London Songs at the BBC

# London is the place for me

# London this lovely city

# You can go to Spain or America

# India, Asia or Australia

# But you gotta back to London city

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# London, it's the place for me

# Believe me, I'm speaking broad-mindedly

# I am happy to know My mother country

# I have travelled the world, To and fro

# But this is the place I wanted to know

# And it's London, And it's the place for me

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# London, it's the place for me

# To live in London

# You really comfortable

# Because the people of London Are very sociable

# And they will take you here

# They will take you there

# Make you feel like a millionaire

# London is the place for me

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# London, it's the place for me

# I cannot complain Of the time I have spent

# Because my life in London Is really magnificent

# I am very happy, as you all know

# And I hope you're Enjoying our show

# London, it's the place for me

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La, la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# London, it's the place for me

# London, it's the place for me

# London is the place

# For

# Me... #

# Riding through the city On my bike all day

# Cause the filth Took away my licence

# Doesn't get me down and I feel OK

# Cos the sights that I'm seeing Are priceless

# Everything seems To look as it should

# But I wonder What goes on behind doors

# A fella looking dapper And he's sittin' with a slapper

# Then I see it's a pimp And his crack whore

# You might laugh, you might frown

# Walkin' round London town

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# When you look with your eyes

# Everything seems nice

# But if you look twice

# You can see it's all lies

# There was a little old lady Who was walkin' down the road

# She was struggling With bags from Tesco's

# There were people from the City Havin' lunch in the park

# I believe that it's called Al fresco

# When a kid came along To offer a hand

# But before she had time To accept it

# Hits her over the head Doesn't care if she's dead

# Cos he's got all her jewellery And wallet

# You might laugh, you might frown

# Walkin' round London town

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# When you look with your eyes

