A Reflection on Ralph McTell’s ‘Streets of London’
Though written in the 1970s, the song Streets of London by Ralph McTell still provides a challenge to us today about caring for the poor and lonely — especially in tough cultural and economic times.
English musician Ralph McTell made a lasting impact on my life from the 1970s with his song Streets of London, whose video and lyrics appear below.
In the spirit of that song — and to quote some of its lyrics — Let me take you by the hand down memory lane while I show you a few things that might change your mind.
Have you seen the old man
In a 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
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 café
At a quarter past eleven
Same old man
Sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his teacup
Each tea lasts an hour
And he wanders home alone
So, how can you tell me you’re lonely?
Don’t say for you that the sun don’t shine
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
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
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
Show you something to make you change your mind
Do We See the Homeless?
Jesus said we will always have the poor with us (Matthew 26:11). Nobody would deny we are in a cost-of-living crisis and the plight of the poor is being magnified. But how much of our public debate is taking a serious look at their struggle?
Here in Australia, the Labor Party is in government — a party that used to be known as the champion of the underdog, architects of the welfare state and universal healthcare, and the voice for the battler. How things have changed. Today, we see a government out of touch with reality and apparently unable to respond to the growing divide in society.
McTell’s Streets of London beautifully and memorably brought the poor into the heart of our cultural life. Can you imagine a song like this making it big today?
Recall McTell’s “old man… with his worn out shoes” reading “yesterday’s news”. Here is a man trying to stay in touch. He is no trouble to anyone. He is not making a scene. He is not complaining. He is simply trying to retain his dignity. But because he is so quiet, do we pass him by?
This reminds us of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:42-45:
For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
Individually, we can’t solve the crisis of poverty, but one-by-one, we can make a difference. For me the starting point is opening my eyes, to help me change my mind.
Do We See the Lonely?
Loneliness is such a scourge today, especially over the summer months when families travel from far and wide to be with loved ones and to rebuild bridges that might have been broken. But think about those who don’t have family at this time. Do we see them?
I love McTell’s “theology”. He takes us by the hand and shows us something we had previously seen: the plight of others. What a tremendous antidote to feeling sorry for ourselves, when we notice the needs of others and reach out to them. I love that McTell is taking us by the hand — he is not forcing anything; he is simply gently showing us something that might change our mind.
Are our war veterans in our minds and hearts? Are they “one more forgotten hero” in “a world that doesn’t care”?
I can be so easily caught up with the issues and challenges of today — and the potential for more issues and challenges tomorrow.
Instead, let’s ponder for a moment what these men and women fought and often died for. They were fighting for our way of life, our cultural norms and our moral values. Let’s champion their legacy. Let’s revel in our way of life and never feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. Each of us has a duty, I believe, to take pride in our culture, our hard-fought-for culture, that has and still does bring such good into the world.
So how about it? Has Ralph McTell changed your mind? Can you still say that the sun don’t shine?
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Thank you Jim, for your sensitive treatment of this vexing issue. May our Dear Lord Jesus help us, not only see the needs around us, but enable us in the Churches to seek His Face as to making the Gospel more relevant in real terms to those suffering around us.
Eunice, thank you for this. Its an interesting question; is this a personal challenge or a church community one? I suspect both. But yes you are right, lets pray our churches can champion those in need, especially in Australia’s current economic climate.
Today, I was visiting a country town that, five years ago, was bustling and full of energy. Today, there were so many cafes, restaurants and shops up ‘for lease’. Most of the shops still open were ‘op shops’. It looked so much like the beginnings of a ghost town. In addition, the local council has not been able to complete essential repairs that date back, I would say, at least three years. It is extremely sad.
It is now a cruel, uncaring society of “dog eat, dog “. The poor and the lonely are invisible people. I remember a time in the 1950s when I was a child and Australia was not like this. Our street had 11 houses , and, everyone was friendly and caring if , eg someone had an operation, meals would appear over the fence, or, if someone ‘s exam results were published in the newspaper, they’d all be banging on the door early in the morning to congratulate , because to them it was as if a personal honour had been done to them ! I miss that house and those lovely people because the neighbours I now have are awful !
Countess, I understand your feelings (but my current neighbors are fine). To me we ‘understood’ each other then, and we too ‘responsibility’ for each other. Lets pray that 2025 brings understanding and responsibility to our neighborhoods. In the natural very unlikely, but with God all things are possible – consider the fig tree and the mountain into the sea story.
Half of those lovely neighbours we saw every Sunday at Mass. Then , there was the lovely Protestant family, the Haese, in the next street with whom I grew up , who gave me , a lonely Only Child, such love. To them I was their 5th child till the day they died. I can still hear in my mind their excited voices calling me and see Mrs. Haese covering me in kisses, and, “stern ” headmaster, Fred Haese, a man as soft as butter, beaming at me. Today, I am one of the lonely, friendless, forgotten , abandoned by my daughters. We live in a different, Godless age.
Countess, close your eyes and take Jesus hand, He will lead you somewhere to show you that, still today, you are so deeply, deeply loved.