Streets of London (song)

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For the 1984 Commodore 64 computer game, see Streets Of London (computer game)

Streets of London is a song written by Ralph McTell. It was first recorded for McTell's 1969 album Spiral Staircase but was not released as a single until 1974. It was his greatest commercial success, reaching number two in the UK singles chart, at one point, selling 90,000 copies a day, and winning him the Ivor Novello Award.

The song was written around McTell's experiences busking and hitchhiking throughout Europe, especially in London and Paris; although the individual stories are taken from Parisians, London is chosen for its arguably more sonorous name. The melody resembles in some parts Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel from the year 1677.

The song has something of a mixed following: while some regard it as a meaningful protest song, and some regard it as touching, it is also widely seen as rather sanctimonious. McTell himself left it off his debut album, as he regarded it as too depressing, and did not record it until his 1969 Spiral Staircase album. It is stereotypically the preferred song for buskers, alongside Cavatina, the theme tune from The Deer Hunter.

[edit] Other Recordings

Mary Hopkin recorded the song for her 1970 album, "Earth Song, Ocean Song" on Apple Records.
The Sex Pistols made a punk version of Streets of London, as have Anti-Nowhere League.
Don McLean
Sinéad O'Connor recorded the song as an additional track on her Thank You For Hearing Me single in 1994.
Blackmore's Night recorded the song on Village Lanterne in 2006.
Roger Whittaker