Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British singer/songwriter and guitarist. Highly regarded for his guitar techniques, Thompson was awarded the Orville H. Gibson award for best acoustic guitar player in 1991. Similarly, his songwriting has earned him an Ivor Novello Award and, in 2006, a lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio. Thompson made his debut as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in September 1967. He left the group in 1971 and began recording with his wife as Richard & Linda Thompson, before their marriage dissolved in 1983. Since then, Thompson has maintained a critically-acclaimed solo career.

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.

Burning Man
Richard Thompson Lyrics

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Out there in the desert air
Penguin meets the polar bear
Hey ho pilgrim
Light the precious flame

Burning Man with flames for eyes
Burning Man lights up the skies
Hey ho pilgrim

Anarchy's the game

And I'll care for you
For a day or two
Strangers meeting in the darkness
Underneath the arch of wheels
Funny how it heals

Gatherin' from all around
Gather at the sacred ground
Hey ho pilgrim
Spin the wheel of sin

Mad Max and hulks of rust
Out there in the desert dust
Hey ho pilgrim
Without you and within

And give me bread
And I'll give you wine
Dragon cars and silver walkers
Wear the art and build the shrine
Yours and mine

Out there in the desert air
Penguin meets the polar bear
Hey ho pilgrim
Light the precious flame

Burning Man with flames for eyes
Burning Man lights up the skies

Hey ho pilgrim
Anarchy's the game

Overall Meaning

The song Burning Man by Richard Thompson seems to be an ode to the annual Burning Man festival that takes place in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada, United States. The first verse of the song talks about the unlikely meeting of a penguin and a polar bear, which could be a metaphor for the unlikely gathering of people from all over the world at the Burning Man festival. The chorus speaks of the Burning Man, who has flames for eyes and lights up the sky. The Burning Man could be a representation of the burning effigy that takes place at the festival, which is the culmination of the event. The line "Anarchy's the game" is a reference to the fact that the Burning Man festival is known for being a space for self-expression, radical self-reliance, and experimental community.

The second verse speaks of strangers meeting in the darkness underneath the arch of wheels. This could refer to the various art installations at the festival, which are often made of car parts or other industrial materials. The line "Funny how it heals" could be a reference to the healing power of the community that comes together at the festival. The third verse seems to reference the Mad Max-style vehicles that are a common sight at Burning Man. The line "Without you and within" suggests that the experience of the festival is both internal and external.

Line by Line Meaning

Out there in the desert air
The song is set in a remote area where anything can happen.

Penguin meets the polar bear
People from different parts of the world, with distinct backgrounds and cultures, gather together at this place.

Hey ho pilgrim
An exclamation to greet people who are making a spiritual journey to the place.

Light the precious flame
Start the ritual that is central to the event.

Burning Man with flames for eyes
A description of the central effigy that is burned at the end of the event.

Burning Man lights up the skies
The burning effigy creates a spectacular display that lights up the night sky.

Hey ho pilgrim
Another reminder of the purpose of the event.

Anarchy's the game
The event is characterized by a lack of rules and restrictions which allows for radical self-expression.

And I'll care for you
The artist promises to take care of someone in this vast and inhospitable environment.

For a day or two
The promise is only good for a limited time since people come and go quickly at the event.

Strangers meeting in the darkness
The event is a place where people can form new connections and bonds with those they've just met.

Underneath the arch of wheels
A reference to the temporary structures built at the event using bicycles and other wheeled vehicles.

Funny how it heals
Being surrounded by open-minded and accepting individuals can have a therapeutic effect.

Gatherin' from all around
People come from all over the world to attend the event.

Gather at the sacred ground
The place where the event takes place is considered to be holy by its attendees.

Spin the wheel of sin
Take risks and do things you wouldn't normally do in a controlled environment.

Mad Max and hulks of rust
A reference to the post-apocalyptic world of the Mad Max films which is evocative of the environment at the event.

Out there in the desert dust
The event takes place in a remote area that is prone to dust storms.

Without you and within
One can have a transformative experience at the event even though they may still feel isolated and alone.

And give me bread
A plea for basic sustenance in this challenging environment.

And I'll give you wine
A promise to help provide the basic necessities of life in exchange for companionship.

Dragon cars and silver walkers
The art cars and sculptures at the event are creative and unusual, symbolizing the spirit of the event.

Wear the art and build the shrine
Participate in the event by wearing unique clothing or costumes and building art installations to add to the atmosphere.

Yours and mine
Everyone at the event is encouraged to be a part of it and contribute in their own way.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD THOMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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