When I stopped at Liverpool Station for coffee this morning, there was a gentlemen playing the street piano. I stopped to sit in the sun and listen to the music.
Many hours later after my meeting and dinner were over, I walked down to the station to get some air and enjoy the life on the streets of London before going to bed.
The same gentlemen was there playing at the piano. I stopped to thank him for his music which had added such joy to my day. We exchanged names. Upon hearing mine, he proceeded to play and sing an Irish ballad, “I’ll Take You Home, Kathleen.”
Oh! I will take you back, Kathleen
To where your heart will feel no pain
And when the fields are fresh and green
I’ll take you to your home again!
He said he had spent the day traveling among the 21 street pianos of Play Me, I’m Yours: London 2010.
Also a filmmaker, he told me that as soon as another musician came to one of the pianos, he would immediately turn over the piano to them so he could film them. He pointed to his bag and said that he had recently filmed 40 musicians playing the street pianos.