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.
Francesca
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who shook the stars from her eyes
Who took the shine
Made water out of wine
And left her alone in the world
Who put a cloak round her soul
Who put a cloak round her soul
That glittered in her eyes
And left her the fool of the world
O Francesca
Who's going to save you now
O Francesca
Who's going to save you now
It takes guts to put your hand up
To risk it all and stand up to the
Tongue twisters
Campaign of whispers
Who dragged her name
through the dirt
Who dragged her name
through the dirt
Trampled it down
Burned it to the ground
Left her the orphan of the world
Who put that twist in her vows
Who put that twist in her vows
Who took her speech
Bent it out of reach
Put out the light of the world
Who laid her down, took her rose
Who laid her down, took her rose
Who took her flower
Now she charges by the hour
Left her the whore of the world
The lyrics of Richard Thompson’s song Francesca depict the story of a woman who has been left alone, shattered and betrayed by the people around her. The first stanza talks about someone who took away the shine from her eyes, and left her alone in the world. This is followed by another stanza, which talks about someone who put a cloak around her soul, stole the prize that glittered in her eyes, and made her the fool of the world. As the song progresses, we see the singer being repeatedly accused of having committed adultery, which has left her reputation tarnished and her dignity in shambles. Finally, she is left with no option but to become a prostitute to fend for herself, which is depicted in the last line of the song where the man took her flower and left her charging by the hour, making her the whore of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Who shook the stars from her eyes
Who robbed her of wonder and awe, stripped her of her childlike innocence.
Who took the shine / Made water out of wine / And left her alone in the world
Who sapped her joy and optimism, turned something precious into something worthless, and abandoned her in despair.
Who put a cloak round her soul
Who stifled her spirit, suffocated her vitality with a heavy burden.
Who stole the prize / That glittered in her eyes / And left her the fool of the world
Who robbed her of the thing she valued most, mocked her for her passion, and made her an object of ridicule.
O Francesca / Who's going to save you now
Oh Francesca, who will rescue you from this misery?
It takes guts to put your hand up / To risk it all and stand up to the / Tongue twisters / Campaign of whispers
It takes courage to speak up, to challenge the malicious gossip and slander that plagues her.
Who dragged her name / through the dirt / Trampled it down / Burned it to the ground / Left her the orphan of the world
Who defamed her character, crushed her reputation, and made her an outcast in society.
Who put that twist in her vows / Who took her speech / Bent it out of reach / Put out the light of the world
Who distorted her words, twisted her intentions, and extinguished her voice in the world.
Who laid her down, took her rose / Who took her flower / Now she charges by the hour / Left her the whore of the world
Who deflowered her, stripped her of her dignity and self-worth, and reduced her to a commodity for hire.
Contributed by Jack J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Romy Animal Advocate
Great tune, RT!
Simon Ferguson
Who shook the stars from her eyes
Who shook the stars from her eyes
Who took the shine
Made water out of wine
And left her alone in the world
Who put a cloak round her soul
Who put a cloak round her soul
Who stole the prize
That glittered in her eyes
And left her the fool of the world
O Francesca
Who's going to save you now
O Francesca
Who's going to save you now
It takes guts to put your hand up
To risk it all and stand up to the
Tongue twisters
Campaign of whispers
Who dragged her name
Through the dirt
Who dragged her name
Through the dirt
Trampled it down
Burned it to the ground
Left her the orphan of the world
Who put that twist in her vows
Who put that twist in her vows
Who took her speech
Bent it out of reach
Put out the light of the world
Who laid her down, took her rose
Who laid her down, took her rose
Who took her flower
Now she charges by the hour
Left her the whore of the world