E -Stufe 11 - Arbeit Nr. 1 - GreenButterSolutions

the Streets of London

Ralph McTell, Streets of London

Have you seen the old man in the closed down market
Kicking at the paper with his worn out shoes ?
In his eyes you see no pride, hands held loosely at his side
Yesterday's papers telling yesterday's news.
05 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.
10 Have you seen the old girl who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and 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
15 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 quarter past eleven
20 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
And say for you that the sun don't shine ?
25 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 seamen's mission
Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears ?
30 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
35 streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind.

Assignments

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
 
1. Where is the old man and what is he doing there?
2. What is the old man doing in the all-night café?
3. What do the old man and the old girl have in common?
4. What does the singer want to express in the refrain?
5. Where does the old man spend his nights?
6. At which places do we meet the old people?
7. What do we know about the places where the two main characters live?
8. What can you say about the old girl's appearance?
9. These two people in the song are outsiders in society. How could we help them? Give at least four ideas.
10. Compare the song in question to Phil Collins's song Another Day In Paradise.