Discover the story of the song > Streets of London – Ralph McTell

The song is about a man who is walking around London and noticing various people who are struggling in life. He sees an old man kicking around newspapers, an old woman walking around with her belongings in carrier bags, and a lonely man in a cafe. The protagonist realizes that despite his own problems, there are always people who are worse off and suggests taking his partner by the hand and showing her the realities of life in the hope of changing her perspective. The song ends with a reference to a forgotten hero outside the Seaman's Mission and a world that doesn't seem to care.