Ralph Mctell

And once I walked a million miles
All the way to Yugoslavia
And I carried you all of the way
For where I was then there you are.

As the sun rose o'er the curb stones
By the road where I'd been sleeping
Them night-long trucks, as they roared by
They could not drown my weeping.

And it was me, and I alone
Who looked toward the far horizon
And I saw King Heron
On his dead tree throne
And I knew not which to keep my mind on.

Now I cannot speak for everyone
For they got their reasons
All on this road
But, Heron, would that I had your wings
For then I'd know where I would go
For then I'd know where I would go.

Pity the boy who marries for money
Or wealth and position
Thinking his troubles will fade out of mind.
Pity the boy who marries for beauty
Only to find like a flower in the morning it withers and dies.

Better by far to marry for love,
Stay broke for the rest of your days
Than to settle down for the sake of
Ending your rambling ways
And they won't end
And thinking about them
Your time you will spend.

Pity the girl who marries for duty
Believing in time if she works at her heart
It will turn into love.
Pity the girl who marries for strength
And protection, she'll find
In the shade of a great tree nothing can grow.

Better by far to marry for love
And stay broke for the rest of your days
Than to settle down for the sake of
Ending the games you have played
They won't end
And thinking about them
Your time you will spend.

Bless the child that's born of a union
Grown out of love
He's richer by far, he's got more than enough
Bless the child who walks in that union
Grows in that love
His riches are more than the stars under heaven.

Now it's come to talking I don't have much to say,
It wouldn't come out right, and so I'll leave it out, oh it's best that way
And I want to get out now cos I need just a couple of drinks.
Can you lend me a little money till I draw my pay?

And I'm leaving like a thief in the night.
But I will try to write to you, or maybe phone
And I'll send you back the money,
But not the love you lent
I could never pay no interest on that loan

You really give me comfort I couldn't take more tenderness
My credit's overdrawn and I just slide deeper in your debt
And I want to get out now cos I need just a couple of drinks.
Can you lend me a little money till pay day next?

Chorus

Why don't you get some rest now you ought to get an early night.
I've got a key so you can lock the door and it'll be all right.
I'll just take my winter coat, it looks like it might rain.
Can you lend me a little money just for the night?

Chorus

Thousands of miles without moving
In the silence and stillness we're turning
Who scattered the stars in the field of night?
Say it's all right, say it's all right,
Well say it's all right.

Ocean storm-thrown boats collide
With waves of no direction
With compass set up on a star
Head for the port's protection.

Faster than light we're not ageing,
So where does the time go we're saving?
Give me a sermon for sleep tonight
Won't you say it's all right, say it's all right,
Well say it's all right.

And the driftwood it collides
With blind boats on the water
Oh, sad I watched the moon fall down,
But the river safely caught her.

Confusion of stars where's the pattern
To chart us away from collision?
We are dust, we are spark, we were light before dark
It was all right, it is all right,
And it'll be all right.

Above, below, worlds collide
In the before and after
Oh happy to watch the sun go down
And join the angels' laughter.

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 at 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 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
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 old night cafe at a quarter past eleven
The same old man sitting there on his own
Looking at the world over the rim of his teacup
Each tea lasts an hour, and he wanders home alone

So how can you tell me that 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 man
Outside the seaman's mission
Memory fading with the minor ribands that he wears
In our city winter the rain cries little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world which 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