Few songs have been covered as often as ‘Streets of London’, a staple of folk clubs throughout England, but also a chart hit. Its familiarity and elegant melody may have distracted some from its protest, but there’s no doubting Ralph McTell’s message in his portraits of the city’s homeless. The song challenges the listener’s self-pity: ‘So how can you tell me you’re lonely / And say for you that the sun don’t shine?’