# Everything seems nice

# But if you look twice

# You can see it's all lies

# Life

# Yeah, that's city life,

# Yeah, that's city life

# Yeah, that's city life

# Life

# Yeah, that's city life

# Yeah, that's city life

# Yeah, that's city life

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why

# Would I wanna be anywhere else?

# When you look with your eyes

# Everything seems nice

# But if you look twice

# You can see it's all lies

# When you look with your eyes

# Everything seems nice

# But if you look twice

# You can see it's all lies. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

# Well, I goes to dear old Southend

# The night begins to fall

# I thought I'd take a swim, you know, behind the cockle stall

# I found a nice young lady, she'd been washed up on the shore

# She took a look at your humble so and took another draw

# At the end of me old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah

# I vaccinated Gertie where you couldn't see the scar

# And now she stands and shows the boys around the public bar

# Saying look what the doctor's done for me with the end of his old cigar

# It's the end of me old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah

# I walked up Piccadilly and they think that I'm a star

# Oi!#

# Found myself in a strange town

# Though I've only been here for three weeks now

# I've got blisters on my feet

# Trying to find a friend in Oxford Street

# I bought an A-Z guidebook

# Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs

# Well, when you ask in a strange town

# They say, don't know, don't care, and I gotta go, mate

# They worry themselves about feeling low

# They worry themselves about the dreadful snow

# They all ignore me cos they don't know

# I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs

# You got to move in a straight line

# You've got to walk and talk in four-four time

# You can't be weird in a strange town

# You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners

# You've got to wear the right clothes

# Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose

# You can't be lost in a strange town

# Cos we don't know, don't care and we gotta go, mate

# Rush my money to the record shops

# I stop off in a back street, buy myself a snort

# We've got our own manifesto, be kind to queers

# I'm oh so glad the revolution's here

# It's nice and warm now!

# I've finished with clubs where the music's loud

# Cos I don't see a face in a single crowd

# There's no-one there

# I look in the mirror but I can't be seen

# Just a thin clean layer of Mr Sheen

# Looking back at me

# Oh-oh

# Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh

# Found myself in a strange town

# Though I've only been here for three weeks now

# I've got blisters on my feet

# Trying to find a friend in Oxford Street

# I bought an A-Z guidebook

# Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs

# When you ask in a strange town

# They say, don't know, don't care and I gotta go, mate

# They worry themselves about feeling low

# They worry themselves about the dreadful snow

# They all ignore me cos they don't know

# I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs

# Strange town

# Strange town

# Break it up, break it up

# Break it up, break it up. #

APPLAUSE

# That certain light

# The night we met

# There was magic abroad in the air

# There were angels dining

# At the Ritz

# And a nightingale sang

# In Berkeley Square

# I may be right

# I may be wrong

# But I'm perfectly willing to swear

# That as you turned and smiled at me

# A nightingale sang

# In Berkeley Square

# The moon that lingered over London town

# Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown

# How could he know we two were so in love

# The whole darned world seemed upside down

# The streets of town were paved with stars

# It was such a romantic affair

# And like an echo far away

# A nightingale sang

# In Berkeley Square

# When dawn came stealing up

# All gold and blue

# To interrupt our rendezvous

# How I remember

# How you smiled and said

# Was that a dream or was it true?

# Our homeward step was just as light

# As the tap-dancing feet of Astaire

# And like an echo far away

# A nightingale sang

# In Berkeley Square

# I know cos I was there

# That night in Berkeley

# Square. #

# I've been walking in the same way

# As I did

# Missing out the cracks in the pavement

# And tutting my heel and strutting my feet

# Is there anything I can do for you, dear?

# Is there anyone I could call?

# No, and thank you, please madam,

# I ain't lost, just wandering

# Round my hometown

# Memories are fresh

# Round my hometown, ooh, the people I've met

# Are the wonders of my world

# Are the wonders of my world

# Are the wonders of this world

# Are the wonders and now

# I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque

# I love it to see everybody

# In short skirts, shorts and shades

# I like it in the city

# When two worlds collide

# You get the people

# And the government

# Everybody taking different sides

# Shows that we ain't gonna stand

# Shows that we are united

# Shows that we ain't gonna take it

# Shows that we ain't gonna stand

# Shows that we are united

# Round my hometown

# Memories are fresh

# Round my hometown

# Ooh, the people I've met

# Duuuu didi di-de-de-de-de e-yay

# Duuuu didi di-de-de-de-de e-yay

# Du-u un-du un-du un-du ooooo-ooo-ho

# Yeeeeeeeee-heeeeeeee

# Are the wonders of my world

# Are the wonders of my world

# Are the wonders of this world

# Are the wonders of my world

# Of my world, yeah

# Of my world, of my world, yeah. #

# Sometimes you're better off dead

# There's gun in your hand and it's pointing at your head

# You think you're mad, too unstable

# Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables

# In a restaurant in a West End town

# Call the police, there's a madman around

# Running down underground

# To a dive bar in a West End town

# In a West End town, a dead end world

# The East End boys and West End girls

# In a West End town, a dead end world

# The East End boys and West End girls

# West End girls

# Too many shadows, whispering voices

# Faces on posters, too many choices

# If, when, why, what?

# How much have you got?

# Have you got it, do you get it, if so, how often?

# Which do you choose, a hard or soft option?

# How much do you need?

# In a West End town, a dead end world

# The East End boys and West End girls

# In a West End town, a dead end world

# The East End boys and West End girls

# West End girls

# West End girls

# In a West End town, a dead end world

# The East End boys and West End girls

# Ooh, West End town, a dead end world

# East End boys, West End girls

# West End girls

# You've got a heart of glass or a heart of stone

# Just you wait till I get you home

# We've got no future, we've got no past

# Here today, built to last

# In every city and in every nation

# From Lake Geneva to the Finland station

# How far have you been?

# And a West End town, a dead end world

# The East End boys and West End girls

# A West End town, a dead end world

# East End boys, West End girls

# West End girls... #

# Any old iron any old iron any any old, old iron?

# You look neat - talk about a treat

# You look dapper from your napper to your feet

# Dressed in style, brand new tile And your father's old green tie on

# But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain

# Old iron, old iron

-# Boiled beef and carrots

-I like Piccalilli!

# You look neat - talk about a treat

# You look a dapper from your napper to your feet

# Don't give like vegetarians on food they give to parrots

# But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain

-# Old iron!

-And carrots!

