London Pride
Mel Torme · Other Songs - Mel Torme
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Whoa, Liza, see the coaster barrows,
Vegetable marrows and the fruit piled high.
Whoa, Liza, little London sparrows,
Covent Garden Market where the coasters cry.
Cockney feet mark the beat of history.
Every street pins a memory down.
Nothing ever can quite replace
The grace of London Town.
There's a little city flower every spring unfailing
Growing in the crevices by some London railing,
Though it has a Latin name, in town and countryside
We in England call it London Pride.
London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Hey, lady, when the day is dawning
See the policeman yawning on his lonely beat.
Gay lady, Mayfair in the morning,
Hear your footsteps echo in the empty street.
Early rain and the pavement's glistening.
All Park Lane in a shimmering gown.
Nothing ever could break or harm
The charm of London Town.
In our city darkened now, street and square and crescent,
We can feel our living past in our shadowed present,
Ghosts beside our starlit Thames who lived and loved and died
Keep throughout the ages London Pride.
London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Grey city, stubbornly implanted,
Taken so for granted for a thousand years.
Stay, city, smokily enchanted,
Cradle of our memories and hopes and fears.
Every Blitz your resistance toughening,
From the Ritz to the Anchor and Crown,
Nothing ever could override
The pride of London Town.
London Pride
Mel Torme's 'London Pride' stands as a vibrant testament to his mastery of the baroque pop and jazz standards repertoire. Recorded during a prolific period in his career, the track showcases Torme's signature vocal style, blending smooth phrasing with a rich, emotive delivery that defines his approach to classic American songbook material. The composition reflects the sophisticated musicality Torme was known for, drawing upon the intricate harmonies and rhythmic complexity characteristic of mid-to-late 20th-century jazz and pop recordings. As part of his extensive discography, the song exemplifies his ability to reinterpret timeless melodies with contemporary sensibility, maintaining a connection to the era's musical traditions while infusing them with his unique artistic voice. The recording captures the warmth and technical precision that made Torme a respected figure in the jazz and vocal music landscape.