He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.
Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.
A Poisoned Heart and a Twisted Memory
Richard Thompson Lyrics
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You took my pride and you took my dignity
How can I still pretend
To be what a man should be
Well, whatever I say is in a book
Whatever I do there’s someone there to look
You just can’t shake a man
Now is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
Oh, is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
Oh, see that lifer doing his time
If I could have his place and he’d have mine
We’d be no better off
On either side of the line
Well, you took my job and you put me to sleep
You feed me money, you treat me like a creep
Wish I could get away
But I must be in it too deep
Tell me is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
Oh, is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
Well, you tell me you’re going to get in touch
You send me a letter that reads like double Dutch
You say, you’re bound to lose
You’re a little such and such
You got my number, you got my rank
You drained my head, you drained my petrol tank
And when I die of shame
I won’t even know who to thank
Now, now, is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
Oh, is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
The lyrics of Richard Thompson's "A Poisoned Heart and a Twisted Memory" describe a sense of betrayal and powerlessness in the face of manipulative actions of another person towards the singer. It starts with the list of things that the person has taken away from the singer, including his word, key, pride, and dignity. The singer is left wondering how he can still pretend to be a man when he has been so thoroughly undermined. The second verse speaks to how the singer's actions are being scrutinized by someone else, perhaps the person who has taken so much from him. Thompson highlights that the person can't shake the singer as easily as they might want to.
The chorus uses repetition to emphasize the central question of the song - is this the way life is supposed to be? The singer questions the morality of his situation, describing it as a poisoned heart and a twisted memory. In the third verse, Thompson draws a comparison between the singer's experience and that of a prisoner. This comparison serves to highlight the fact that despite their very different situations, both the singer and the prisoner feel trapped and powerless. The fourth verse sees the return of the manipulative person, who sends a letter that is unintelligible and derogatory. The person has taken so much from the singer that he is left feeling drained and ashamed.
Overall, Richard Thompson has crafted a poignant commentary on the nature of power and the ways in which people manipulate one another. The singer is left feeling betrayed and powerless, with little hope of escape. The song is a reminder of the importance of treating others with respect and the dangers of using power to control others.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, you took my word and you took my key
You took away my trust and access to my home
You took my pride and you took my dignity
You stripped me of my self-respect and honor
How can I still pretend
To be what a man should be
I struggle to maintain my masculinity in the face of your actions
Well, whatever I say is in a book
My every move is monitored and documented
Whatever I do there’s someone there to look
I am constantly watched and scrutinized
You just can’t shake a man
The way that I’ve been shook
You have traumatized me in a way that I can't shake off
Now is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
I question if this pain and emotional damage is what a person should experience
Oh, see that lifer doing his time
I see the person serving a long prison sentence
If I could have his place and he’d have mine
I would switch places with him, hoping to escape my situation
We’d be no better off
On either side of the line
Neither of us would be in a better position than before
Well, you took my job and you put me to sleep
You took my employment and made me unproductive
You feed me money, you treat me like a creep
You financially support me, but treat me disrespectfully
Wish I could get away
But I must be in it too deep
I long for escape, but feel trapped in the situation
Tell me is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
I inquire if this is how existence should be, with a damaged psyche and memories
You tell me you’re going to get in touch
You claim you will contact me
You send me a letter that reads like double Dutch
Your letter is incomprehensible or meaningless to me
You say, you’re bound to lose
You’re a little such and such
You predict and insult me as a loser or insignificant person
You got my number, you got my rank
You have accessed and obtained my personal information and status
You drained my head, you drained my petrol tank
You exhausted my mental resources and physical resources
And when I die of shame
I won’t even know who to thank
When I succumb to shame and guilt, I wouldn't know who to attribute it to
Now, now, is this the way it’s supposed to be
Is this the way it’s supposed to be
A poisoned heart and a twisted memory
I repeat my doubt as to whether this way of life is acceptable or normal
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mats Frånlund
He's utterly great! I really like his attitude, non-bullshit thing but with a lot of humor and compassion. This song says lots!
dave williams
Boy, that HAS to be the archetypal Richard Thompson title! What a good antidote to American happy-faced idiocy he is.
Mats Frånlund
Mattacks is such a great drummer, and got a funny style on this song, really sort of calculating the right micro-beat for hitting the snare :-) And Nicol is impressionating a piano sometimes. Pegg seemes relaxed, not these 'Tull tossed-around time signatures here, just an odd thing here and there :-D.
Farmlandsfallfan
Hand of Kindness is a top album but sadly not on Youtube apart from live versions which are wonderful.
Mats Frånlund
Indigo Jo: Pete Thomas on tenor sax. He introduces the band before playing "How I wanted to". Search on YT.
The Momur
One person must be a lifer.