# Any old iron any old iron any any old, old iron?

# You look neat - talk about a treat,

# You look dapper from your napper to your feet

# Dressed in style, brand new tile

# And your father's old green tie on

But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain...! #

# You get a shiver in the dark

# It's raining in the park but meantime

# South of the river you stop and you hold everything

# A band is blowing Dixie double four time

# You feel all right when you hear that music ring

# And now you step inside but you don't see too many faces

# Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down

# Competition been other places

# But no horns to go in that sound

# Way on down south

# Way on down south London town

# Check out Guitar George

# He knows all the chords

# Mind he's strictly rhythm

# He doesn't want to make it cry or sing

# Said, an old guitar is all he can afford

# When he gets up under the lights to play that thing

# And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene

# He's got a daytime job he's doing all right

# He can play the honky tonk like anything

# Saving it up for Friday night

# With the Sultans

# With the Sultans of Swing

# And then the man he steps right up to the microphone

# And says at last just as the time bell rings

# Goodnight, now it's time to go home

# And he makes it fast with one more thing

# We are the Sultans

# We are the Sultans of Swing. #

I'd like to sing a brand new love song for you.

Has to do with the city of London.

# With a dark and rolling sea

# Between my true love and me

# I keep walking through this cold hard town

# While I wait for better days

# I could use a place to stay

# Or a floor where I could lay my blanket down

# If I could beg, steal or borrow

# A ticket on some ship or plane

# I'd be leaving London tomorrow

# To fly to my own love again

# Up at dawn to change my shirt

# And to wash away the dirt

# Then it's over to American Express

# Not one letter did I find

# No, she didn't send one line

# Though I know she has my forwarding address

# If I could beg, steal or borrow

# A ticket on some ship or plane

# I'd be leaving London tomorrow

# To fly to my own love again

# Last night The Troubadour

# Was so full, they barred the door

# And I sang a song she knows quite well

# But it wouldn't take too long

# To make up another song

# For a lonesome and a last farewell

# If I could beg, steal or borrow

# A ticket on some ship or plane

# I'd be leaving London tomorrow

# To fly to my own love again. #

# London calling to the faraway towns

# Now war is declared and battle come down

# London calling to the underworld

# Come out of the cupboard

# You boys and girls

# London calling now don't look to us

# Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust

# London calling we ain't got no swing

# Except for the reign of that truncheon thing

# The ice age is coming the sun's zooming in

# Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin

# A nuclear error I have no fear

-# Cos London is burning and I... one more time

-live by the river

# London calling to the imitation zone

# Forget it brother work it alone

# London calling to the zombies of death

# Quit holding out and draw another breath

# London calling and I don't wanna shout

# But while we were talking I saw you nodding out

# London calling

# See we ain't got no high

# Except for that one

# With the yellowy eyes

# The ice age is coming

# The sun's zooming in

# Engines stop running

# The wheat is growing thin

# A nuclear error but I have no fear

# London is drowning and I

# Live by the river

# Ah, ah, ah, ah, aaaah

# Wah-ah-ah-ah-aaaah

# The ice age is coming the sun's zooming in

# Engines stop running the wheat is growing thin

# A nuclear error, I have no fear

# London is drowning and I live by the river

# Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

# Ah, ah, ah, ah

# London calling and I was there, too

# And you know what they said?

# Well, some of it was true

# London calling at the top of the dial

# And after all this won't you give me a smile?

# London Calling

# London Calling

# I never felt so much alike, alike, alike, alike. #

With cockney, it's an accent that,

say, rich people, or posh people, they tend to think it's common.

It's not an accent. Now if you come, say, from the north country,

with a north country accent,

it's not a common accent, is it?

Cockney's always been thought of as common.

You know, common people from the East End.

In Marks & Spencer's, they laugh at me, the managers and that.

Cos I talk funny, they said.

They told you that you'd never get anywhere.

They didn't say I wouldn't get anywhere,

they just said that they think it's funny.

It's always funny to tell them "well, you can speak properly."

-It's very funny, but...

-They like it.

-Course, they do.

-They said to me, "say something."

And I say it, and they all laugh.

-Oh, they love it.

-They think it's good.

I like it, I like them to think it's funny.

I don't believe that they realise that this is the way I usually talk.

