Lyr/Chords: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)

Subject: Chords / Dawning of the day / Richard Th
From: burntstump
Date: 03 Aug 04 - 12:21 PM

Anyone have the Chords and words to Richard Thompson , Dawning of the Day? Also sung by Bonnie Rait.

Subject: RE: Chords / Dawning of the day / Richard Th
From: Nick
Date: 03 Aug 04 - 12:26 PM

Dimming of the Day

Subject: RE: Chords / Dawning of the day / Richard Th
From: The Shambles
Date: 03 Aug 04 - 12:31 PM

Also sang by Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmore.....

Subject: RE: Chords / Dawning of the day / Richard Th
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 02:19 AM

Shambles -- really? Where can one find a record of this, er... travesty?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 03:21 AM

For the last verse try:-

Em      D      G         C    D
I see you on the street in company

D    C                  G                  D
Why Don't you come and ease your mind with me

D    Em    D       G       C    D
I'm living for the night we steal away

D C                G      D      Em   C
I need you at the dimming of the day

C G               D               Em D G C G
I need you at the dimming of the day

Gives it a different texture and kinda lifts the last verse.
Johnny :0)

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 03:32 AM

Sorry, the chords didn't line up with the words properly. But you can work out where they go, gives you the idea.

Not my idea - it's Mary Black's version (one of the best).

J :0)

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: The Shambles
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 09:12 AM

I am not too sure if this Dave Gilmore version was recorded. It was at a concert that was on TV, fairly recently. It was good actually.

Any more people who sing it?

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: s6k
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 09:30 AM

David Gilmours version of Dimming of the Day, was simply amazing.
it was at a lieber & stoller tribute concert.

it was recorded.... and is on Dave's DVD, the in concert one as an extra.

it is an absolutely amazing version

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 05:42 PM

I usually find that most cover versions of Richard Thompson songs are superior to the original recording.

He's a bit like Bob Dylan in that respect ...

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: breezy
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 06:30 PM

not Beeswing, lots of others crucify it.

Subject: RE: Chords:Dawning of the day-Richard Thompson
From: s6k
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 06:40 PM

ive yet to hear a bob dylan cover that was better than teh original

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dawning of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 06:15 AM

DT version's a bit confused, this is original:



DIMMING OF THE DAY (Richard Thompson)

This old house is falling down around my ears
I'm drowning in a river of my tears
When all my will is gone, you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day.

You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side
i i i i i i ide

What days have come to keep us far apart?
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the morning birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confidant
Ah ah ah ah ah ant ah ah ant

I see you on the streets in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day
I need you at the dimming of the day

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dawning of the Day (Richard Thomps
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 08:12 AM

There is a recording of this by the Five Blind Boys of Alabama.

It is...impressive.

I didn't even know they ever did secular songs until I heard it on our local folk radio show and happened to have the tape recorder going. I still have it around somewhere.

Peter

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dawning of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 08:27 AM

I enjoy David Gilmour's version a lot:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6L8bn_3I9DY

Subject: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 08:29 AM

BTW the title's wrong - it should be 'Dimming of the Day '

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dawning of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: stevi
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 09:36 AM

This track bought me to Richard Thompson's music i stumbled on it by accident as i remember' a very intent melodic song in my opinion quite took me breath away! Since bought the box set (excellent) was not aware Dave Gilmour has used it! gona have to get that dvd now. life long floyd fan.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 04:08 AM

Correction:

What days have come to keep us far apart?
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the morning birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day

It's not 'morning' it should say ' bonnie' birds.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 04:23 AM

There's a line:

Meanwhile I try to act so nonchalant

which clearly seems to go in the 'confidant' verse that I'm sure I can remember Linda singing. But it's not in the lyrics on the RT site.

Anyone got the full verse?

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 11:23 AM

Richard and Linda Thompson singing
At The Dimming Of The Day

at the Wax Museum Washington 12th May 1982 on their first USA tour.

