STREETS OF LONDON

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

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
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
and in the winter city the rain cries a little pity
for one more forgotten hero and a world that doesn't care
                            ---
in shop doorways • under bridges : in all our towns and cities
you can glimpse the makeshift bedding from the corner of your eye
remember what you're seeing barely hides a human being
we're all in this together : brother, sister, you and I

                                               ralph mctell