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Dear John,Just a century ago, in A Diversity of Creatures, JRK refers to the lyric of "The Lights of London Town" written by George R Sims in 1880.The Lights of London Town
The way was long and weary,
But gallantly they strode,
A country lad and lassie,
Along the weary road.
The night was dark and stormy,
But blithe of heart were they,
For shining in the distance
The Lights of London lay.
O gleaming lamps of London,
That gem the City’s crown,
What fortunes lie within you,
O Lights of London town.
The years passed on and found them
Within the mighty fold,
The years had brought them trouble,
But brought them little gold.
Oft from their garret window,
On long still summer nights,
They’d seek the far-off country,
Beyond the London Lights.
O mocking lamps of London,
What weary eyes look down,
And mourn the day they saw you,
O lights of London town
With faces worn and weary,
That told of sorrow’s load,
One day a man and woman
Crept down a country road.
They sought their native village,
Heart broken from the fray;
Yet shining still behind them,
The Lights of London lay.
O cruel lamps of London,
If tears your light could drown,
Your victims’ eyes would weep them,
O lights of London Town.
Might that be the source?
John
On Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 7:50 PM, JOHN RADCLIFFE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:In Echoes (1884) Kipling published a series of parodies by himself and his sister 'Trix'. He included this sombre little verse, but without indicating who or what it was echoing. Can anyone suggest what might have been his inspiration.John RThere's no God in London,
Weary, wicked London.
For, look you, I've lost my friend—Lost her in London.
My heart's best friend
Is astray in London,Your terrible London!
You've miles of granite streets
In stony London;
And millions toiling in London,
Crowded London;
But I cannot find my friend,
My poor lost friend,
For the tumult and traffic of London,
Pitiless London!
It's cruel seeking in London,
Boundless London,
For a face that'll never come—
For the face of a friend,
The face of my lost, lost friend,
Lost in London.
There's no God in London,
Your terrible London!_________________________