The London Apprentice - Ralph McTell

I am a London apprentice, for I never will learn a trade

The best that I can hope for, is from mistakes I’ve made

A man who never made any, he never meant nothing at all

So Christopher Wren had to start again, when he built St. Pauls

I am a London apprentice, for I never will learn her ways

When I walk the streets of London, I am constantly amazed

How a road I never was on before, leads to one and all

As any cabbie will tell you, thats how all knowledge grows

I am a London apprentice, and I love the muddy Thames

Pushing his way through the city, just to come back again

Through plague and conflagration, and when the bombers came

A symbol of a nation, St. Paul amongst the flames

I am a London Apprentice and Ill accept the status quo

But a cockney must be born, within the silent spells of beau

And Londons been a refuge, by accident or plan

So ask me whos a Londoner, Ill answer every man

I am a London apprentice, but one thing I know for sure

Ill tell you very bluntly with these words you cant ignore

Remember Doctor Johnson, whos wit cut like a knife

When a man is tired of London, a man is tired of life

I am a London apprentice, for I never will learn a trade

The best that I can hope for, is from mistakes Ive made

A man who never made any, he never meant nothing at all

So Christopher Wren had to start again, when he built St. Pauls