Richard Thompson is a guitar and song writing genius. He is one of the greatest guitarists of the last 50 years, both electric and accoustic. Founding member of Fairport Convention, the band that virtually invented the folk-rock genre in the 60s, and he and then wife Lynda formed one of the best husband and wife duos you'll ever here. As a songwriter he writes often dark and complex lyrics, but I wouldn't say depressing. I take this song not so much as denigrating suburbia, etc, but rather how God does indeed love the poorest and most downtrodden. To see some of RTs guitar magic, I strongly recommend the song 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, which i think you might appreciate more, not least for the character Red Molly ("Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour schemes" 🙂).
Richard has to be one of the best story teller singer songwriters of all time. This is just a morsel of greatness that you are to discover. Guitar god doesn't cover it. I don't think this is the best song to start with but it definitely works because it got you talking.
Prophetic song about a drunks ongoing inner battle that he seemingly has no control over, indeed a sad song. Great simple presentation focuses on the words rather than the music, sounds Scottish. Great pick Harold!!! You guys are right about his Gordon Lightfoot sound. This could easily be a poem. Much like Leonard Cohen too, love his poetry/songs. Great reaction guys, thx.
To me, the commentator is not sneering at the 'wage slavers, semi detached, pensioned folk' but turning the mirror the other way around. Pointing out how 'they', from their secure, comfort sneer at the drunk his choices . God, in this story, makes no judgement and loves no less and sees value in a drunks desire to free himself from all of the above...for ever and ever, amen. BTW Richard Thompson is a non drinker and a Muslim ;-)
I think this is a hard song to start with if you don't know any RT music because it is so dark and so quintessentially Thompson in construction, tempo and tone. Those of us who have been listening to him for years might forget that his melodies and singing style are not immediately 'getable'. Many of his songs have more than one narrative voice/world view within them - much like the traditional folk ballads Fairport sang - and the listener has to pick apart the true meaning (if there is one?). With this song we have to understand who is speaking and when: sometimes it's the drunk justifying himself to himself (as at the end when he asks "are there any pen pushers in heaven?", as if to say "I might be a screw up but my god loves me and will welcome me in heaven unlike those boring, soulless do gooders"). Other times it's the external world/song's narrator speaking, and telling us scathingly that the drunk is a sad individual who wets his pants, falls off his bar stool and makes a fool of himself. Then again, the world can also pity the drunk, who sleeps in the cold rain and begs for money for a beer. Who we are as listeners is, of course, dependent upon our own place in the story of the drunk, and our own human sympathies. It might be useful to note that Thompson used to drink but has been teetotal for many decades.
I've saw Richard (of Fairport Convention) live about 15 years ago - he's funny and a good entertainer. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" at the 2012 Americana Music Awards ua-cam.com/video/k5V0RkCIaXo/v-deo.html Same dark feel just a little more upbeat. And introducing Red Molly - the perfect color scheme.
I always found it brilliant how Thompson dispels any romance in being a drunk even as he supposedly makes it romantic. Thompson often makes use of the unreliable narrator, where we're supposed to say to ourselves: 'Wait a second, that's not quite right, is it?' This was all quite intentional. I recommend trying out his song 'Sibella.' ua-cam.com/video/qcrHMRIMpY8/v-deo.html
Richard doesn’t sound anything like Gordon Lightfoot, both great artists. I don’t find Richard depressing at all. His. music is so beautiful at times, so exquisite. And that is what makes it so not depressing. But glad you reacted to one of his songs. He deserves all the attention he can get.
@Azure Dragon - great song from one of my favourite Thompson albums. I am still trying to work out just exactly what some of them are about - but that's half the fun!! Three of my favourite tracks from the album are "That's Another Small Thing in her Favour", "The Tic Tac Man" (oh that mandolin and Richard counting himself in at the beginning), and "Will You Dance" - which did not strike me as being anything that great on first listen, but then I listened more carefully to the words and it blew me away.
Actually quite a religious and spiritual song, as is Down Where the Drunkards Roll, full of Persian and sufi alcohol metaphors for spiritual ecstacy, all based on a single Quranic passage describing the entry of the righteous into heaven which ends "And their lord shall give them to drink a pure drink". Hence the first line of this song.
If you ever get a chance to hear Richard Thompson do the End of the Rainbow, ua-cam.com/video/GTZWXrVWtvg/v-deo.html it makes this song sound uplifting. It is a great song that got voted in at least one poll as the most depressing song ever. If you like upbeat, try richard and Linda Thompson's I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight. A real treat.
