Poverty

 

Father Francis Maple sings in malls, shopping centres and bus stations to collect money to combat poverty. He has collected over the years more than £1m for charity. He has also written several books (sermons, cooking recipes, jokes), and has contributed to many newspaper columns and Catholic newspapers and magazines. He spends a lot of time travelling throughout the UK leading Missions in various churches.

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

And held loosely at his side

Yesterday's papers 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 world in two carrier bags.

Chorus

In the all night cafe

At a quarter past eleven,

Same old man is sitting there on his own

Looking at the world

Over the rim of his tea-cup,

Each tea last an hour

And he wanders home alone

Chorus

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

Chorus