STREETS of LONDON. How Can You Say You’re LONELY? And that the SUN doesn’t SHINE?

LONDON?

Ah, during late Autumn or Winter, this numbing feeling can be abysmal.

Shorter days, longer nights.

And the intense chill and frost bites blending well with the cheerless mood.

You might have hummed along with the classic hit called  STREETS OF LONDON.

Lovely!

Eons ago, I discovered this tearful song that never fails to instil an absolute sense of tingling foreboding in me.

There’s this old world charm about the lyrics that’d probably touch a zillion souls.

Something about life and loneliness entwined, of poverty, reminding us to treasure whatever material wealth we  may have now, no matter  how frugal we should be, to count our blessings.

In this forlorn world, there’ll many who are deprived of company, warmth and food, if we look hard enough.

The STREETS OF LONDON is a song with a soul, beckoning you to incite healing in this cold, dreary world ….

Let me run the meaningful lyrics for you here:

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 

Hand held loosely at his side 

Yesterday’s paper telling yesterday’s news 

Chorus: 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 girl 

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. 

Chorus

In the all night cafe

At a quarter past eleven, 

Same old man is sitting there on his own 

Looking at the world 

Over the rim of his tea-cup, 

Each tea lasts an hour 

Then he wanders home alone 

Chorus

Have you seen the old man 

Outside the Seaman’s Mission 

Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears 

In our winter city, 

The rain cries a little pity 

For one more forgotten hero 

And a world that doesn’t care

POVERTY doesn’t just exist in third world countries,  it’s rampant everywhere..

Due to the escalating costs of living, lack of goverment support sometimes, and a poor job market, the current global crunch, many are finding it even harder to support themselves & their families – circumstances forcing them to become homeless or live out on the streets.

And not just the men and women, but also CHILDREN and the DISABLED.

We are going through a global recession now.

Avoid overindulgence.

Go easy on the bank credit and live within your means.

Save money for a rainy day.

You never know when the storm will come.

Get wise, be prepared.

Prevention is better than cure.

Life’s full of unexpected surprises that will come aknocking when you least expect them.

Smile, render a kind deed.

If each of us does one part to cheer this trouble world and maintain the harmony, then the entire planet would be a joyous place to live in.

TRY IT!

Let’s borrow a line from the evergreen  MY FAIR LADY musical -

” WOULD IT BE LOVERLY ” …..

Right?