Looking at the world over the rim of his tea cup

Each tea lasts an hour

And he wanders home alone

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

I'll show you something

To make you change your mind

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

And a world that doesn't care

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

I'll show you something

To make you change your mind