The Thompsons recorded three albums I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974), Hokey Pokey (1975) and Pour Down Like Silver (1975) before they decided to leave the music business and moved to a Sufi commune in East Anglia. Songwriting was by Richard throughout, lead vocals generally by Linda,and backing by a consistent core band of English folk-rock stalwarts
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight showed a clear development from Richard Thompson's first solo effort Henry The Human Fly with Linda's vocals adding grace, as well as the opportunity for Richard to write from a female perspective. Although Thompson's trademark gloom is already evident, the lightness and beauty of the arrangements counterbalances this to produce moments of great beauty. The use of brass, from the renowned CWS silver band in particular takes forward Thompson's continuing crusade to find a more contemporary and ordinary expression of Englishness in music,(as opposed to say the forays into the Morris form of his Fairport contemporary Ashley Hutchings, solo and with The Albion Band). The next year's release, Hokey Pokey to some extent repeats the formula, although it is improved in production values, and is stylistically more adventurous still. A Heart Needs a Home is a minor miracle of songwriting, expressing the longing for love without cynicism and has a standout multi-tracked vocal from Linda.
Pour Down Like Silver extended the reach of Richard and Linda's music, and without the occasional weaker tracks of the preceding releases. Here in the writing cynicism is balanced with humour, (Hard Luck Stories, Streets of Paradise), and love and need is expressed directly, and to touching effect ( Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair, Beat the Retreat). The impact of Sufism on their lives is expressed in Night Comes In, which borrows imagery from Sufi mystic poetry, and the practice of finding union with the Spirit through dance. The playing, arrangements and production are uniformly excellent throughout.
In 1978, Thompson decided to take his family out of the commune and go back to their old home in Hampstead. He also decided to return to making music, partly because, as he commented at the time, he'd come to realise "that [he] wasn't really any good at anything else".
Re-uniting the core band, the resulting album, First Light was warmly received by the critics but did not sell particularly well. Neither did its follow up, 1979's harder-edged and more cynical Sunnyvista. Chrysalis Records did not take up their option to renew the contract, and the Thompsons found themselves without a contract, but not without admirers.
About a year later Joe Boyd signed the Thompsons to his small Hannibal label and a new album was recorded. Shoot Out the Lights included new recordings of many of the songs recorded in 1980, and was clearly a very strong album. Linda Thompson was pregnant during the sessions, and so the album's release was held back until the Thompsons could tour in support of the new album. Linda's pregnancy also meant that she did not sing on all of the songs.
On its release in 1982, Shoot Out the Lights was lauded by critics and sold fairly well - especially in the USA. The Thompsons, now a couple for professional purposes only, toured the USA to support the album and then went their separate ways. Both the album and their live shows were well received by the American media, and Shoot Out the Lights effectively relaunched their career - just as their marriage was falling apart.
As against the first phase of their career, this last offering is sparer, without the instrumental augmentation that characterized the earlier albums, much more rock orientated, and altogether more ferocious. Although Thompson in interviews has always resisted over-personal interpretations of his songs, it is difficult not to see in its energy, tone and themes the difficulties of the final stages of the Thompson's marriage, transmuted into musical gold.
Man in Need
Richard & Linda Thompson Lyrics
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Left my dependents a-lying still
Just as the dawn was rising up
I was making good speed
I left a letter lying on the bed
From a man in need, it read
You know it's so hard,
Well, well, well.
Who's going to cure the heart of a man in need?
All of my friends don't comprehend me
Their kind of style it just offends me
I want to take 'em, I want to shake 'em
'Till they pay me some heed
Oh, you've got to ride in one direction
Until you find the right connection
You know it's so hard,
So, so, so, so
Well, well.
Who's going to cure the heart of a man in need?
Who's going to give you real happiness?
Who's going to give you contentedness?
Who's going to lead you? Who's going to feed you?
And cut you free?
Well I've sailed every ship in the sea
But I traveled this world in misery
You know it's so hard,
So hard, so hard
Well, well.
Who's going to cure the heart of a man in need?
Well who's going to shoe your feet?
Ah who's going to pay your rent?
And who's going to stand by you?
Well, well, well, well
Who's going to cure the heart of a man in need?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Of a man in need
The song "Man in Need" by Richard & Linda Thompson tells the story of a man who leaves everything behind and hits the road. He leaves a note for his dependents, admitting that he is an impulsive man who needs help. He feels alienated from his friends, who do not understand him and their lifestyle is not compatible with his. He seeks someone who can cure his heart and provide him with real happiness and contentedness. He has sailed every ship in the sea but encountered only misery in his travels.
The lyrics depict a man who is lost and searching for someone to cure the emptiness in his heart. The repetition of the question, "Who's going to cure the heart of a man in need?" underscores his desperation and loneliness. The lyrics also suggest that contentedness and happiness come from having relationships with people who provide support and love. In the end, the man is not looking for material goods, but for someone who can "stand by" him and "cut [him] free" from his troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
I packed my rags, went down the hill
I left my current situation, which was not good or comfortable for me.
Left my dependents a-lying still
I abandoned those who depended on me, even though they were still waiting for me.
Just as the dawn was rising up
I left early in the morning, as the sun was coming up.
I was making good speed
I was moving quickly and efficiently towards my destination.
I left a letter lying on the bed
I left a message behind for those I left, to explain why I had to leave.
From a man in need, it read
The message came from me, a person who was desperate and lacking something necessary.
You know it's so hard,
Life is very difficult.
It's so hard to find
It's very difficult to locate something important.
Well, well, well.
An expression of surprise or resignation.
Who's going to cure the heart of a man in need?
Who will be able to heal the emotional wounds of someone who is lacking and desperate?
All of my friends don't comprehend me
I feel disconnected from the people who used to be close to me because they don't seem to understand me.
Their kind of style it just offends me
Their way of life is not appealing or acceptable to me; it actually bothers me.
I want to take 'em, I want to shake 'em
I want to grab them and make them understand where I'm coming from and why I feel the way I do.
'Till they pay me some heed
Until they start taking me seriously and listen to what I have to say.
Oh, you've got to ride in one direction
You have to keep going in one path, without diverting, to reach your destination or find what you're looking for.
Until you find the right connection
Until you find the right group or individual who will understand you and provide you with what you need.
Who's going to give you real happiness?
Who will be able to provide genuine fulfillment and joy?
Who's going to give you contentedness?
Who will be able to provide a feeling of satisfaction and peace with life?
Who's going to lead you? Who's going to feed you?
Who will give you guidance and support, help you along your journey, and give you sustenance?
And cut you free?
And help you break free from the things that are holding you back and trapping you.
Well I've sailed every ship in the sea
I have tried everything, every option out there, but nothing has worked so far.
But I traveled this world in misery
Despite trying everything, I am still not happy and satisfied with my life.
Who's going to shoe your feet?
Who will provide you with the comfortable things you need for your everyday life?
Ah who's going to pay your rent?
Who will pay for your basic needs and give you a place to live?
And who's going to stand by you?
Who will support you and be there for you in good times and bad?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
A sound used to emphasize a feeling or emotion.
Of a man in need
Referring back to the original theme of the song, the line emphasizes the desperate circumstances of the singer.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind