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Wheely Down by Richard Thompson
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Subject: Wheely Down by Richard Thompson From: Edthefolkie Date: 06 Jan 12 - 05:23 PM Has anyone got a theory on what "Wheely Down" off "Henry the Human Fly" is about? I happened to pass the place (in Hampshire) recently - this reminded me how much I liked the song and how little I understand it, although it has some memorable images e.g. kestrels turning in empty sky etc. I don't think I want to ask Richard - I'm sure he doesn't feel like an explanation after all these years, especially as he seems to have been channelling Martin Carthy when he recorded the song! |
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEELY DOWN (Richard Thompson) From: michaelr Date: 06 Jan 12 - 06:25 PM I don't want to attempt an analysis, but we should have the lyrics here. The song is certainly atmospheric. Wheely Down Written by Richard Thompson Appears on Henry the Human Fly (1972) She womanly lay like the lay of the land The land around Wheely Down And every curve was a high, high hill To hang above the town From Holland they came to make the maps And they had made her well For the rivers danced all across the green And the pinewood sweet did smell As far as ever a man can see It yields him more and more And every house he washes it white And he covers it all with straw Except for the fool, who makes his home Upon the flooded ground, And the still on the tide is a glass to the eyes That stare out of Wheely Down All things must change within the earth The moving and the lame. For the worms will rot the miller's wheel And the rats will eat the grain. And the armies of deliverance Are run into the ground, And the kestrel turns in the empty skies On high over Wheely Down. |
Subject: RE: Wheely Down by Richard Thompson From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 06 Jan 12 - 06:31 PM Ed I don't know about the meaning but here are two quotes from The RT Guitar Tab Archive - About The Songs (where there is an entry for the song, but it's descriptive rather than interpretive - no more informative than the Henry sleeve notes!): Muna (RT's daughter): "He hates bringing any meaning to his songs. He's always said to me he wants people to come to their own conclusions about a song, if there's a picture story already there it can sometimes ruin it." John Kirkpatrick: "As usual with Richard, when you ask him was that about anything particular? He'll say "Oh I don't know, its just a song". These may be both ways of saying that sometimes songwriters put together something that they think sounds nice without any thought about whether it has a coherent meaning!. Mick |
Subject: RE: Wheely Down by Richard Thompson From: GUEST Date: 07 Jan 12 - 12:10 PM Thanks chaps! I've actually seen RT politely batting away questions about "meanings" on a couple of occasions - I wouldn't presume to ask him, tending to just admire from a distance. That song has just bugged me since 1971 though. Henry the Human Fly really got to me, it must that Richard was stretching himself as a songwriter and all sorts of strange branches were growing. I suppose "Wheely Down" is a picture story - I always bracket it with his "Devonside" and the "Pavane" book by Keith Roberts. No logical reason, it just goes in the same slot in the Travelling Post Office of life! |
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