Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Songs?

Subject: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 02:02 AM

This is a chance to say nice things about Richard Thompson and the great songs he is responsible for.

I'll choose Beeswing for a start.

---

Note: Information about licensing Richard Thompson Songs for recording.

I received the following information from someone in the U.S. who was trying to license a Richard Thompson song for her CD, and couln't get a license from the Harry Fox Agency -
I just wanted to tell you that today I heard from Bug Music who does not license "We Sing Hallelujah." By following several business news stories on Google I tracked the song down at Integrated Copyrights Group, reachable at icgcopyrights.com/licensing. FYI they have a credit card licensing feature like Harry Fox Agency and they cover RT's old catalog from Warlock Music. This may be of help to others.
I thought you ought to know.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: O'Boyle
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 05:33 AM

I have to go with Galway to Graceland.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Herge
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 05:40 AM

I'm with you shambles on beeswing. I'm learning it at the moment. I can sign it and play it but I can't do both together yet!

Herge

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: oldparrot
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 07:49 AM

I would probably have said Beeswing,too, and maybe Waltzing's for Dreamers. Then again Wall of Death's my favourite to sing. And one day I'm going to learn 1952 Vincent Black Lightning. How many can we choose?

Does anyone remember one called Dragging the River which he used to do live years ago and contained the classic line "There's been complaints about the water supply so they're dragging the river for you"

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 11:37 AM

Is this the Thompson who's responsible for Down Where The Drunkards Roll & the Dimming Of the Day? If so, t6here's my 2 favorites. Barry

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Llanfair
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 12:06 PM

My son does a version of Vincent Black Lightning that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck!!! I suppose I'm just another proud mum. I'm learning Bright Lights Tonight just now. Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: campfire
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 01:28 PM

I'll have to put in another vote for Beeswing. It was actually another singer/songwriter's rendition of Beeswing that introduced me to Richard Thompson. Its a beautiful song.

campfire

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: LEJ
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 01:55 PM

By Devonside is my favorite, and it features some terrific violin work by Dave Pegg.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Burren Ranger
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 03:13 PM

For me it has to be 'Dimming Of The Day' by the amazing Irish singer Jerry Lynch .

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Emmie
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 04:00 PM

I love Richard Thompson. I think one of my favourites is beeswing. Have to say I can't stand vincent black lightning don't know why. I love everything he did with Linda Thompson and am also really into his album industry. I saw him play last year and was really impressed with the live version of pharoahs.Also really like the song he wrote with Dave Swarbrick crazy man micheal. I will stop now because I could go on for ever.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 07:21 PM

One of my favorite songs is the waltz, "How Will I be Simple Again," a Richard Thompson song that a New Mexican musician named Steve Smith performs and has recorded on one of his CDs. Smith is a wonderful singer and instrumentalist, and the song is just wonderful -- poignant and full of longing for lost innocence. Yummy.

KC

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Ana
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 07:29 PM

Farewell farewell, The Great Valerio, Genesis Hall, God loves a Drunk....uhummmmmmm.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 07:51 PM

Hey LEJ.

Devonside is one of my many favourites too. The song is just so simple and right. The fiddle solo is, I think my most very favourite, there is nothing there that is not absolutely neccesary.... The solo is by Aly Bain though?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 08:09 PM

I think I have to say that the combination of Linda and Richard singing those songs was also a bit special and she deserves a lot more credit as an artist, in her own right, than she usually gets.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 03:39 AM

Ok Shamb, wrong about the violin solo. But hey, don't you just love when they change the key in the middle of it ? Makes tears of joy come to my eyes. And the great line "She said 'My johnny, I'll be your pillow. I'll be your Mother, Lover, Whore and Bride.'" Kind of sums up the love of a really beautiful and unselfish woman in one line.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 07:15 AM

LEJ

Just so, but I have never been too sure exactly what the song is about. Not that it has ever stopped me from feeling the asme as you.....Any suggestions, anyone?