At The Dimming Of The Day

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,edthefolkie
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 11:35 AM

Apparently a few years ago Phil Everly was introduced to Linda T and immediately sang "Dimming of the Day" to her. Now there's a man with taste - on several levels.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: closet-folkie
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 01:01 PM

...as well as being the best harmony singer ever.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 01:35 PM

ive yet to hear a bob dylan cover that was better than teh original

Fairport Convention's version of Percy's Song

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 02:13 PM

> "Meanwhile I try to act so nonchalant" <
> which clearly seems to go in the 'confidant' verse <

That line rang an immediate bell with me Diane, since it's not every day you find the word 'nonchalant' used for a rhyme in a pop song.

But it was the Searchers, not RT:

"I close my eyes for a second and pretend it's me you want
Meanwhile I try to act so nonchalant
I see a summer's night with a magic moon
Every time that you walk in the room"

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 02:21 PM

Ah Brian, you're dead right!
Next time I see you I'll reward you wih some Sweets, some Sugar & Spice or at the very least some Needles & Pins.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 20 Jul 07 - 02:53 PM

Hey Diane, Don't Throw Your Love Away! Especially if it involves sticking pins in people.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 10:11 AM

just been having a practice of playing & singing this one.

Seems each verse in a different key!

Anyone know how it's s'posed to go?

I'm starting off in A [G shapes, capoed on 2nd fret]

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Stringsinger
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 02:31 PM

An appropriate variation would be "The Dumbing of Today". It would describe Washington accurately.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:37 AM

Thanks Frank,

Its not exactly the answer I was seeking.

Tried the song live in public on Wednesday & same thing happened - went lower & lower - guess its in the modulations which occur in the 'B' part.

Anyone have advice how this phenomenom cam be avoided?

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:48 AM

.............& please don't suggest - sing something else! I 'd thought of that - but its such a great song that I wanna do it right

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:50 AM

Will be having another go of it tonight in the Carlton Tavern, Handbridge, Chester, with my other band 'Feel Away'

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: akenaton
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 05:29 PM

Midchuck...The Blind boys of Alabama do a version of "Dimming of the day" on "Beat the Retreat"   the songs of Richard THompson.

I have a promotional copy of the CD, which features   REM, Dinosaur Jr, David Byrne, Bob Mould, Bonnie Raitt, X, Los Lobos, Syd Straw and Evan Dando, Shawn Colvin and Loudon Wainwright, Graham Parker, Beausoleil, The five blind boys of Alabama, June Tabor, Maddy Prior and Martin Carthy.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Kevin Parker
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 08:23 AM

Mr Happy - how did the latest attempt go?

As long-time RT fan and guitar player I'd make the following (helpful, I hope) observations about the song.

1. Its much more complex than it sounds at first hearing - the singer needs a good range.

2. The two bridge/chorus parts are the key (sorry) to the song. You'll see in the chords posted by Nick that an A chord appears in a song thats otherwise in the key of G. So it sounds like a key change is imminent. The singer has to really get that ascending vocal line right, and the guitarist needs to emphasise the end of the bar with the A chord, not the beginning. If you can finger it, a 9th/2nd chord (eg an A chord with a B in it) can be effective here.

3.Then there's the apparently descending last line of the the bridge (si...i....de). The chords imply the melody is going down but the note at the end of the descent (harmonised by the C chord in Nick's chart) is actually the same as the note at the start of the descent (harmonised by the A chord). There's a real temptation to go down to the tonic note of the song (which would be a G in this key), and if you do that you will end up an octave below where you started. Its actually pretty hard to sing the line and play the chords smoothly, especially in standard tuning.

4. Bonnie Raitt interprets the song somewhat and pulls the tune around a little. Irrespective of which version you prefer, I think its much easier to learn the song from the version Richard and Linda Thompson recorded on 'Pour Down like Silver' as the vocal melody is clearer. Plus you get a nice RT acoustic instrumental at the end of the song...

5. Judging by the fingering of the instrumental, I'm fairly sure RT plays the song in drop D tuning using a D chord as the tonic/root. So in the bridge he uses an E chord rather than an A one. Instead of the C chord in Nick's chart, there is a nice G chord leaving the 6th string open - it has a D as the bottom note and sounds more 'spacy' than a normal G chord with G at the bottom. Of course you may need to capo to suit.