# There's a little city flower every spring unfailing

# Growing in the crevices

# Of some London railing

# Though it has a Latin name

# In town and countryside

# We in England call it London Pride

# London Pride has been handed down to us

# London Pride is a flower that's free

# London Pride is our own dear town to us

# And our pride it for ever will be

# Woah, Liza, see the coster barrow

# The vegetable marrows and the fruit piled high

# Woah, Liza, little cockney sparrow

# Covent Garden Market where the costers cry

# Cockney feet mark the beat of history

# Every street pins a memory down

# Nothing ever can quite replace

# The grace of London Town

# London Pride

# Has been handed down to us

# London Pride

# Is a flower that's free

# London Pride

# Means our own dear town to us

# And our pride it for ever will be

# Grey city, stubbornly implanted

# Taken so for granted

# For a thousand years

# Stay, city, smokily enchanted

# Cradle of our memories our hopes and fears

# Every Blitz, our resistance toughening

# From the Ritz to the Anchor and Crown

# Nothing ever can override

# The pride

# Of London To-o-o-o-o-o-own. #

# I never thought it would happen

# With me and the girl from Clapham

# Out on a windy common

# That night I ain't forgotten

# When she dealt out the rations

# With some or other passions

# I said, "You are a lady"

# Perhaps she said, "I may be"

# We moved into a basement

# With thoughts of our engagement

# We stayed in by the telly

# Although the room was smelly

# We spent our time just kissing

# The railway arms we're missing

# But love had got us hooked up

# And all our time it took up

# I got a job with Stanley

# He said I'd come in handy

# And started me on Monday

# So I had a bath on Sunday

# I worked eleven hours

# And bought the girl some flowers

# She said she'd seen a doctor

# And nothing now could stop her

# I worked all through the winter

# The weather brass and bitter

# I put away a tenner

# Each week to make her better

# And when the time was ready

# We had to sell the telly

# Late evenings by the fire

# With little kicks inside her

# This morning at 4.50

# I took her rather nifty

# Down to an incubator

# Where thirty minutes later

# She gave birth to a daughter

# Within a year a walker

# She looked just like her mother

# If there could be another

# And now she's two years older

# Her mother's with a soldier

# She left me when my drinking

# Became a proper stinging

# The devil came and took me

# From bar to street to bookie

# No more nights by the telly

# No more nights nappy smelling

# Alone here in the kitchen

# I feel there's something missing

# I'd beg for some forgiveness

# But begging's not my business

# And she won't write a letter

# Although I always tell her

# And so it's my assumption

# I'm really up the junction

# Have you seen the old man

# Who walks the streets of London

# Kicking up the papers with his worn out shoes?

# In his eyes you see no pride

# And held loosely at his side

# Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news

# 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 girl

# Who walks the streets of London

# Dirt in her hair

# And 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 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

# And in the all-night cafe

# At a quarter past eleven

# Same old man

# Sitting there on his own

# Looking at the world

Over the rim of his teacup

# Each tea lasts an hour

# Then 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

# And 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

# 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. #

# On Waterloo Bridge

# We said our goodbyes

# The weather conditions

# Brings a tear to my eyes

# I wipe them away with a black woolly glove

# And try not to notice I've fallen in love

# On Waterloo Bridge

# I am trying to think

# Perhaps this is nothing

# Just high on the drink

# But the juke-box inside me is playing a song

# That says something different

# And when was it wrong?

# On Waterloo Bridge with the wind in my hair

# I am tempted to skip

# I'm a fool, I don't care

# The head does its best but the heart is the boss

# I admit it before I am halfway across

# Woah, on Waterloo Bridge

# We said our goodbyes

# The weather conditions brings a tear to my eyes

# I wipe them away with a black woolly glove

# And try not to notice I've fallen in love

# On Waterloo Bridge with the wind in my hair

# I am tempted to skip

# I'm a fool, I don't care

# The head does its best but the heart is the boss

# I admit it before I am halfway across

# On Waterloo Bridge

# With the wind in my hair

# I'm a tempted to skip

# I'm a fool, I don't care

# The head does its best but the heart is the boss

# I admit it before I'm halfway across. #

# He's a twentieth century boy

# With his hands on the rails

# Trying not to be sick again

# And holding on for tomorrow

# London ice cracks on a seamless line

# He's hanging on for dear life

# And so we hold each other tightly

# And hold on for tomorrow, singing

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# Holding on for tomorrow, oh, oh, oh, oh

