In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Have you seen the old man
In the closed down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes
In his eyes you see no pride
And held loosely by 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
I'll show you something, to make you change your mind
Have you seen the old gal
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes are 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
And in the all night cafe
at a quarter past eleven
Same old man is sitting there
all on his own
Looking at the world
over the rim of his tea-cup
each tea last an hour
Then he wanders home alone
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
And have you seen the old man
Outside the seaman's mission
His memory is fading,
With those medal ribbons he wears
And 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
I'll show you something, to make you change your mind
In the closed down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes
In his eyes you see no pride
And held loosely by 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
I'll show you something, to make you change your mind
Have you seen the old gal
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes are 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
And in the all night cafe
at a quarter past eleven
Same old man is sitting there
all on his own
Looking at the world
over the rim of his tea-cup
each tea last an hour
Then he wanders home alone
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
And have you seen the old man
Outside the seaman's mission
His memory is fading,
With those medal ribbons he wears
And 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
I'll show you something, to make you change your mind
Lyrics submitted by Novartza
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
I think the 2 previous people misunderstand the lyrics to this song. The song isn't expressing how wonderful London is to cheer you up but instead that London (or in fact any large City) provides you with all that is best and worst. In this case it highlights the downtrodden, the tramps, the vagabonds. It is a another song that reflects that however bad your life is - your delf-loathing, or feeling of worthlessness (whether it be following the loss of a loved one or just feeling pity for yourself) there is always someone worse of than you, and as such you should pick yourself up, find the hope to carry-on. A traditional folk song that is very much still relevant today as it was 100 years ago.