Subject: Lyr Add: SAM JONES (Richard Thompson)
From: Matthew B.
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 12:03 PM

Here's mine:

Sam Jones (By Richard Thompson)

Me name is Sam Jones, and it's bones me occupation
Put your old hocks out for my consideration
Thirty years a bone man up and down the nation
Sam Jones deliver them bones

I've been among the shamrock and I've been among the thistle
I like it all picked over, clean as a whistle
No sign of meat and no sign of gristle
Sam Jones deliver them bones

And I've seen battlefields white with human ivory
Noble dukes and princes stripped of flesh and finery
When the crows have done their work they say that's the time for me
Sam Jones deliver them bones

And I even dream of bones when I'm lying very ill
Roomsful of skeletons a-dancing the quadrille
Rows and rows of skulls singing Blueberry Hill
Sam Jones deliver them bones

And if you're unburied the likes of me will find you
You're no good to worms but you might become the finest glue
We'll grind you up & spread you out as fertilizer too
Sam Jones deliver them bones

I've got an old lorry it's me old bone shaker
For the knuckle joints around your house, Ill be the undertaker
I'll come calling 'round just like the butcher & the baker
Sam Jones deliver them bones

Me name is Sam Jones and it's bones me occupation
Put your old hocks out for my consideration
Thirty years a bone man up and down the nation
Sam Jones deliver them bones

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From:
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 12:12 PM

Dave Burland has produced a superb CD of Richard Thompson songs called "His Master's Choice", which has Richard Thompson playing guitar, with Clive Gregson and Christine Collister and others. Dave has a beautiful voice which really suits the songs. It has 1. How Will I Ever be Simple Again 2. Hard Luck Stories 3. Dimming Of The Day 4. House Of Cards 5. Walzing's For Dreamers 6. Crazy Man Michael 7. Withered And Died 8. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight 9.The Angels Took My Racehorse Away 10. Down Where The Drunkards Roll 11. The Old Changing Way 12. The New St George 13. Night Comes In 14. The Poor Ditching Boy

Its on RGFCD 009 - I've been playing it to death for a couple of years now. Cheers Ray (UK Banjo Player)

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 12:21 PM

A click here Richard Thompson will bring up those that are contained in the 'good old' DT.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Llanfair
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 01:08 PM

Thanks for that, Shambles, I've been wanting to do Farewell, Farewell, for ages, Ihad no idea that it was written by Richard Thompson. I should have known, though, it has the haunting quality that he is so good at. Hwyl. Bron.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 02:08 PM

Ray-- I looked up "His Master's Choice" in the Amazon.com store and it was some CD by the Fabulous Poodles. Any idea where I could buy that CD by THOMPSON?

Also -- anyone have any suggestions as to which CD I should get to start my collection? My intro to Richard Thompson was the CD I mentioned above, which has only one of his songs on it. But I'm in love and want more.

KC

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Jane Bird
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:27 AM

The fiddle solo on "By Devonside" is by Aly Bain. It's great playing indeed, but I always was rather impressed by John Kirkpatrick's concertina playing on that track, as it happens.

Jane

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: AndyG
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:39 AM

1) Beeswing
2) 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
3) All the rest

Andy "always "says nice things about Richard Thompson"" G

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 May 00 - 02:49 PM

A Heart Needs A Home.

Can anyone supply the words to this?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 04:27 PM

Wow!! finally a thread just about THE MAN himself. I'm shameless about him (and Daniel Lanois...) He has my vote for a knighthood, but then again, I can't be queen can I? even for a day?

Favorite Songs:
Beeswing
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Down Where the Drunkards Roll
When I Get To the Border
Beat the Retreat sung by June Tabor
Wall of Death as done by REM
When the Spell is Broken sung by Bonnie Raitt
and
Vincent Black Lightening 1952 'cause I'm a redhead.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 May 00 - 04:39 PM

As someone who { I'm sorry to say } doesn't own any Richard Thompson music I was wondering like Wyowoman which of his CD's you would start a collection with. Are some more acoustic than others? It would be nice to find a good one of just him and his guitar. Suggestions anyone??

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 04:50 PM

Wesley a good start would be "songs by Richard Thompson Beat The Retreat", "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" by Richard and Linda Thompson and any CD that has Beeswing on it (unfortunately I only have it on a thrashed tape copy of a Richard Thompson Live 1994)

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Ickle dorritt
Date: 02 May 00 - 05:17 PM

Definitely Beeswing , Never Again and Galway to Graceland there is also a fabulous song called something like God's Garden.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 May 00 - 05:27 PM

"Beeswing" is on Mirror Blue.  Since this thread has turned up, I must just mention my own favourite (among very many): The Poor Ditching Boy.

Malcolm Douglas

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 02 May 00 - 05:51 PM

For me 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Dimming of the Day and Down Where the Drunkards Roll, all already mentioned by others.

