I am just learning this song and have carefully listened to a recording by Ralph McTell.  
I have made various wording corrections to the submittal by Ted Hermary based on that review.  
It is amazing how a simple vowel can make a significant impact on the meaning of a phrase 
as in the insertion of the "a" in the last verse.

Don DeRyke
deryked@yahoo.com

#??????????????????????????????????PLEASE NOTE?????????????????????????????????#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????##
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 paper, with his worn?out shoes?
C               G             Am               Em   
In his eyes you see no pride, and held loosely at his side
F           C               G7          C     
yesterday's paper, 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 (use Don't instead of "and" after café verse ) 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   
 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
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 tea?cup
Each tea lasts an hour, and he wanders home alone

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

submitted by:  
Ted Hermary 
czth@musica.mcgill.ca
 

• streets of london