Streets of London
Blackmore's Night Lyrics
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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.
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
The song "Streets of London" by Blackmore's Night tells the story of the forgotten people who live in the city's streets. The song begins by describing an old man in the abandoned market, kicking the papers with his worn out shoes, and with his hand held loosely at his side. The lyrics highlight the lack of pride in his eyes as he reads the newspapers telling yesterday's news. The chorus highlights the irony of people saying they are lonely and that the sun does not shine for them while people like the old man are left unnoticed. The singer offers to take the person by the hand and show them something that would change their mind.
The second verse describes an old girl who walks the streets of London. Her clothes are in rags, and dirt is in her hair. She has no time for talking and keeps walking while carrying her home in two carrier bags. Like the old man, she is also forgotten and unheard, yet she keeps on moving on. The final verse tells the story of another old man who stands outside the Seaman's Mission, wearing medal ribbons that have now blurred with his fading memory. The winter city cries a little pity on him, another forgotten hero in a world that does not care.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you seen the old man
Have you observed the elderly gentleman
In the closed-down market
In the abandoned marketplace
Kicking up the paper,
Scraping up the paper scraps with his shoes
With his worn out shoes?
Wearing his tattered footwear
In his eyes you see no pride
His gaze indicates a lack of self-respect
Hand held loosely at his side
His hand not grasping anything, hanging freely
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news
The dated newspaper carrying old news stories
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song
So how can you tell me you're lonely,
Thus, how could you profess to being lonely
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
While simultaneously claiming that the sunshine avoids you?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
Allow me to guide you through London's avenues
I'll show you something to make you change your mind
I have something to demonstrate that would alter your perspective
Have you seen the old girl
Did you witness the elderly lady
Who walks the streets of London
Who strolls through London's avenues
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?
Unkempt hair and ragged attire indicating poverty
She's no time for talking,
She doesn't have any desire or need for communication
She just keeps right on walking
She continues to traverse through the streets
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.
Holding her belongings in two shopping bags
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song
In the all night cafe
Located in a cafe open 24/7
At a quarter past eleven,
At 15 minutes past 11
Same old man is sitting there on his own
The aforementioned elderly man sitting unaccompanied
Looking at the world
Observing the surroundings
Over the rim of his tea-cup,
Above the edge of his teacup
Each tea lasts an hour
Sipping his tea for 60 minutes
Then he wanders home alone
Afterward, he aimlessly returns home without company
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song
Have you seen the old man
Did you observe the elderly gentleman
Outside the Seaman's Mission
Across from the maritime charity location
Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears
His recollections fading while wearing his war ribbons
In our winter city,
In our wintertime metropolis
The rain cries a little pity
Rain instilling an iota of sorrow
For one more forgotten hero
For another disregarded hero
And a world that doesn't care
In a world that lacks concern
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ralph McTell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Theo De Brandt
Ralph McTell - 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
And 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 last 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.
And 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...
Robert Balfry
With everything going on in this mad world this song brings so much comfort love blackmore's night beautiful 😍
John J
Candice is so beautiful, graceful, and classy...and she has the voice of an angel. :)
John DeAngelo
What a beautiful song! Never heard of this band til I just discovered them on Youtube. So glad I did. They are incredible, totally enjoy their music. I hope they will tour soon. Def will see them.
Peter j Slevin
I love this live version it would have been nice to have heard the last verse of this wonderful cover.
Stuart Buffery
Agreed, the last verse is nice in the style that is on Village Lantern album
Peter Slevin
This song is as relevant today as it ever was, and this is my favourite of all the versions beautifuly sung.
Rene Lilly
Fantastic! Her voice is so beautiful!
mathias64ful
This song is everlasting....Candace sing is beautiful.
Wme Emw
Beautiful voice making a breathtaking version of a great ballad, such a great arrangement with their crescendo to final verse.
tkuanttj
Used to be the most recorded song by multiple artists. This version stands out to be in the front row