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.
Hard On Me
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why do you grind me small?
Hard on me, hard on me
At every fence I fall
I bite my rage
I stop my breath
I shake my cage
Hard on me, hard on me
Like they were hard on you
Hard on me, hard on me
So I can stumble too
My circuits seize
My senses jam
I don't know who to please
Trapped inside the Wicker Man
You're so hard on me
You're so hard on me
You're so hard on me
Hard on me, hard on me
Why do you grind me small?
Hard on me, hard on me
At every fence I fall
Unzip my heart
Unbraid my veins
Unstitch my wantonness
And loosen up my reins
Before I dare
Go on that hill
In dumb despair
Unfreeze my will
You're so hard on me
You're so hard on me
You're so hard on me
You're so hard on me
The Richard Thompson song "Hard on Me" appears to be a lament about a harsh, unforgiving partner or friend. The lyrical address, with the refrain "hard on me," suggests that the singer is consistently ground down and made to feel small. The question of "why do you grind me small?" implies that the singer feels unfairly targeted by this person's aggression. The line "like they were hard on you, so I can stumble too" suggests that the aggressor is replicating a learned behavior, perhaps from their own past experiences with someone who was hard on them.
The singer's reaction to this treatment is articulated through several metaphors. In the second verse, the line "trapped inside the Wicker Man" evokes the horror film of the same name about a man who slowly burns to death inside a wooden statue, suggesting that the singer is trapped in a situation that is slowly crushing them. The third verse uses a more medical metaphor, with lines like "my circuits seize" and "my senses jam" suggesting that the singer feels beleaguered by the harsh treatment, both mentally and physically. Finally, the final verse offers a plea for release and a desire to regain control over one's own life, with lines like "unbraid my veins" and "unfreeze my will." The repetition of the refrain, "you're so hard on me," throughout the song emphasizes the singer's feeling of helplessness and victimization.
Line by Line Meaning
Hard on me, hard on me
The singer is being subjected to harsh treatment.
Why do you grind me small?
The singer is being reduced in size.
At every fence I fall
The singer is struggling to succeed in life.
I bite my rage
The singer is holding in their anger.
I stop my breath
The singer is restraining themselves.
I shake my cage
The singer feels trapped.
I swim with emptiness
The singer feels hollow inside.
Like they were hard on you
The singer is being treated unfairly, just like someone else has in the past.
So I can stumble too
The singer feels like they are being set up for failure.
My circuits seize
The singer is unable to function properly.
My senses jam
The singer's senses are overwhelmed.
I don't know who to please
The singer is having trouble satisfying others.
Trapped inside the Wicker Man
The singer feels trapped like the character in the movie 'The Wicker Man.'
Unzip my heart
The singer wants to open up emotionally.
Unbraid my veins
The singer wants to release some of the tension they're feeling.
Unstitch my wantonness
The singer wants to let go of their desires.
And loosen up my reins
The singer wants to let go of their control.
Before I dare
The singer is hesitant to do something.
Go on that hill
The singer wants to take on a challenge.
In dumb despair
The singer feels hopeless and helpless.
Unfreeze my will
The singer wants to regain their drive and determination.
You're so hard on me
The singer is feeling mistreated by someone specific.
You're so hard on me
The singer is still feeling mistreated by someone specific.
You're so hard on me
The singer is expressing frustration with the treatment they are receiving.
You're so hard on me
The singer is still expressing frustration with the treatment they are receiving.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pladderkasse
Mock Tudor has to be the greatest unrecognized rock album of all time.
@DHudelson
no one else on this planet who'd play a guitar solo like that.
@dommccaffry3802
Maybe tom verlaine on marquee moon, but yeah richard is my very favourite guitar player
@franknberry6397
My new favorite Richard Thompson song! Fell beneath the radar somehow. Well he does have like a million good songs. Guitar is unbelievable. Live version is incredible too!
@gilesglossop5071
Thompson can do anything better than anyone - this is peerless heavy rock, you couldn't get more brutal. And what a solo. Awesome.
@ragincajun19r
This is my utmost favorite song. The words describes my life while the music reveals my pain & my soul
@pythonprogrammer2186
Dayum! Hella guitar playing on this one.
@el7335
such an underrated song
@zeon40
i really dont know why hes labelled a folk musician he can turn his hand to absolutely anything-immense talent
@maryp9466
How he started, doing British folk, but from the Medieval era to the 19th century. Check out Fairport Convention.