Gosh thanks guys - I'm blushing here! Just to be clear, I don't think this song represents Richard's personal philosophy (he's actually quite a spiritual person), it's more a matter of him trying to get inside the head of a drunk and rehearse all the incoherent arguments, displacements and excuses that he finds there. "God loves a drunk" is an ironic statement: yeah, God loves him, and he's going to be meeting him sooner rather than later at this rate... Richard Thompson is one of Britain's best kept musical secrets. He started off in Fairport Convention, one of the bands that boosted and re-invented the British folk scene in the late '60s and early '70s, before going independent, first with his wife Linda, then on his own. He's hugely respected by other musicians for both his songwriting and guitar playing and could probably make a living just from the royalties from other people covering his songs. This is one of his darkest songs: many are lighter and more energetic, and he has a great sense of humour, even if it trends towards the dark and ironic too. BTW, the reason I don't make official Patreon requests is that I don't go on their website much because it doesn't work well for me, with frequent freezes and crashes. The fault almost certainly lies with my ancient PC setup though ("15 years old? Does it run on steam?"), so nothing for you to worry about.
@@MikeandGinger Yeah, I always thought he was from the North-East (Geordie-land-ish) but I was surprised to hear in an interview that he was born and raised in London, but with a Scottish father.
This song was written in the style of the old English ballads. All in all, pretty depressing and dark. To get a better slant on this listen to the old Martin Carthy records. God Loves a Drunk is probably not the first song to listen to in the Richard Thompson playlist to get a feeling for his work, although it drops you right into the thick of things. Listen to The End of the Rainbow or Withered and Died for more songs of this style.
Fine choice from your friend Harold. I've been a long time fan of Richard Thompson from Fairport Convention, his work with ex-wife Linda, and solo. Saw him many years ago in Philly, was terrific. This would have been rougher if you had followed it with Warren Zevon's 'Carmelita'.
Yes, hear "1952 Vincent Black Lightning"! RT founded a band called Fairport Convention back in the 1960s, and they recorded an album call Liege and Leif, which the BBC decided was the most important folk album ever made. Nobody complained. He's also an amazing electric guitarist.
Ginger has a good point but the main point is are you better than a drunk in God’s eyes for all your positivity? He loves everyone equally, although I’m an agnostic so I don’t know if god exists but if he does then his love is unconditional. Some people think that living a quiet god fearing life in the suburbs puts then ahead of queue to heaven.
Hi again, I don’t mean to go on, but in cae yo had the impression that Richard’s music was all about dispair, try listening to the album version of It’s Just the Motion or Rainbow Over the Hill, if you can find it.
Richard Thompson is singing this from the point of view of the drunk, not from his own. Listen yo Outside Of The Inside, ehich is sung from the viewpoint of a Taliban soldier.
Richard is a brilliant performer with his band or solo. Voted in the top ten of guitarists. Some of his songs are bitter and truthful, nothing wrong with that. I am biased because I am his 2nd cousin. His Father was Scottish but he is as English as fish and chips.
You didn’t really get the song. The song is turning the tables on sanctimonious people who look down their nose at the likes of a drunkard. It’s telling when someone jumps to defensiveness when they listen to that lyric.
I really can't hear anything of the bitterness you seem to find here. I think the central line of the lyrics is "Does clerking and wage-slaving win you God's love?" And I think it's a question well worthing asking yourself (and anyone around you).
![Richard & Linda Thompson - The Calvary Cross [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YI5NPq0bZT8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Richard & Linda Thompson - The Calvary Cross [REACTION]](/img/tr.png)
Richard Thompson is a guitar and song writing genius. He is one of the greatest guitarists of the last 50 years, both electric and accoustic. Founding member of Fairport Convention, the band that virtually invented the folk-rock genre in the 60s, and he and then wife Lynda formed one of the best husband and wife duos you'll ever here. As a songwriter he writes often dark and complex lyrics, but I wouldn't say depressing. I take this song not so much as denigrating suburbia, etc, but rather how God does indeed love the poorest and most downtrodden. To see some of RTs guitar magic, I strongly recommend the song 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, which i think you might appreciate more, not least for the character Red Molly ("Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour schemes" 🙂).
Richard has to be one of the best story teller singer songwriters of all time. This is just a morsel of greatness that you are to discover. Guitar god doesn't cover it. I don't think this is the best song to start with but it definitely works because it got you talking.
. . . and Richard Thompson's father was an alcoholic.
Beeswing or 1952 Vincent Black Lightning are a couple of Richard Thompson's best songs :)
Also Dimming of the Day
Richard was in Fairport Convention, if you remember them back in the day.
