His albums include: "Prussian Blue" (1973)"Girls on the Avenue" (1975) "Main Street Jive" 1976 "Goodbye Tiger" 1977, "Past Hits and Previews" 1978 "Hearts on the Nightline" 1979 "Dark Spaces" 1980 "The Great Escape" 1982 "Solidarity" 1984 "Glory Road" 1987 "The Best Years of Our Lives" 1989 "Distant Thunder" 1993 "Angeltown" 1995, "Diamond Mine" 2004 and "Rewired" 2006.
Although not well-known outside Australia, a number of his songs such as "Girls On The Avenue", "Capricorn Dancer", "Deep Water", "Lucky Country", "The Best Years of Our Lives", and "I Am an Island" are staples of FM radio playlists in Australia.
The early 1970s are often regarded as a stagnant time for Australian rock music. In this context, the emergence of Richard Clapton as a talented and ambitious songwriter in the "troubadour" tradition of, for instance, Neil Young and Jackson Browne (both of whom later expressed their admiration for Clapton) was refreshing. Although no hit singles were on his first album, "Prussian Blue", by the time of his second album, "Girls on the Avenue," Clapton enjoyed a reasonable amount of mainstream success, with the title song from the album reaching #2 spot on the Australian top 40 charts. Clapton's first five albums were produced by Richard Batchens.
At the times of its release, "Goodbye Tiger" was one of the most critically acclaimed albums an Australian artist had produced. It was produced by Richard Batchens, who was one of the most prominent and successful producers of the era.(See articles collected on the fan site linked below for confirmation of this). Many Clapton fans continue to regard this notably melancholic record as Clapton's masterpiece.
Thereafter, Clapton played less of a central role in the music industry; although "The Great Escape" (featuring contributions from members of Cold Chisel and INXS) sold strongly and contained memorable singles in "I Am an Island" and "The Best Years of Our Life." During the early 1980s he was acknowledged as a mentor to several bands emerging from the then vigorous pub-rock scene, in particular INXS whose second LP, Underneath the Colours he produced.
On a 2006 album, Rewired, recorded at his home studio, Clapton produced "unplugged" acoustic versions of his early songs. This album contains many early Clapton Gems that have been reworked to fit in with the acoustic vibe of the album.
(From the Wikipedia entry for Richard Clapton)
I fought the law
Richard Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breakin' rocks in the ... hot sun
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I needed money, 'cause I ... had none
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
Well, she's the best girl ... I've ever had
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
(Instrumental Break)
Robbin' people with a . . . SIX gun
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I miss my baby and the ... good fun
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
But, she's the best girl ... I've ever had
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
Richard Clapton's song I Fought The Law is a cover of The Bobby Fuller Four's popular song. The lyrics tell the story of a man named Curtis, who is in a difficult financial situation and decides to break the law to get some money. The first verse mentions him breaking rocks under the hot sun, which could be a reference to prison labor. The chorus repeats that Curtis fought the law but ultimately lost, emphasizing the power of the law and the consequences of breaking it.
In the second verse, Curtis mentions leaving his girlfriend behind and feeling regretful for his actions. He describes her as the best girl he's ever had, adding a personal touch to the story. The song then shifts to a more violent tone as Curtis is now robbing people with a six-gun. The third verse repeats the same emotions as the second, emphasizing his regret and loss while highlighting his criminal actions. The chorus ends with a reminder that he fought the law, but ultimately it won.
Overall, the lyrics of I Fought The Law showcase the consequences of breaking the law and the importance of owning up to one's actions. The personal touches, such as the mention of his girlfriend, add a human element to the story and show the emotions that come with making difficult decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I was working hard and suffering in the heat
I Fought the Law and the law won
I couldn't beat the system and ended up losing
I needed money, 'cause I had none
I was desperate for cash because I was broke
I left my baby and I feel so bad
Leaving my loved one was painful and I regret it
I guess my race is run
It seems like my luck has run out and my time is up
Well, she's the best girl I've ever had
My baby is the most special person I've been with
Robbin' people with a SIX gun
I was using a deadly weapon to steal from others
I miss my baby and the good fun
I long for my lover and the happy times we had
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.