All the best

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 May 00 - 05:57 PM

I haven't heard all that much of his stuff.

But I'm very fond of Galway to Graceland and How Will I Ever Be Simple Again, even though the latter makes the love of my life and mother of my children ask why I think I ever stopped.

If you're not lucky I may inflict it on you in HearMe one of these nights...

Peter.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Kim C
Date: 02 May 00 - 05:58 PM

1952 Vincent Black Lightning. VERY cool song.

Am I dreaming, or didn't Richard Thompson record a version of Gypsy Davy? I can hear him singing it in my head but haven't ever been able to find it. Could be my imagination.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 02 May 00 - 06:02 PM

Kim...I might be wrong here but Gypsy Davey could have been in his Fairport Convention or Fotheringay days.

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: zenduck
Date: 02 May 00 - 06:04 PM

I havbe too many RT faves to list, but I'd like to put in a vote for the liner notes to Fairport's Full House. Amazingly witty stuff. I want to learn how to play some of those games...

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Frankie
Date: 02 May 00 - 06:58 PM

For anyone starting a RT collection I'd recommend Rumor and Sigh. It's probably his most commercial sounding recording to date but, to me anyway, it displays his strongest songwriting. Also he has a pretty good collection out called Waiting for the Dark which spans his whole career. It's also hard to go wrong with I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, Shoot out the Lights or Full House (Fairport) or Fairport Chronicles (a collection). Ah hell, just buy em all.

Frankie

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: AoifeO
Date: 02 May 00 - 07:33 PM

Dimming of the Day is a treasure of folk music.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 May 00 - 07:52 PM

Dimming Of The Day, yes.

Has he written any 'stinkers'?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Mbo
Date: 02 May 00 - 07:53 PM

Ooh ooh! I LOVE "Tearstained Letter" cajun country singer Jo-El Sonnier sung it in th late 80's...I've always loved the song, but only found out last month that it was Richards Thompson! Not a song, but his traditional arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Rockin' In Rhythm" RULES!!!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Willie-O
Date: 02 May 00 - 08:46 PM

I used to have WAV file in my Windows sounds menu so that my computer would boot up by saying

"Let me ride on the wall of death one more time"

and when it failed at doing something I tried to make it do, instead of going "plunk" it would scream "You give me heart attack" (from Valerie, also on the Beat The Retreat compilation)

Really best favourite songs would be Vincent Black Lightning (natch) and on my "trying to learn" list: "My Sweetheart's On The Barricades"

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Stewie
Date: 02 May 00 - 09:36 PM

WyoWoman'

A great place to start would be with the wonderful 3CD set on Hannibal (Rykodisc) Richard Thompson 'Watching the Dark: The History of Richard Thompson' Hannibal HNCD5303. It ranges from 1969 to 1992. You won't find 'Beeswing', which came later, but you will find 'Dimming of the Day' and heaps of other great songs. It also has an excellent booklet.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 10:27 PM

Does anyone know if Please Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands is availabe on any current CD?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 10:27 PM

Does anyone know if Please Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands is available on any current CD?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 10:31 PM

Does anyone know if Please Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands is available on any current CD?

Shambles, I would agree with you regarding Linda Thompson, I love her singing style.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 10:32 PM

whoa!!! www.salfolks

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 May 00 - 10:45 PM

On at least three, I think.  Discography   here.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 May 00 - 11:19 PM

Thanks Malcolm!

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Callie
Date: 03 May 00 - 03:01 AM

His best ever: Withered and Died.

I bought Rumour and Sigh recently and after one listen gave it away. Don't like the songs OR the production. I much prefer his acoustic sounding songs

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Stewie
Date: 03 May 00 - 03:26 AM

Metchosin, 'Jimmy Shands' is on 'Rumour and Sigh'. I posted the lyrics is some RT thread somewhere. I can post them again if you wish.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 May 00 - 03:39 AM

Thanks Stewie, I already got them from the old thread when it was up, seems Richard and I have one thing in common, a collection of Jimmy Shands on Beltona.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Magpie
Date: 03 May 00 - 04:52 AM

Of the ones I've heard, it has to be Dimming of the Day. I have a really lovely recording of it by Eric Anderson, Rick Danko and a Norwegian folk singer Kirsten Braathen Berg. It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. We actually tried to do it in our band, but it chokes me up every time, so we had to let it go.

Magpie

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Ana
Date: 03 May 00 - 05:05 AM

OLGA is running some of His songs at present (when last I tried the sites weren't accessible!). Thinking of things Thompson, I hear that Linda has re-found her voice, and features on a CD by John Tam - it's not yet available in my neck of the woods - has any one come across it? Ana

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GMT
Date: 03 May 00 - 05:24 AM

I think I'd Have to say:

Meet on the Ledge
Vincent Black Lightning 1952
God Loves a Drunk
Wall of Death

Sorry for four but it's a hard choice.

Gary

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 03 May 00 - 09:22 AM

I'm not going to pick one song, there are so many great ones. Nobody has mentioned his latest CD, "Mock Tudor". It's brilliant, like so much of his work.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Rana who SHOULD be working
Date: 03 May 00 - 10:56 AM

Hi Whistle Stop,

I was wondering about Mock Tudor - I was a bit disappointed with the Industrial double - how does Mock Tudor compare.

Rana

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 03 May 00 - 11:33 AM

Hi Rana -- I'm not familiar with the Industrial CD, so I can't comment on that. But I think Mock Tudor is a great piece of work. It's insightful, biting stuff, all revolving around societal issues of culture, class, sexuality, and identity. And musically it's outstanding, which should come as no surprise. I highly recommend it.

Subject: Lyr Add: A HEART NEEDS A HOME (Richard Thompson)
From: Noreen
Date: 03 May 00 - 05:48 PM

A HEART NEEDS A HOME
Richard Thompson

I know the way that I feel about you
I'm never going to run away
I'm never going to run away

Never knew the way when I lived without you
I'm never going to run away
I'm never going to run away

I came to you when no one could hear me
I'm sick and weary of being alone
Empty streets and hungry places
The world's no place when you're on your own
A heart needs a home

Some people say that I should forget you
But I'm never going to be a fool
I'm never going to be a fool
Better life they say, if I'd never met you
But I'm never going to be a fool
No I'm never going to be a fool

Tongues talk fire and eyes cry rivers
Indian givers, heart of stone
Paper ships and painted faces
The world's no place when you're on your own
A heart needs a home


Here you are Shambles, in thanks for directing me (indirectly) to this wonderful thread! This is one of my all-time favourites, as is Devonside. The words from Devonside that EJ mentioned, always make me shiver. I've obviosly found some kindred spirits here!!

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: john c
Date: 03 May 00 - 06:00 PM

Dimming of the Day
Down where the Drunkards Roll
Meet on the Ledge

But these are just the first that spring to mind. The man is a genius - stop!! And probably incapable of writing any real clunkers. And hes responsible for Hai Sai Oji-San - a bit of a rarity but an absolute killer he recorded with French, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson. Once heard, never forgotten, I promise!!

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST, A.C.
Date: 03 May 00 - 11:38 PM

And no-one has even thought of 'But I misunderstood'

Oh, Richard.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 04 May 00 - 10:24 AM

Best Richard Thompson CD . .

"Pour Down Like Silver" (but then again I'm strongly of the opinion his best performances were as "Richard and Linda Thompson" (featuring Nic Jones on fiddle in places).

Second best . . "Hard Cash" - which he actually produced and only sings a couple of track on, but is still a recording which everyone should own.

Also - sad to see the "Linda Thompson's lost voice" myth re-surfacing . . this has always been greatly exagerated, as far as I can tell. (We have the video of The Mysteries at the National Theatre, where she plays a significant acting role and sings - promenade performances recorded with a live audience at a time when the myth has her supposedly incapable of doing anything . . .)

Also - Linda fans should look out the interview Maggie Holland did with her in Folk Roots. Good "ex-husband" interest there!

G.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: zenduck
Date: 04 May 00 - 12:51 PM

I don't THINK anyone's mentioned:

When the Spell Is Broken Wheely Down New Saint George (which should be the new UK national anthem) Mary and Joseph Old Changing Way

also, not an RT original, but I have a tape of a concert from the early 90s at which he did a psychotic solo version of Ca Plane Pour Moi (no diacriticals available - je suis desolee) that he introduces as "le punk belgique." Alors!

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Noreen
Date: 04 May 00 - 05:49 PM

'King of Bohemia' is beautiful. What appeals to me in particular about RT's lyrics is that he doesn't use cliches, his words seem to be selected individually for their effect.

Looking forward to hearing him live for the first time in June.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Mbo
Date: 04 May 00 - 06:35 PM

HEY! Did anyone ever mention "Pharoah"? What a kickin' song that is!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Ana
Date: 05 May 00 - 07:11 AM

"'You open your throat and nothing happens' The medical term is hysterical dysphonia, which is the phenomenon that silenced Linda Thompson in 1988...There's not much you can do about it,' she says. 'It started 20 odd years ago soon after I married Richard, when I was pregnant for the first time...I guess what ever was bothering me went straight to my throat. So after years of trying I just gave up' " - notes from "Dreams fly Away" - a History of Linda Thompson. I don't know if things were exaggerated or not, but I can only imagine how distressing and sad that experience must have been. Great to hear that she is recording again. Ana

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 05 May 00 - 07:35 AM

I suppose you could say that the very best writers, don't use clichés, they create them.

Having said that I feel that they do have a place in song and can be used to great effect. If only sometimes, only as a point of reference, as a hook, chorus or title. To do it well though, you have to be aware first of course, that they are clichés.

His strength for me is for that combination of words and music that make all the great songs. You hear a line where that combination is so right, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It is as if that line has always been there. Original and timeless, and at the same time.

I think 'Waltzing For Dreamers' is a good example of this, instant familiarity.

'King Of Bohemia' also. Incidentally, I have read somewhere that this song should have been called 'Jack Straw's Castle', but the former Hampstead pub, was preferred, in the end. Could be complete rubbish though?

At the moment it looks like '1952, Vincent Black Lightning' has the 'speed' and is just ahead of 'Beeswing, which is now 'flying', ahead of a significantly large field of over thirty songs!!

Ah!… "Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme".

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 May 00 - 10:37 AM

Background information on some of the songs -including Beeswing and King of Bohemia may be found at the  Richard Thompson Tab Archive.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 01:19 PM

Any more ideas on what Devonside, is all about?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: mousethief
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 04:39 PM

Beeswing

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 08 Oct 00 - 09:42 PM

How long have you got, Shambles? :0)

Noreen

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,guest delia
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 01:48 PM

if the lyrics of Richard Thompson move you, listen to Garnet Rogers. He's cut from the same cloth.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 04:59 PM

As a Richard Thompson fan and a Vincenteer, I've got to say Vincent Black Lightning was big disappointment. Meet on the Ledge for my funeral please. That'll make the bastards cry.

Subject: Lyr Add: DEVONSIDE (Richard Thompson)
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 08:41 PM

Devonside

By Devon Side she was a-marching
It was a gang of no great size
And surrender was the banner that she carried
And hungry was the shiver in her eyes

She met a boy,his health was failing
She dropped the banner and took her prize
And the only food she had was bread and morphine
But he fed on the shiver in her eyes

By Devon Side,his love was drifting
He looked for comfort otherwise
And there never was a rope or chain about him
She held him with the shiver in her eyes

She said My John,I'll be your pillow
I'll be your lover,mother,Whore and wife
And he knew that he had loved and never seen her
When the light fell from the shiver in her eyes

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 12:02 PM

And we sing Alleluia, at the turning of the year
...

Did anybody else hear on NPR (National Public Radio for you BBCers) that Richard and Linda's kid has his own first album now? Anybody heard it?

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 12:44 PM

Shambles, the only verse of Devonside I find particularly cryptic is the first.

By Devon Side she was a-marching
It was a gang of no great size
And surrender was the banner that she carried
And hungry was the shiver in her eyes

I have a scene pictured in mind of a labor (labour) march in the early 1900s. The "banner" may be symbolic of her attitude, i.e. resigned, but I believe RT is actually describing a physical banner here, since he mentions her dropping it in the next verse. That leaves the "gang of no great size", which is puzzling, but perhaps refers to the rest of the marchers.

She met a boy, his health was failing
She dropped the banner and took her prize
And the only food she had was bread and morphine
But he fed on the shiver in her eyes

She gives up her social quest and falls in love with a young man. For some reason, I think he has consumption. Bread for his hunger, morphine for his pain, the shiver in her eyes for his soul.

By Devon Side, his love was drifting
He looked for comfort otherwise
And there never was a rope or chain about him
She held him with the shiver in her eyes

After some time, he begins to stray. They are not married, but something in her eyes holds him to her.

She said My John, I'll be your pillow
I'll be your lover, mother, Whore and wife
And he knew that he had loved and never seen her
When the light fell from the shiver in her eyes

She speaks to him from her soul, and he realizes no one can give him more. "He knew that he had loved and never seen her" ... he now sees past the initial excitement, and sees her beauty as it is.

Anyway, that's what I take from it.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 24 May 03 - 01:13 AM

Time to ring some changes.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: michaelr
Date: 24 May 03 - 02:00 AM

That's brilliant, John -- it certainly is!

That song rotates in and out of my repertoire about every four years.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: mousethief
Date: 24 May 03 - 03:15 AM

I'm afraid Beeswing is the only RT song I've heard (post Fairport) but it's simply lovely.

Alex

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Midchuck down in the office - home 'puter bu
Date: 24 May 03 - 09:00 AM

About halfway back up there I gave Galway to Graceland and How Will I Ever Be Simple Again as my favorites.

That was before I heard Del McCoury's recording of '52 Vincent Black Lightning.

Those other two are now tied for second.

Fickle bastard, huh?

Peter

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Moi
Date: 24 May 03 - 12:58 PM

Vincent Black Lightning
Down Where The Drunkards Roll
Bright Lights
Valerio
and Wall Of Death.

I haven't laughed so much for ages since I heard his Madonna song at Cropredy festival last year...

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 26 May 03 - 07:46 AM

You know, for years I thought Richard Thompson was a genius. Now I'm not so sure about that, though I still think he's pretty good. I can't help noticing that most of the songs people have mentioned here were writen or recorded in the 60s and 70s. No bad thing in itself, but am I the only one who think his songwriting became very inconsistent after his split with Linda in 1982?

We had a long posting about 'Devonside' earlier on, to which my first reaction was the author needs to get out more. Gorgeous track, to be sure, lovely arrangement and the key change into the fiddle solo at the end is the high point of the whole album. But the words? The whole 'mother, whore and wife' thing? Very adolescent and rather mysogynistic, in my view.

He really has also written some truly terrible songs. 'You Can't Win', 'You Don't Say', 'Love in A Faithless Country', 'Psycho Street' (a real stinker, that one, 'Deam Man's Handle', 'Cash Down Never Never', 'Al Bowlly's In Heaven' (jazz for people who don't like jazz), 'Backlash Love Affair', 'God Loves A Drunk', 'Mother Knows Best' - that wiil do for now.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: InOBU
Date: 26 May 03 - 07:50 AM

Beeswing, sigh, Larry

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 03 - 08:19 AM

Meet On The LEdge... oh yes.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 26 May 03 - 10:09 AM

...on the other hand I saw him at Chorley last year and he was very good indeed. I wasn't that impressed by the Madonna song, though. Bit Jake Thackeray for me.

He just seems to have such a problem with women.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Allan Dennehy
Date: 26 May 03 - 04:12 PM

Good thread about a great man, though I do agree with Chris B that he has his share of weak material as well. I didnt count but it seems to me like Vincent is leading closely followed by Beeswing and Dimming of the day. I'll vote for Galway to G. I've neved heard Beeswing, I'm mad curious now.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 29 May 03 - 05:20 AM

No-one's yet mentioned 'Keep Your Distance', which is a great example of a good later Thompson song. Heard him do it once on TV with Roger McGuinn on 12-string and harmony vocals. Very nice indeed.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Cuff
Date: 29 May 03 - 09:56 AM

It has to be Dave Burland singing "How will I ever be simple again"

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: sweetfire
Date: 29 May 03 - 10:27 AM

My fav are -
Down where the drunkards roll
Dimming of the day

but after hearing all the other suggestions i think i need to find about more songs done by this lovely man...

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 29 May 03 - 12:19 PM

Has to be 1952 VBL although Beeswing runs a very close second.Then again, Waltzing's for Dreamers is magic too. Blast it! the man's just too darned talented.

As a fellow Vincenteer, I disagree with Fionn to whom VBL was a disappointment...trouble is you have to allow the guy a bit of licence when it comes to the nerdy bits about 'bikes. It's gone down extremely well with the Vincent Owners Club both here and in America and quite a few of these greybeards have been turned on to other RT stuff as a result. I have a recording of the BBC interview he gave at the time of the release of Rumour and Sigh...he was very well informed about the Vincent and its mythical status.

