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Streets of London

Ralph McTell

"Streets of London" is a song by Ralph McTell, who first recorded it for his 1969 album "Spiral Staircase". It was not released in the United Kingdom as a single until 1974. McTell himself noted that there were 212 known recorded versions of the song. This is one of many songs that uses "Pachelbel's Canon" as chord progression.
Modified 02.11.2023

Intro

C
G/B
Am
Em
F
G/C
G7
C

Verse 1

C
⁠Have you seen the
G
⁠old man

in the
Am
⁠closed down
Em
⁠market,
F
⁠Kicking out the
C
⁠papers

with his
Dm
⁠worn out
G7
⁠shoes?
C
⁠In his eyes you
G
⁠see no pride.
Am
⁠Hand held loosely
Em
⁠at his side,
F
⁠Yesterday's
C
⁠paper

telling
G7
⁠yesterday's
C
⁠news.

Chorus 1


So
F
⁠how can you
Em
⁠tell me you're
C
⁠lo
G/B
⁠ne
Am
⁠ly
C/G
D/F#
⁠ And you say for
D
⁠you that the sun don't
G
⁠shine?
C
⁠Let me take you
G
⁠by the hand and
Am
⁠lead you through the
Em
⁠streets of London,
F
⁠ I'll show you
C
⁠something

to
G7
⁠make you change your
C
⁠mind.

Instrumental

C
G/B
Am
G/B

Verse 2

C
⁠Have you seen the
G
⁠old girl

who
Am
⁠walks the streets of
Em
⁠London?
F
⁠ Dirt in her
C
⁠hair and her
Dm
⁠clothes in
G
⁠rags.
C
⁠She's no time for
G
⁠talking,

she
Am
⁠just keeps right on
Em
⁠walking,
F
⁠Carrying her
C
⁠home in two
G7
⁠carrier
C
⁠bags.

Chorus 2


So
F
⁠how can you
Em
⁠tell me you're
C
⁠lo
G/B
⁠ne
Am
⁠ly
C/G
D/F#
⁠ And you say for
D
⁠you that the sun don't
G
⁠shine?
C
⁠Let me take you
G
⁠by the hand and
Am
⁠lead you through the
Em
⁠streets of London,
F
⁠ I'll show you
C
⁠something

to
G7
⁠make you change your
C
⁠mind.

Instrumental

C
G/B
Am
Em/G
F
C
G7
C

Verse 3

C
⁠In the all night
G/B
⁠cafe

at a
Am
⁠quarter past e
Em/G
⁠leven,
F
⁠ Same old
C
⁠man sitting
F
⁠there on his
G
⁠own.
C
⁠Looking at the
G
⁠world over the
Am
⁠rim of his
Em
⁠tea cup,

and
F
⁠each tea lasts a
C
⁠hour, and he
G7
⁠wanders home a
C
⁠lone.

Chorus 3


So
F
⁠how can you
Em
⁠tell me you're
C
⁠lo
G/B
⁠ne
Am
⁠ly
C/G
D/F#
⁠ And you say for
D
⁠you that the sun don't
G
⁠shine?
C
⁠Let me take you
G
⁠by the hand and
Am
⁠lead you through the
Em
⁠streets of London,
F
⁠ I'll show you
C
⁠something

to
G7
⁠make you change your
C
⁠mind.

Instrumental

C
G/B
Am
G/B

Verse 4

C
⁠Have you seen the
G/B
⁠old man

out
Am
⁠side the seamen's
Em/G
⁠mission?
F
⁠Memory fading
C/E
⁠with the medal
F
⁠ribbons he
G
⁠wears.

And
C
⁠in our winter
G/B
⁠city the rain
Am
⁠cries a little
Em/G
⁠pity,

For
F
⁠one more forgotten
C
⁠hero

in a
G7
⁠world that doesn't
C
⁠care.

Chorus 4


So
F
⁠how can you
Em
⁠tell me you're
C
⁠lo
G/B
⁠ne
Am
⁠ly
C/G
D/F#
⁠ And you say for
D
⁠you that the sun don't
G
⁠shine?
C
⁠Let me take you
G/B
⁠by the hand and
Am
⁠lead you through the
Em/G
⁠streets of London,
F
⁠ I'll show you
C/E
⁠something

to
G7
⁠make you change your
C
⁠mind.