Lyr Add/Origins: Miss Patsy (Richard Thompson)

Subject: Lyr Add: MISS PATSY (Richard Thompson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 02:57 PM

Apparently this song has never been mentioned at Mudcat before. Maybe these lyrics will spark some discussion (copied from Richard Thompson's web site):


MISS PATSY
Richard Thompson

1. My dearest Miss Patsy, I'm writing to say
That I'm sorry to not be in touch.
It's been quite a parade, but my thoughts never strayed
Too far, or too long, or too much.
Miss Patsy, forgive all the choices I made.
I've been fighting shadows on the wrong crusade,
Looking for ghosts in a penny arcade.
Miss Patsy, no more will I roam.
Miss Patsy, won't you carry me home?

2. They held me to ransom back there in the foothills
And nobody stumped up a bean.
Not Swifty, nor Eddie, came up with the ready.
It can make you think people plain mean.
Miss Patsy, forgive all the choices I made.
I've been fighting shadows on the wrong crusade,
Looking for ghosts in a penny arcade.
Miss Patsy, no more will I roam.
Miss Patsy, won't you carry me home?

3. I've been hanging out with some virtuous people.
They emptied my bank account twice.
They gave me self-confidence, even some clothes,
And a truckload of love and advice.
When they gave out the cyanide pills with a wink
And said, "Wait for the word, any day now, we think,"
I knew it was time to pull back from the brink.
Miss Patsy, no more will I roam.
Miss Patsy, won't you carry me home?

4. Miss Patsy, I looked at myself in the mirror,
Decided I needed some work,
Got me a nose job, a shave and a haircut
To drive all them ladies berserk.
But the arm round my waist was a man in dark blue.
He said, "Ain't you him? We've been looking for you."
Now I'm sharing a cell with a holy kung fu.
Miss Patsy, no more will I roam.
Miss Patsy, won't you carry me home?


[From Richard Thompson's album "Front Parlour Ballads" (2005).]

Subject: Lyr Add: Miss Patsy - Annotation anyone?
From: GUEST,x07afb
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 11:21 AM

Hello,

I am playing at an event tomorrow and I want to play Richard Thompson's "Miss Patsy." Before I do so, I have to confess that I know very little about what the song is about. Can anyone give me any sort of historical context for the song, or direct me accordingly to a source?

Thanks in advance,
Allan