# She's a twentieth century girl

# With her hands on the wheel

# Trying not to make him sick again

# Seeing what she can borrow

# London's so nice

# Back in your seamless rhymes

# But we're lost on the Westway

# So, we hold each other tightly

# And we can wait until tomorrow

# Singing

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# Holding on for tomorrow, oh, oh, oh, oh

# We're trying not to be sick again

# And holding on for tomorrow

# She's a twentieth century girl

# Holding on for dear life

# And so we can hold each other tightly

# And hold on for tomorrow

# Singing

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la

# La la, la la la

# La la la la la la la la la... #

# Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner

# That I love London town

# Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner

# That I think of her

# Wherever I go

# I get a funny feeling inside of me

# When I'm walking up and down

# Oh, maybe it's because I'm a Londoner

# That I love London Town. #

# When I get to Warwick Avenue

# Meet me by the entrance of the tube

# We can talk things over a little time

# But promise me you won't step out of line

# When I get to Warwick Avenue

# Please drop the past and be true

# Don't think we're OK just because I'm here

# You hurt me bad but I won't shed a tear

# I'm leaving you for the last time, baby

# You think you're loving but you don't love me

# And I've been confused out of my mind lately

# You think you're loving but I want to be free

# Baby you've hurt me

# When I get to Warwick Avenue

# We'll spend an hour

# But no more than two

# Our only chance to speak once more

# I showed you the answers now here's the door

# When I get to Warwick Avenue

# I'll tell you, baby, that we're through

# Cos I'm leaving you for the last time, baby

# You think you're loving but you don't love me

# And I've been confused out of my mind lately

# You think you're loving but you don't love me

# I want to be free baby, you've hurt me

# All the days spent together I wished for better

# But I didn't want the train to come

# Now it's departed I'm broken-hearted

# Seems like we never started

# All those days spent together when I wished for better

# And I didn't want the train to come

# Oh, oh

# You think you're loving but you don't love me

# I want to be free baby, you hurt me

# You don't love me I want to be free

# Baby, you've hurt me. #

# A foggy day

# In London Town

# Had me low

# It had me down

# I viewed the morning with much alarm

# The British Museum had lost its charm

# How long, I wondered

# Could this thing last?

# But the age of miracles It hadn't passed

# God, suddenly I saw you standing there

# And in foggy London Town

# The sun was shining everywhere

# Eh-eh-ere

# A foggy day in London town

# Well, it had me low I wanna tell you

# It had me down

# I viewed the morning with much alarm

# The British Museum had sort of lost its charm

# How long, I wondered Could this thing last?

# But the age of miracles Well, it hadn't passed

# Cos suddenly, darling I saw you there

# And in foggy London Town Foggy London Town

# Yes, in dear old London Town The sun was shining

# Everywhere. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

INTRO: "Waterloo Sunset" by the Kinks

# Dirty old river must you keep rolling?

# Flowing into the night

# People so busy Make me feel dizzy

# Taxi light shines so bright

# But I don't

# Need no friends

# As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset

# I am in paradise

# Sha la la

# Every day I look at the world from my window

# Sha la la

# But chilly, chilly is evening time

# Waterloo sunset's fine

# Waterloo sunset's fine

# Terry meets Julie Waterloo Station

# Every Friday night

# But I am so lazy Don't want to wander

# I stay at home at night

# But I don't

# Feel afraid

# As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset

# I am in paradise

# Sha la la

# Every day I look at the world from my window

# Sha la la

# But chilly, chilly is evening time

# Waterloo sunset's fine

# Waterloo sunset's fine

# Millions of people swarming like flies round

# Waterloo underground

# But Terry and Julie cross over the river

# Where they feel safe and sound

# But they don't

# Feel afraid

# As long as they gaze on Waterloo sunset

# They are in paradise

-# Waterloo sunset's fine

-Waterloo sunset's fine

# Waterloo sunset's fine. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd