Lyr ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)

Subject: ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jul 23 - 12:14 AM

Robert Rodriquez asked me for the lyrics to Richard Thompson's "Seven Brothers," but I can't find the song right off. Can anybody find it?
Here's the recording, but I can't understand enough to transcribe accurately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8dbYDnLQ48
-Joe-

---

OK, so here's what I hear. Any corrections?

SEVEN BROTHERS
(Richard Thompson)

There were seven brothers sat by the road
And everyone was dressed in black
The smiled at everyone who passed
They smiled at them but none smiled back

Stranger passed along the road
Says the first brother, he’ll be mine soon
I’ll clot the blood within his veins
And heart will burst like a child’s balloon

Another stranger passed them by
Says the second brother, soon he will moan
He’ll feel the claws, they got his balls
And he’ll pray to the God he’s never known

Another stranger passed them by
Says the third brother that job's in hand
With corruption I’ll fill his lungs
And he’ll drown standing on dry land

Another stranger passed them by
Says the fourth brother, the seed is sown
I’ll darken his mind with helplessness
And the hand on the gun won’t be his own

Another stranger passed them by
Says the fifth brother, his race is run
I’ll send this car to the edge of the cliff
And friends will mourn he died too young

Another stranger passed them by
Says the sixth brother, he’ll try to hide
He’ll seal each crack and pane indoor
But still the plague will get inside

Another stranger passed them by
Says the seven brother, this one I’ll reap
Peacefully in his old age
His breath will fault in his sleep

There were seven brothers sat by the road
Watching the human promenade
Filling their appointment books
Working at their father's trade

There were seven brothers sat by the road
And none could look them in the eye
They sent a shiver through the bones
Of every soul who passed them by

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Ed.
Date: 17 Jul 23 - 06:19 AM

I think you've pretty much nailed it Joe.

To my ears (corrections in bold)

V2. A stranger

V3. He'll feel the claws dig at his bowels

V7. He'll seal each crack in pane and door

v8. His breath will falter

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 17 Jul 23 - 09:20 AM

Pretty much!
Correction: V1 Line 3 THEY smiled
I don't think Ed's V7 correction is right, I'd stick with Joe's reading.

There's always the version by Blair Dunlop to complement RT's own...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtHPDDY28kk

Incidentally, talking of RT lyrics, does anyone know what's happened to the really useful Song-o-Matic lyrics page that used to be part of Richard's own website?

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)
From: gillymor
Date: 17 Jul 23 - 09:46 AM

RT has written some great songs but sometimes he seems to indulge in creepiness for it's own sake.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 17 Jul 23 - 09:50 AM

Further minor corrections to Joe's reading:
V4 THIS job's in hand
V8 SEVENTH brother

Subject: ADD: Seven Brothers (Richard Thompson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jul 23 - 12:06 AM

Here's my second attempt, incorporating the changes suggested above and some of my own. Thanks, folks.

SEVEN BROTHERS
(Richard Thompson)

There were seven brothers sat by the road
And every one was dressed in black
They smiled at everyone who passed
They smiled at them but none smiled back

A stranger passed along the road
Says the first brother, he’ll be mine soon
I’ll clot the blood within his veins
And his heart will burst like a child’s balloon

Another stranger passed them by
Says the second brother, soon he will moan
He’ll feel the claws dig at his bowels
And he’ll pray to the God he’s never known

Another stranger passed them by
Says the third brother the job's in hand
With corruption I’ll fill his lungs
And he’ll drown standing on dry land

Another stranger passed them by
Says the fourth brother, the seed is sown
I’ll darken his mind with helplessness
And the hand on the gun will be his own

Another stranger passed them by
Says the fifth brother, his race is run
I’ll send his car to the edge of the cliff
And friends will mourn he died too young

Another stranger passed them by
Says the sixth brother, he’ll try to hide
He’ll seal up the crack in pane and door
But still the plague will get inside

Another stranger passed them by
Says the seventh brother, this one I’ll reap
Peacefully in his old age
His breath will falter in his sleep

There were seven brothers sat by the road
Watching the human promenade
Filling their appointment books
Working at their father's trade

There were seven brothers sat by the road
And none could look them in the eye
They sent a shiver through the bones
Of every soul who passed them by


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8dbYDnLQ48

I think I'll go with THE job's in hand for the third brother.

I think the fourth brother is addressing suicide, and the hand on the gun WILL be his own.

I think the fifth brother will send HIS car to the edge of the cliff

about the sixth brother, I think "He’ll seal up the crack in pane and door" but I'm not sure.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

-Joe-