Stop now Jon lest ye become nerdy yourself.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 03 - 12:41 AM

oh lordy. so far as i can tell, the man can do no wrong. tho i must say, i like greg brown's "vincent" (on "the live one") better than richard's, i can't say precisely why. i always felt like richard writes about the same dolorous city tom waits visits in his songs. i like the real bleak ones, like "end of the rainbow"...how gloomy can you get? plus the intro is great, it sneaks up on yeh.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 06:51 AM

Just been looking back at some of these threads. Someone said they bought 'Rumour and Sigh', listened to it once and gave it away. I nearly did the same but none of my mates wanted it. Apart from 'Keep Your Distance', which is a great if rather sad song (the message seeming to be that former lovers can never be friends)I think it's a terrible record and in fact it's the last Richard Thompson album I ever bought and that was 12 years ago. Vincent, Schmincent.

Re: Linda's voice problems. The recording of 'The Mysteries' at the National Theatre was made after the Cottesloe Theatre closed in 1985 (it subsequently re-opened). I think the voice thing only got bad later on, though I could be wrong. They revived the production in late 1999/early 2000 and I went down to see it. Linda was back in it and sang beautifully. I spoke to her as well for a few minutes after the end of the show and she was an absolute sweetheart.

Jack Shepherd, on the other hand, was a complete prat. That's the Drama Centre for you.

It really looks from the trends in this thread that, for most people, this guy's reputation really does rest principally on four of five rather old songs. Most of his other stuff is pretty good but when he's bad he can be truly awful.

Anyway, some nerdy stuff while I'm at it. the 'God's Garden' song mentioned earlier on is on 'Live , Love, Larf and Loaf' (or something), the first Thompson, Kaiser, Frith and French album. It first appeared on the mostly-forgotten (and downright weird if you were there) 1977 tour when they did a mainly Islamic-inspired set, which also included 'First Light' 'Layla', 'The Madness of Love' and 'Rescue Me'. Some of this stuff has also since appeared on 'official' bootlegs.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 05:57 AM

Fast-Food,is,good.
I,just,listened,to,Beeswing,it,sounds,very,familiar.Was,it,the,theme,to,a TV,programme?,or,is,the,tune,traditional,or,used,for,another,song?

Subject: ADD: We Sing Hallelujah (Richard Thompson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 04:30 AM

I got these lyrics from http://www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=49. I heard it a number of times over the last week at San Francisco's Camp Harmony. It has a beautiful sound, but the lyrics are kind of a downer. I heard one person at Camp Harmony sing his own lyrics for this song - a far more uplifting version.
I don't think this song is related to And I'll Sing Alleluia - or is it?

-Joe Offer-

---

We Sing Hallelujah
Written by Richard Thompson
Appears on I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
Live! (More or Less)   (1976)

A man, he's like a rusty wheel
On a rusty cart
He sings his song as he rattles along
And then he falls apart

And we'll sing hallelujah
At the turning of the year
And we work all day in the old fashioned way
'Till the shining star appears

A man, he's like a briar
He covers himself with thorns
He laughs like a clown when his fortune's down
And his clothes are ragged and torn

And we'll sing hallelujah
At the turning of the year
And we work all day in the old fashioned way
'Till the shining star appears

A man, he's like a three string fiddle
Hanging upon the wall
He plays when somebody scrapes on the bow
Or he can't play at all

And we'll sing hallelujah
At the turning of the year
And we work all day in the old fashioned way
'Till the shining star appears

A man, he's like his father
Wishes he was never born
He longs for the time when the clock will chime
And he's dead for evermore

And we'll sing hallelujah
At the turning of the year
And we work all day in the old fashioned way
'Till the shining star appears

And we'll sing hallelujah
At the turning of the year
And we work all day in the old fashioned way
'Till the shining star appears

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: ranger1
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:49 PM

I first heard 1952 Vincent Black Lightning done very badly by a local band. Then I got to hear the real thing. Hated it when I first heard it, loved the original. Saw him live once, blew me away.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 07:45 PM

I agree that the blend of Linda and Richard gives that extra magic to these beautiful songs.

My fav? maybe "Just the motion"

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 10:40 PM

Did he write any bad songs ??

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson: Your Favourite Song?
From: robomatic
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 10:54 PM

I saw him perform in Boston eight or so years ago. Effin' Brilliant.
Feel So Good. God Loves A Drunk. Psycho Street. Jimmy Shands. Behind Gray Walls. Mad, Aggressive, Passionate Downers. Bone Through Her Nose. Oops I Did It Again.