Ralph McTell is probably best known for the song Streets of London which has been covered by over a hundred artists around the world. From Clare to Here has proved almost as popular, during a long and continuing recording and performing career.
McTell's guitar style has been influenced by many of the USA's country blues 'Piedmont- style' guitar players of the early 20th century, including Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell, from whom he took his name.
Nanna's Song
Ralph McTell Lyrics
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Down the streets to watch you laughing
And stop still in the spring night rain
Just to watch you smile again
Understand I hold you hand
A little tight as if by this
I'll stop the night from running
Into morning light too soon.
Ice cream and candy bars,
A Paris moon and Paris stars
Can you count the times
That we heard the chimes of Notre Dame
Across the Seine
To remind us sadly once again,
Time just like the river
Was swiftly passing by.
Just a few reminders
Of the little things that bind us
Do they make you sad
Or make you glad
To think about the times we had
In my dreams you're dancing
In the embers of an evening,
And I'll hold your hand a little tight
Just to stop this special night,
From running into morning light too soon.
In Nanna's Song, Ralph McTell reminisces about the times he spent with his grandmother. The song is a beautiful tribute to love and special moments shared between family members. The first verse paints a picture of McTell taking his grandmother out, enjoying the simple pleasures of dancing in the streets and watching her laugh. The reference to stopping in the rain to watch her smile again is particularly touching, emphasizing the significance of such moments to the singer. He talks about how tightly he holds her hand, almost as if he could stop time from moving on too quickly. This highlights their close bond, which is something he treasures.
In the second verse, McTell mentions some of the memories they shared, from eating ice cream and candy bars to listening to the chimes of Notre Dame in Paris. He notes how swiftly time has passed, using the metaphor of a river to convey its fleeting nature. The final verse is a reflection on the importance of cherishing even the smallest things that bring people together, and how they can evoke both happy and sad emotions. The final lines suggest that McTell still dreams of these moments with his grandmother and wishes he could hold on to them just a little longer.
Overall, Nanna's Song is a poignant reminder of the value of family and heartfelt memories. McTell's heartfelt lyrics are evocative and full of emotion, highlighting the power of cherished moments in time.
Line by Line Meaning
If I take you dancing
If I take you to dance
Down the streets to watch you laughing
Along the streets and watch you laugh
And stop still in the spring night rain
And stop under the spring night rain
Just to watch you smile again
Just to see you smile once more
Understand I hold you hand
Know that I hold your hand
A little tight as if by this
A bit tighter as if
I'll stop the night from running
I can prevent the night from ending
Into morning light too soon.
Too soon into morning light.
Ice cream and candy bars,
Ice cream and candy
A Paris moon and Paris stars
The moon and stars of Paris
Can you count the times
Can you remember the times
That we heard the chimes of Notre Dame
When we heard the bells of Notre Dame
Across the Seine
Over the River Seine
To remind us sadly once again,
To remind us once again, with sorrow,
Time just like the river
Time, like the river
Was swiftly passing by.
Was passing by quickly.
Just a few reminders
Just a couple of things to remember
Of the little things that bind us
Of the small things that unite us
Do they make you sad
Do they cause you sorrow
Or make you glad
Or make you happy
To think about the times we had
To remember the times we shared
In my dreams you're dancing
You dance in my dreams
In the embers of an evening,
Under the evening's embers
And I'll hold your hand a little tight
And I'll hold your hand a bit tighter
Just to stop this special night,
Just to pause this unique night
From running into morning light too soon.
From ending too soon into morning light.
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.