Streets of London

One of the features of this brave new instant communication world is that we have cameras everywhere and the ability to upload things onto the internet. That gives us the possibility of zooming in on misery, if we choose. I was watching scenes of rescue this morning. An old man coming out of buried rubble with a smile on his face. The Japanese can do it so disarmingly simply. "Are you all right?" "I'm all right." And, in Japanese, it's all done with one word. "Daijobu?" "Daijobu."

Then come the scenes of people telephoning their loved ones, telling them they are alive. Here, they're not so stoic. Here you see even the steel-spined Japanese breaking down.

I am not recommending it. I am feeling the need to pull away from my computer where I have been transfixed by the earthquake and tsunami wreckage, and have been complaining of the endless loops that inevitably take over the TV screens as the news agencies work the "oh my God" factor.

I think the thing to do is watch enough to know what's happening, and then pull away. Unless you have the stuff to take it all in, endlessly. If you can do that, more power to you.

I've had perhaps too heavy a dose. Comes from watching a place I still call home undergoing a brutal assault of nature. I think if I were in Japan I might actually be more likely to get on with things. Most of the country is probably going on with its daily life. No better way of dealing with catastrophe.

Sooner or later, though, people are going to have to deal with the grief.

Here's one way, I think. At least it works for me.

Fortunately, there are people with the capacity to see beauty in not turning away but becoming sober and artful about the dark side.

My friend Ed sent me the lyrics of a song written, if I have it right, by Ralph McTell in 1969. There's a YouTube version of him singing it, at any rate. And then Ed sent a video of a German singer doing the German version of the song. It's called "The Streets of London."

(First two verses):
Have you seen the old man
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
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 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


And here's the German version, sung:


_____