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.

Died for Love
Richard Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

John Dunblane, Annie Painter, they were true lovers to the end
They grew up together in the streets where no one is your friend
They mixed their heart's blood together, they swore they'd always be true
When Annie left for the summer, she said for now but never adieu
I'd give my life to be with you
Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure
But only lovers die for love

The summer turned into winter but Annie Painter never came
A cold wind blew through the dark town
And it chilled the heart of John Dunblane
He took the road to every city, he sailed to every port of call
He hung his head as tears were falling, he scratched his message on the wall
I'd give my life to be with you
Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure
But only lovers die for love

He was broken, he was crazy, his face was old and cracked with tears
He was dying of the seasons that shook his frame for thirteen years
As he lay sickening by the roadside, a voice came drifting through the air
It was the voice of Annie Painter, she sang a song sweet and clear
I'd give my life to be with you

He went running through the city, he searched for day after day
When he found her she was dying, and all for love of John Dunblane
She said "Forgive my cruel father. He tried to keep me away.
And don't despair for my dying, for this is our wedding day."
I'd give my life to be with you
Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure

But only lovers die for love
Only lovers die for love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Died for Love" by Richard Thompson depict a tragic love story of two people, John Dunblane and Annie Painter. The opening lines of the song introduce these two characters as true lovers who grew up together in an unfriendly street. Thompson suggests that the environment in which they lived didn't provide them with any support system, therefore, making their love stronger. They exchange heart's blood, a symbolic way of saying they have a very strong connection. However, things take a turn for the worse when Annie leaves for the summer and never comes back. John sets out to search for her and spends years traveling through every city and port, looking for any clue of her whereabouts. The entire episode of searching for someone you love so much, with no success, is heart-wrenching and quite relatable.

As the song progresses, John's physical and mental health start to deteriorate. The next lines in the song describe his tired, cracked face as he lies sickening by the roadside. However, the song takes a dramatic turn as Annie's voice comes back to him singing a sweet and clear song. The song is the same one that John Dunblane had said would be his wedding music. With renewed vigor, John continues his search and eventually finds Annie, who is dying. She reveals that her cruel father kept her away from John, but she has always loved him. In spite of knowing that Annie's death is imminent, John is content as he holds her in his arms, knowing that their love has finally won.

"Died for Love" is a heart-warming and heart-breaking song that conveys various emotions. Thompson's choice of words used to describe the pain and yearning in the lyrics, make the song easy to relate to. It reminds listeners of how precious love is and how it can transcend everything, even death.

Line by Line Meaning

John Dunblane, Annie Painter, they were true lovers to the end
John Dunblane and Annie Painter were lovers who remained faithful to each other until the end

They grew up together in the streets where no one is your friend
They were raised in a rough neighbourhood where trust was hard to find

They mixed their heart's blood together, they swore they'd always be true
They had a deep and profound love for each other, and they promised to remain loyal forever

When Annie left for the summer, she said for now but never adieu
Annie left for the summer, but she promised to return

I'd give my life to be with you
The singer is willing to do anything, even die, for the one he loves

Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure
People will risk their lives for various motives, such as wealth or enjoyment

But only lovers die for love
True love is the only reason worth dying for, according to the singer

The summer turned into winter but Annie Painter never came
Annie did not return when she had promised to

A cold wind blew through the dark town And it chilled the heart of John Dunblane
The cold weather and Annie's absence caused John to feel depressed

He took the road to every city, he sailed to every port of call He hung his head as tears were falling, he scratched his message on the wall
John went to great lengths to search for Annie, but he was unable to find her. He was devastated and left a message expressing his sadness

He was broken, he was crazy, his face was old and cracked with tears He was dying of the seasons that shook his frame for thirteen years
John was severely affected by his heartbreak, and it had taken a toll on his physical and mental health

As he lay sickening by the roadside, a voice came drifting through the air It was the voice of Annie Painter, she sang a song sweet and clear
While John was ill by the road, he heard Annie singing nearby

He went running through the city, he searched for day after day When he found her she was dying, and all for love of John Dunblane
John found Annie, but she was on her deathbed because of her love for him

She said 'Forgive my cruel father. He tried to keep me away. And don't despair for my dying, for this is our wedding day.'
Annie's father had kept them apart, but she was happy to die on the day they were reunited, and she asked John to forgive her father

Writer(s): Richard John

Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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