V1 Heard the clock striking midnight. 

      Walking to catch the bus home.

      She stands over there, begging her way to get by.

Chorus Karen she platted your hair.

              For her kids, the kids that aren’t there.

              She lives on the street and sleeps on her feet.

              She’s going no- where

V2 A life all battered and bruised. 

      Condemned, ignored and abused.

      Give her the way to make it all go away.

Chorus Karen she platted your hair.

              For her kids, the kids that aren’t there.

              She lives on the street and sleeps on her feet.

              She’s going no-where

V3 When you’re walking the streets of the city. 

      Give Karen a nod and a smile.

      Surprised she’ll never say thank you but notice you tried.

Chorus Karen she platted your hair.

X2         For her kids, the kids that aren’t there.

              She lives on the street and sleeps on her feet.

              She’s going no-where

‘Karen’ is someone Helen, from the Leeds charity Simon on the Streets, came across and wrote about in her blog. Karen asked Helen if she had a daughter (yes) and if she had long hair (also yes). Karen then uncoiled her own hair and taught Helen to plait it so she could in turn plait her daughter’s hair. They met again a year later. When Helen reminded Karen of the first meeting, she said she always talks to her daughter about Karen when plaiting her hair. Karen burst in to tears – someone who cared.

All proceeds from this song will go to Simon on the Streets. www.simononthestreets.co.uk