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Songs about London


Scott25546

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Hi there! I'm new here but would really appreciate everyone's help. I'm trying to compile a list of songs about London. Things like The Clash's 'London Calling' etc. I'm also interested in songs about specific parts of London: The Kinks 'Waterloo Sunset', Ian Durie's 'Plaistow Patricia'....

Let me know if you can help!

Many thanks in advance,

Scott

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There is of course The Camera Eye from Rush's Moving Pictures album (1981)

Grim faced and forbidding

Their faces closed tight

An angular mass of New Yorkers

Pacing in rhythm

Race the oncoming night

They chase through the streets of Manhattan

Head first humanity

Pause at a light

Then flow through the streets of the city

They seem oblivious

To a soft spring rain

Like an English rain

So light, yet endless

From a leaden sky

The buildings are lost

In their limitless rise

My feet catch the pulse

And the purposeful stride

I feel the sense of possibilities

I feel the wrench of hard realities

The focus is sharp in the city

Wide angle watcher

On life's ancient tales

Steeped in the history of London

Green and grey washes

In a wispy white veil

Mist in the streets of Westminster

Wistful and weathered

The pride still prevails

Alive in the streets of the city

Are they oblivious

To this quality?

A quality

Of light unique to

Every city's streets

Pavements may teem

With intense energy

But the city is calm

In this violent sea

Also notable entry would be, Ralph McTell - Dear River Thames

Mike

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"Street Fighting Man" - The Rolling Stones

"Muswell Hillbillies" - The Kinks

"Welcome to Sleazy Town" - The Kinks

"London Song" - The Kinks

"Victoria" - The Kinks (moreso about England than London)

"London Town" - Paul McCartney

"London Dungeon" - The Misfits

"London Traffic" - The Jam

"Last Train to London" - ELO

"Next Plane to London" - They Might Be Giants

"London Homesick Blues" - Kinky Friedman

"First Night Back In London" - "The Clash"

"London's Burning" - The Clash

:afro: :afro: :afro: :afro: :afro:

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Almost anything by Ian Dury. Probably the most apt is 'The Bus-driver's Prayer', after his 'old man'. Check out:

'New Boots & Panties' & 'Do it Yourself' for inspiration.

Or there is always 'Aint no love in the heart of the city' by Whitesnake. Don't know if is about London, but it fits!

Regards

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Ralph McTell, I think.

Regards

Thank you Diggs. Right on the money!! His version has a great "story-teller" sound. :coolio:

Here are the lyrics:

Have you seen the old man, in the closed-down market

Kicking up the papers, with his worn-out shoes?

In his eyes you see no pride, hands held loosely by his side

Yesterday's papers, telling yesterday's news

So how can you tell me, you're lonely

And say for you the sun won'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

So how can you tell me, you're lonely

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Let's not overlook Long John Baldry's "Boogie Woogie" (Boodgy Woodgy). This song has a distinct air of a London Magistrates's Court and surrounding downtown streets. Diggs, correct me if I'm wrong on the title.

:doh:Now I remember....it's "Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie (On The King Of Rock And Roll )by Long John Baldry.

Plus, I found Ralph McTell's "Streets Of London on Kazaa.

Thanks Diggs...for your replies.

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Itchycoo Park, The Small Faces ( Spitalfields)

West End Boys East End Girls , Pet Shop Boys

One Better Day, Madness (Camden)

Harrow Road, Big Audio Dynamite

Plaistow Patricia, Ian Dury

Picadilly Parlare, Morrissey

Finchley Central, New Vaudeville Band

Solo in Soho, Phil Lynott

That should be enough for now, but this list could go on for ever....

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Denmark, why do you not like Americans? You've made it very obvious in many of your posts whether you realize it or not.

You're quite wrong ,MT. I've no general dislike for Americans as a whole. I am occasionally a little surprised by the general lack of knowledge of the rest of the world that some of your fellow countrymen sometimes display, but even that is no reason to dislike them.

I think you may be misinterpreting my casual use of 'you people'..its not particularly dismissive I believe. Same language, different interpretation.

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