Don't Renege!

Subject: Don't Renege!
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:00 PM

I'm sure I won't find many to agree with me, but Richard Thompson's use of the word "renege" - in the context of the song - doesn't sound right to me. I can't imagine a man saying to his wife/women , "don't renege on our love". I doesn't sound like a natural choice of word.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:04 PM

Well, it"s what Renegades did ( in the context of Treaties ), isn"t it ??

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:04 PM

It's a song. You can't always expect "natural" as being a deciding factor.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:05 PM

I know what you mean; don't "go back on" would sound more natural.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:28 PM

I'm sure most of us find ourseklves using some words that other people would see as unnatural to use. They come to the tongue when the ocasion arises.

I can quite imagine hearing myself using the word "renege", probably more readily than "go back on". As for "renegade", that's a word I use quite often.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:40 PM

Renegade is a word that most people are familiar with. Renege, perhaps, is not used quite as much. The more I say it now the more I like it - I think I'll be using it more in the future!

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 06:01 PM

It would probably be more semantically precise to say "Don't renege on our vows", but why split hairs?

Renege means breaking an agreement made or to fail to keep one. It also means a failure to follow with a promised suit in bridge, I believe.

A

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 06:04 PM

Give me strength! We all know what "renege" means! That is not the point!

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 06:46 PM

What kind of pronunciation does he give it? I have it heard two ways, one of which sounds offensive.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 06:59 PM

Tunesmith, I've looked again at your original post and it is hard to imagine a man saying to his wife/women , "don't renege on our love". It is easier to see that someone might say to a business partner "don't renege on our agreement".

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: GUEST,Dartford Warbler
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 08:53 PM

I don't really think you can denounce the use of the word renege without looking at the lyrics of the whole song:

Don't Renege On Our Love (Richard Thompson)

and more importantly listening to the music with the words.

(Sorry, I can't find a source for the track (from Shoot Out The Lights) on the net. Can anyone else?)

This is NOT some gentle love song, it is a song of marital break up!

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 10:38 PM

Take it up with Richard Thompson.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 05:11 AM

Dartford Warbler, you have a good point. The fact that the word is repeated so many times actually makes it sound better than if it had, perhaps, just been sung the once.

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Darowyn
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 06:08 AM

It's also possible that RT chose the word renege because of the assonance with the word "game" leading up to it.
He also writes "Simple is simple and plain is plain", but includes both simple and elaborate vocabulary in the lyrics.
I find that a very effective literary device to bring out the confusion between sincere feelings and the word games that are played out during a break up.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Don't Renege!
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 08:15 AM

Very well put, Dave. It's one of my favorite songs from that album.