STREETS OF LONDON
(Trad., Arr. Ralph McTell)
The hardest thing about this tune is not the music — which is basically simple
4/4 with alternating bass for each chord — but the timing while singing the
choruses and the last verse. I’ve tried to indicate phrasing by commas and
line spacing, and I repeat chords when they cover two measures. Maybe it’s
not *that* difficult, after all. 🙂 If you’re really stuck, find someone
from «back home» to sing it for you.
A truly beautiful, three-hanky tune.
VERSE:
C G Am Em
Have you seen the old man, in the closed-down market
F C D7 G7
picking up the papers, with his worn-out shoes?
C G Am Em
In his eyes you see no pride, and held loosely by his side
F C G7 C
yesterday’s papers, telling yesterday’s news
CHORUS:
C F Em C Am
So how can you tell me, you’re lo — ne — ly
D7 D7 G G7
and say for you that the sun don’t shine?
C G Am Em
Let me take you by the hand, and lead you through the streets of London
F C G7 C C
I’ll show you something, to make you change your mind
OTHER VERSES:
Have you seen the old gal, 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
And in the all-night cafe, at a quarter past eleven
some old man sitting there, all on his own
Looking at the world, over the rim of his tea-cup
Each day lasts an hour, then he wanders home alone
And have you seen the old man, outside the seaman’s mission?
His memory’s fading, with those medal ribbons that he wears
And in our winter city, the rain cries little pity
For one more forgotten hero, and a world that doesn’t care
submitted by:
Ted Hermary
[email protected]
Streets Of London Tab by Mctell Ralph
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{title:Streets Of London}
{st:Ralph McTell}
H[G]ave you seen the [D]old man in the c[Em]losed down m[G]arket,
K[C]icking out the p[G]apers with his w[Am]orn out sh[D]oes?
[G]In his eyes you s[D]ee no pride. H[Em]anging loosely [Bm]by his side,
Y[C]esterday’s p[G]aper telling y[D]esterday’s n[G]ews.
{c:Chorus:}
[Am7] So h[C]ow can you t[G]ell me you’re l[D]onel[G]y,
And you s[Am]ay for you that the sun don’t sh[D]ine?
L[G]et me take you [D]by the hand and l[Em]ead you through the st[Bm]reets of London,
I[C]’ll show you s[G]omething that’ll m[D]ake you change your m[G]ind.[Am7]
Have you seen the old girl who walks the streets of London?
Dirt in her hair and her clothes are all in rags.
She’s no time for talking, she just keeps right on walking,
Carrying her home in two old shopping bags.
{c:Chorus.}
In the all night cafe at a quarter to eleven,
Same old man sitting there all alone.
Looking at the world over the rim of his tea cup,
Each tea lasts a hour, then he wanders home alone.
{c:Chorus.}
Have you seen the old man outside the seamen’s mission?
Memory fading with the metal ribbons he wears.
In this lonesome city the rain cries a little pity,
For one more forgotten hero in a world that doesn’t care.
{c:Chorus.}