6. For any of you Martin Simpson fans out there, it also sounds good in CGCGCD tuning - again capo to suit.

hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 08:33 AM

Thanks all above for help/advice.


I think I've cracked it now.

As y'all say, its very easy to slip down to the octave below, in fact my 1st coupla tries resulted in my going down 2 octaves below & sounded like 'Wandering Star' by the end!!

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 03:52 PM

I'm pretty sure that Richard plays this in a drop D tuning (ie 6th tuned down to a D). The last time I saw him do a solo gig, he had a special machine head for the sixth string that was fitted with a lever to move from E to D (and back again) quickly. Listening to the chord voicings when he accompanied Linda, I reckon he played with a capo on the first fret and used the chords D, G and A for the verse and A E D and G for the "other bit". When playing the A, the sixth string would have to be avoided, for the E it would be played as 222100 going from 6th to 1st and for the G (as alluded to already) as 550030.

  This old house is falling down around my ears
           D                               A
  
  I'm drowning in the river of my tears
      G               D           A
  
  When all my will is gone you hold me sway
       D                               A
  
  I need you at the dimming of the day
    G               D       A      D   G D
  
  
  You pulled me like the moon pulls on the tide
      A                                    E
  
  You know just where I keep my better side
      A                                EADG
  

and for the last two lines

  I need you at the dimming of the day
    D               A              D  G
  
  I need you at the dimming of the day
    D               A              D
  

Something else I have noted from the lyrics on his web site, he uses the words "I'm drowning in the river... whereas every other web site where I have found the words (as recorded by other people) they say I'm drowning in a river.....

It was only when I tried learning this song did I realise how skillful a singer Linda is. As has already been said, you need a good range to get all of the notes.

Subject: Lyr Add: Dimming Of The Day (Richard Thompson)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 07:36 PM

This old house is falling down around my ears
I'm drowning in a river of my tears
When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day

You pull me like the moon pulls on the tide
You know just where I keep my better side

What days have come to keep us far apart
A broken promise or a broken heart
Now all the bonnie birds have wheeled away
I need you at the dimming of the day

Come the night you're only what I want
Come the night you could be my confident

I see you on the street in company
Why don't you come and ease your mind with me
I'm living for the night we steal away
I need you at the dimming of the day

---

Posting Lyrics at the Mudcat Cafe ((click)
From the FAQ

Please include the title of the song, name of songwriter, and the source of your lyrics every time you post lyrics. Thank you.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dimming Of The Day (Richard Thompson)
From: Felipa
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 07:48 PM

previous posts

https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=6172

https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=1584

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=66214#1096949 (see Frank Staplin's post 20 Jan 2004

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=72134

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dimming Of The Day (Richard Thompson)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 07:50 PM

Nothing came up only chord requests

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dimming Of The Day (Richard Thompson)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 07:57 PM

oh so stupid :::::::::::::(

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Dimming of the Day (Richard Thompson)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 08:23 PM

Nam shuidhe anns an tobhta seo cho chuin
Na deoran a' sileadh is mise ann gun stiùir
An tig thu leam, a' ghaol, dha mo chrìdhe
Aig crìonadh an là chan eil ach thu à dhith

'S tu an gealach gam tharraing mar an tuil
'S tu an eòlaiche dha mo chrìdhe

Thag an uaigneas seo gu dubh orm fhìn
Gun thusa, tha mo shaoghal air fad gun chiall
Tha na h-eòin air sgaoth, dìreach mar thu fhèin
Aig crìonadh an là chan eil ach thu à dhith

Thig am oidhch' is tusa nam mo shùil
Thig am oidhch', chan ann ach ar dùil

Chi mo thu am measg ar cairdean còir'
Nach tig thu leam, mo ghraidh, mo mhile stòr
Fàgaidh sinn ar cùram fada bhuainn
Aig crìonadh an là chan eil ach thu à dhith

Gaelic (Scottish) translation by Brian Ó hEadhra