Beautiful voice. Good choice Harold👍🏻
Thank you!
They named a retrospective collection of his early work "Watching the Dark" with good reason! Love RT.
Prophetic song about a drunks ongoing inner battle that he seemingly has no control over, indeed a sad song. Great simple presentation focuses on the words rather than the music, sounds Scottish. Great pick Harold!!! You guys are right about his Gordon Lightfoot sound. This could easily be a poem. Much like Leonard Cohen too, love his poetry/songs. Great reaction guys, thx.
To me, the commentator is not sneering at the 'wage slavers, semi detached, pensioned folk' but turning the mirror the other way around. Pointing out how 'they', from their secure, comfort sneer at the drunk his choices . God, in this story, makes no judgement and loves no less and sees value in a drunks desire to free himself from all of the above...for ever and ever, amen. BTW Richard Thompson is a non drinker and a Muslim ;-)
Tremendous guitarist/songwriter/singer.
Another song along the same theme is “Down Where the Drunkards Roll.”
I can picture going down a rabbit hole of his work. Quite the talent that this young man has!
Forever and ever Amen! 🥃
I think this is a hard song to start with if you don't know any RT music because it is so dark and so quintessentially Thompson in construction, tempo and tone. Those of us who have been listening to him for years might forget that his melodies and singing style are not immediately 'getable'.
Many of his songs have more than one narrative voice/world view within them - much like the traditional folk ballads Fairport sang - and the listener has to pick apart the true meaning (if there is one?).
With this song we have to understand who is speaking and when: sometimes it's the drunk justifying himself to himself (as at the end when he asks "are there any pen pushers in heaven?", as if to say "I might be a screw up but my god loves me and will welcome me in heaven unlike those boring, soulless do gooders").
Other times it's the external world/song's narrator speaking, and telling us scathingly that the drunk is a sad individual who wets his pants, falls off his bar stool and makes a fool of himself. Then again, the world can also pity the drunk, who sleeps in the cold rain and begs for money for a beer. Who we are as listeners is, of course, dependent upon our own place in the story of the drunk, and our own human sympathies.
It might be useful to note that Thompson used to drink but has been teetotal for many decades.
I've saw Richard (of Fairport Convention) live about 15 years ago - he's funny and a good entertainer. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" at the 2012 Americana Music Awards ua-cam.com/video/k5V0RkCIaXo/v-deo.html Same dark feel just a little more upbeat. And introducing Red Molly - the perfect color scheme.
I always found it brilliant how Thompson dispels any romance in being a drunk even as he supposedly makes it romantic.
Thompson often makes use of the unreliable narrator, where we're supposed to say to ourselves: 'Wait a second, that's not quite right, is it?'
This was all quite intentional.
I recommend trying out his song 'Sibella.'
ua-cam.com/video/qcrHMRIMpY8/v-deo.html
Exactly this. Thanks.
Richard doesn’t sound anything like Gordon Lightfoot, both great artists. I don’t find Richard depressing at all. His. music is so beautiful at times, so exquisite. And that is what makes it so not depressing. But glad you reacted to one of his songs. He deserves all the attention he can get.
Richard Thompson has a lot of great songs. "Stuck On The Treadmill" is one of my faves.
@Azure Dragon - great song from one of my favourite Thompson albums. I am still trying to work out just exactly what some of them are about - but that's half the fun!!
Three of my favourite tracks from the album are "That's Another Small Thing in her Favour", "The Tic Tac Man" (oh that mandolin and Richard counting himself in at the beginning), and "Will You Dance" - which did not strike me as being anything that great on first listen, but then I listened more carefully to the words and it blew me away.
From North London (Muswell Hill area) but his father was Scottish (A detective in the Metropolitan Police)
Actually quite a religious and spiritual song, as is Down Where the Drunkards Roll, full of Persian and sufi alcohol metaphors for spiritual ecstacy, all based on a single Quranic passage describing the entry of the righteous into heaven which ends "And their lord shall give them to drink a pure drink". Hence the first line of this song.
If you ever get a chance to hear Richard Thompson do the End of the Rainbow, ua-cam.com/video/GTZWXrVWtvg/v-deo.html it makes this song sound uplifting. It is a great song that got voted in at least one poll as the most depressing song ever. If you like upbeat, try richard and Linda Thompson's I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight. A real treat.
Gosh thanks guys - I'm blushing here!
Just to be clear, I don't think this song represents Richard's personal philosophy (he's actually quite a spiritual person), it's more a matter of him trying to get inside the head of a drunk and rehearse all the incoherent arguments, displacements and excuses that he finds there. "God loves a drunk" is an ironic statement: yeah, God loves him, and he's going to be meeting him sooner rather than later at this rate...
