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 Sailor's Life
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He robs young girls of their hearts' delight,
Leaving them behind to weep and mourn,
They never know when they will return.
Well, there's four and twenty all in a row
My true love he makes the finest show.
He's proper tall, genteel and all,
Oh father, build for me a bonny boat,
That on the wide ocean I may float
And every Queen's ship that we pass by,
There I'll enquire for my sailor boy
They had not sailed long on the deep
When a Queen's ship they chanced to meet.
"You sailors all, pray tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail among your crew?"
"Oh no, fair maiden, he is not here
For he's been drownded we greatly fear
On yon green island as we passed it by,
There we lost sight of your sailor boy."
Well, she wrung her hands and she tore her hair.
She was like a young girl in great despair.
And her little boat against a rock did run.
"How can I live now my sweet William is gone?"
"A Sailor's Life" by Richard Thompson is a traditional tale of a sailor's life and the women left behind. The first two stanzas tell of the merry life of a sailor as he takes the hearts of young girls who are left to weep for their return. The third stanza is sung by a woman who wants her father to build her a boat so she can go out to find her sailor boy. The fourth stanza tells of the encounter with the Queen's ship where she asks if they have seen her sweet William. Sadly, she is told that he has been drowned on a green island. The final stanza describes the woman's reaction to the news of William's death, as she wrecks her boat against a rock.
The song speaks to the separation and loneliness that is inherent in sailors' lives, but also to the love and devotion that is maintained despite the treacherousness of the sea. The call for a father to build a boat for the woman to search for her sailor is an emotional plea for the restoration of love and emotional well-being. The sorrow felt by the woman at the news of William's death only serves to exemplify the magnitude of that love.
Line by Line Meaning
A sailor's life, it is a merry life.
Being a sailor seems like a fun life to live.
He robs young girls of their hearts' delight,
Sailors flirt with girls and break their hearts.
Leaving them behind to weep and mourn,
Sailors leave the girls sad and upset.
They never know when they will return.
Girls never know when the sailors will come back.
Well, there's four and twenty all in a row
There are many sailors all lined up.
My true love he makes the finest show.
My boyfriend is the best looking of them all.
He's proper tall, genteel and all,
He is very tall and polite.
And if I don't have him, I'll have none at all.
If I can't have him, I won't have anyone.
Oh father, build for me a bonny boat,
Father, make me a beautiful boat.
That on the wide ocean I may float
So I can sail on the wide ocean.
And every Queen's ship that we pass by,
And whenever we see a Queen's ship,
There I'll enquire for my sailor boy
I'll ask if anyone has seen my sailor boyfriend.
They had not sailed long on the deep
They had only been sailing for a short time.
When a Queen's ship they chanced to meet.
When they happened to come across a Queen's ship.
"You sailors all, pray tell me true,
"Can you sailors please tell me if my boyfriend is with you,
Does my sweet William sail among your crew?"
Is my sweet William on your ship?"
"Oh no, fair maiden, he is not here
"No, he is not here,
For he's been drownded we greatly fear
We're afraid he drowned
On yon green island as we passed it by,
On a green island as we were passing by,
There we lost sight of your sailor boy."
We lost sight of him there."
Well, she wrung her hands and she tore her hair.
The girl was very upset and started to cry.
She was like a young girl in great despair.
She was like a young girl who was extremely upset.
And her little boat against a rock did run.
Her small boat crashed into a rock.
"How can I live now my sweet William is gone?"
"How can I go on living without my sweet William?"
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TRADITIONAL, ASHLEY HUTCHINGS, DAVID MATTACKS, EDDIE UPTON, GRAEME TAYLOR, JOHN RODD, JOHN SOTHCOTT, JOHN TAMS, MICHAEL GREGORY, PHIL PICKETT, SHIRLEY COLLINS, SIMON JOHN NICOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tim Skelton
Doesn't have to be 'better' or 'worse'. Its just enough to have 2 brilliant versions of this.
Joseph Leiper
Wow. Album version perhaps more "realized" and jam a bit more intense, but this is great. Although I prefer Denny's phrasing on album, Thompson's solo here is superb; Verlaine would have been thrilled to cop it note-for-note. And Lamble...what a talent!
Rich Horton
This really is a version where all the players distinguish themselves. We take Thompson's amazing playing for granted -- and Denny's singing -- there's no comparison. But Hutchings' bass and Lamble's drums are astounding, and Nicol's guitar is also excellent. I do miss the front and center fiddle though.
Jesús Quintero Mena
Superior to the original version. This cd box set was my introduction to Richard Thompson. Thanks for sharing!!
timskelton1
Simon Nicol's hypnotic rhythm playing shows what an underestimated guitarist he was/is
Joseph Leiper
Yes! Mesmerizing tone.
This recording is in my Pantheon. Find me harder electric guitars; Hutchings and Lamble cook. Check out Denny's solo BBC on YT. Heavyweight band.
helen bedd
i'm here because martin lamble would have been 65 today....a truly great performance
Michael Gask
I'm a bit late chancing on your comment, but totally agree. 🔥
Teddyb1939
Martin fabulous.
also known as loofagourd Dalgreneth
byby d yy