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.
How I Wanted To
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We never tied loose ends
I could never say the words
That would make amends
Oh, how I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to
To say I loved you, to say I loved you
Oh, how I wanted to
From my blue room did you creep
A love too rare to keep
Well, I heard your step
And I turned my head to weep
Oh, how I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to
Say I loved you, say I loved you
Oh, how I wanted to
Oh, how I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to
Say I loved you, to say I loved you
Oh, how I wanted to
Now hearts do what hearts will
And my nights are sleepless still
Well, I never was the one to speak my fill
Oh, how I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to
To say I loved you, ah, to say I loved you
Oh, how I wanted to
Oh, how I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to
Say I loved you, just say I loved you, oh
Oh, how I wanted to
The lyrics to Richard Thompson's "How I Wanted To" show the struggle of unrequited love and the difficulty of expressing true feelings. The singer and their love interest have parted ways, but the singer harbors strong feelings and regrets not being able to express them. The first verse expresses regret for never tying up loose ends and not being able to apologize and make things right. The chorus, "Oh, how I wanted to, to say I loved you," repeats the singer's unfulfilled desire to confess their love.
The second verse adds to the picture of missed opportunities and missed connections. The lover leaves the singer's life, even though their love was too rare to keep. The singer hears the lover's step and turns to weep, expressing the deep sadness and longing felt after the lover has gone. The chorus repeats the desire to say "I loved you," showing that the need for communication of love still persists.
The final verse reveals that the singer still struggles with sleeplessness and unspoken feelings. They were never the type to speak their mind freely, and the chorus repeats the longing to say those three words: "I loved you." The final line, "Oh, how I wanted to," emphasizes the strong desire and regret that permeate the song.
Overall, these lyrics capture the pain and longing of unrequited love and the missed opportunities for communication and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
When we parted just like friends
When we broke up, it was like we were still friends
We never tied loose ends
We didn't resolve our issues before the break up
I could never say the words
I was unable to express my feelings
That would make amends
That would bring us back together
From my blue room did you creep
You snuck into my life unnoticed while I was alone in my room
A love too rare to keep
Our love was special, but it couldn't last
Well, I heard your step
I sensed your presence
And I turned my head to weep
I cried because I knew our love was over
Now hearts do what hearts will
Our emotions guide us
And my nights are sleepless still
I am still bothered by our break up at night
Well, I never was the one to speak my fill
I was never good at expressing my feelings completely
To say I loved you, ah, to say I loved you
I wanted to tell you that I loved you so badly
Say I loved you, just say I loved you
I just wanted to say I love you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Soehn
on Love in a Faithless Country
At a show at the Culch (The Vancouver East Cultural Centre) decades ago, Thompson said the song was inspired by two British serial killers, who seemed to be inspiring each other through the newspapers. Now you know why it sounds so spooky.
Mark Apelman
on Devonside
Not sure what this song means, but I love the feeling of it.