Streets of London

Werd vandaag aangesproken door de gastblog bij Paul Abspoel van Renske Huisman over 'Schrijvers voor gerechtigheid'. Vanavond kwam ik onderstaande gouwe ouwe weer tegen. 'Streets of London' van Ralph McTell. Hele zoetsappige versie, met een zaal vol jonge vrouwen in aanbidding. Maar wel een mooie live uitvoering van dit lied. Hij stelt ons de impliciete vraag of we vandaag om ons heen gekeken hebben, naar de eenzame mensen in de straat. Daarmee is de link gelegd met bovenstaand artikel.

Streets of London

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
Hand held loosely at his side
Yesterday's 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?
She's 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 all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven,
Same old man is sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his tea-cup,
Each tea lasts an hour
Then 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