Richard Thompson is one of Britain's best kept musical secrets. He started off in Fairport Convention, one of the bands that boosted and re-invented the British folk scene in the late '60s and early '70s, before going independent, first with his wife Linda, then on his own. He's hugely respected by other musicians for both his songwriting and guitar playing and could probably make a living just from the royalties from other people covering his songs. This is one of his darkest songs: many are lighter and more energetic, and he has a great sense of humour, even if it trends towards the dark and ironic too.
BTW, the reason I don't make official Patreon requests is that I don't go on their website much because it doesn't work well for me, with frequent freezes and crashes. The fault almost certainly lies with my ancient PC setup though ("15 years old? Does it run on steam?"), so nothing for you to worry about.
I loved his voice. Really rich timbre. - G
@@MikeandGinger Yeah, I always thought he was from the North-East (Geordie-land-ish) but I was surprised to hear in an interview that he was born and raised in London, but with a Scottish father.
@@MrHws5mp Richard's actually a Muslim, so definitely not his personal philosophy. (Although he was partial to Scotch back in his youth)
This song was written in the style of the old English ballads. All in all, pretty depressing and dark. To get a better slant on this listen to the old Martin Carthy records. God Loves a Drunk is probably not the first song to listen to in the Richard Thompson playlist to get a feeling for his work, although it drops you right into the thick of things. Listen to The End of the Rainbow or Withered and Died for more songs of this style.
Fine choice from your friend Harold. I've been a long time fan of Richard Thompson from Fairport Convention, his work with ex-wife Linda, and solo. Saw him many years ago in Philly, was terrific.
This would have been rougher if you had followed it with Warren Zevon's 'Carmelita'.
Don't get depressed... I open my last Henri Mounier VS for the occasion of this songs walkthrought 😃 Thanks G&M
Yes, hear "1952 Vincent Black Lightning"! RT founded a band called Fairport Convention back in the 1960s, and they recorded an album call Liege and Leif, which the BBC decided was the most important folk album ever made. Nobody complained. He's also an amazing electric guitarist.
Ginger has a good point but the main point is are you better than a drunk in God’s eyes for all your positivity? He loves everyone equally, although I’m an agnostic so I don’t know if god exists but if he does then his love is unconditional. Some people think that living a quiet god fearing life in the suburbs puts then ahead of queue to heaven.
You should check out When the Spell is Broken...Dimming of the Day...Read About Love....Shoot Out the Lights...End of the Rainbow....
You like depressing songs? Try to find Richard Thompson’s “The World Is A Wonderful Place” - it’s a real gut punch.
Ps: listen Richards song Beeswing its sad but sort of on the same theme.
Hi again, I don’t mean to go on, but in cae yo had the impression that Richard’s music was all about dispair, try listening to the album version of It’s Just the Motion or Rainbow Over the Hill, if you can find it.
That minor chord finishing off the chorus makes all the difference between a great song and a Great song.
"Dm. The saddest of chords" 😆
@@bigdaddystinkeye I don't know if my guitar is completely out of tune, but isn't that an Em? (He's got a capo, y'know. Sad enough, anyhoo.)
@@outernothingness1177 It's a joke! Apparently you haven't seen the Spinal Tap movie? 😄
@@bigdaddystinkeye I haven't. I'm an old guy, apparently. But thanks for the update.
@@outernothingness1177 I'm 70.
Richard Thompson is singing this from the point of view of the drunk, not from his own. Listen yo Outside Of The Inside, ehich is sung from the viewpoint of a Taliban soldier.
So Floor Jansen released a cover of Adagio by Lara Fabian... But Dimash Kudaibergen has performed it as well... May I suggest a double reaction? 😁
Richard is a brilliant performer with his band or solo. Voted in the top ten of guitarists. Some of his songs are bitter and truthful, nothing wrong with that. I am biased because I am his 2nd cousin. His Father was Scottish but he is as English as fish and chips.
You didn’t really get the song. The song is turning the tables on sanctimonious people who look down their nose at the likes of a drunkard. It’s telling when someone jumps to defensiveness when they listen to that lyric.
Im waiting for R.T. to come back to the freight & Salvage in berkeley Its benm more then 2 years oh well
hey try to check the video of deden gonzales she's gone (steallheart cover) you will like it
I really can't hear anything of the bitterness you seem to find here. I think the central line of the lyrics is "Does clerking and wage-slaving win you God's love?" And I think it's a question well worthing asking yourself (and anyone around you).
You have completely missed the point of this song.