So how can you tell me you’re lonely/
And say for you that the sun don’t shine.

In “Streets of London”, Ralph McTell doesn’t want to hear about your depression and how you struggle finding a date on Tinder. He has seen real problems—like with the working poor that struggle in the streets of London. When the song was written, the streets of London appear very different than the vast, rich, financial capital of the world that it is now. That is an interesting fact about how things can change, but it doesn’t make the song any less powerful.

Mctell’s “Street’s of London” is in the folk tradition. Just a singer-songwriter and his/her guitar telling a story about people and their problems. In the early sixties, folk music was in a great place. It was leading the protest for civil rights and anti-war efforts. Folk music went a long way to change the perception of the people of those times. Folk is not as popular these days, but you can see how powerful a simple song and message can be. It can teach you about the world, be inspiring and even lead you to action. And it only requires a guitar.

Streets of London Lyrics

Have you seen the old man in the closed down market
Picking up the papers with his worn out shoes
In his eyes you see no pride and hanging loosely at his side
Yesterdays paper, telling yesterdays 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 dear 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

And in the all night cafe at a quarter past eleven
Same old man sitting there on his own
Looking at the world over the rim of his teacup
And each tea lasts an hour and he wanders home alone
So how can you tell me that 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
And in the 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 that 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

Songwriters: Ralph Mc Tell