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.

Ill Tag Along
Richard Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don’t mind me, friend of a friend
Bent the key to my lost weekend
Don’t mind me, along for the ride
Diz, the gas man says, it’s all right

Tag along
I get a taste of things
Flap my little wings

I’ll tag along

You could be my kind of crowd
A little bit edgy, a little bit loud
I test the water, I feel the heat
Before I jump in with both feet

I’ll tag along
I keep out of your hair
You’ll hardly know I’m there
I’ll tag along

Love those swirly whirly lights
Love that girl with the rips down her tights
Might have to hurl when the Molotov bites
I’ll tag along

I didn’t do it, it wasn’t me
I was at the back, invisible, see?
I’m a 100 per cent and that’s a fact
You can ask Diz, I’ll be right back

I’ll tag along
And get a taste of things
And flap my little wings
I’ll tag along

Light fantastic, pop a few
My brain’s elastic, appetite too
Cash or plastic? I’d kill for the loo
I’ll tag along

I’ll tag along
I’ll tag along

Overall Meaning

"I'll Tag Along" by Richard Thompson is a song about a friend of a friend who wants to join in on the activities of the singer. The singer, who doesn't seem to be excited about the idea, sings about tagging along and being a part of the crowd. The opening lines "Don't mind me, friend of a friend" set the tone for the song. The singer seems to be allowing the friend of a friend to tag along but isn't too thrilled about it. The line "Bent the key to my lost weekend" suggests that the singer was looking forward to having some alone time or enjoying things in their own way.

The chorus "I'll tag along, I get a taste of things, flap my little wings, I'll tag along" describes the singer's mindset. They seem to be a follower rather than a leader, and instead of making their own decisions, they want to go with the flow. The singer also talks about testing the waters before jumping in and being cautious before committing completely. The final lines suggest that the singer wants to be a part of the group but doesn't want to be too noticeable or cause any trouble.

Line by Line Meaning

Don’t mind me, friend of a friend
I don't want to bother anyone, I'm just an acquaintance of an acquaintance

Bent the key to my lost weekend
I messed up and ruined my plans for the weekend

Don’t mind me, along for the ride
I'll just go with the flow and not get in the way

Diz, the gas man says, it’s all right
I have permission to be here from Diz, the gas man

Tag along
I want to come with and see what's happening

I get a taste of things
I experience some of the excitement and energy

Flap my little wings
I get a small thrill

You could be my kind of crowd
You all seem like fun people to be around

A little bit edgy, a little bit loud
You have a wild and unpredictable energy

I test the water, I feel the heat
I'm cautious at first, but I'm curious

Before I jump in with both feet
I want to make sure it's safe and I won't regret it

I keep out of your hair
I won't be a burden or cause any trouble

You’ll hardly know I’m there
I'll be quiet and unobtrusive

Love those swirly whirly lights
I'm enjoying the psychedelic ambiance

Love that girl with the rips down her tights
I'm attracted to the rebellious and unconventional girl

Might have to hurl when the Molotov bites
The intensity of the situation might make me feel ill

I didn’t do it, it wasn’t me
I want to avoid any blame or responsibility

I was at the back, invisible, see?
I stayed out of the way and was hardly noticed

I’m a 100 per cent and that’s a fact
I'm completely sure of myself and my actions

And get a taste of things
I want to experience the excitement

And flap my little wings
I get a small thrill

Light fantastic, pop a few
The colorful lights are amazing, and I'll drink a little bit

My brain’s elastic, appetite too
The experience is stimulating and my body feels good

Cash or plastic? I’d kill for the loo
I need to use the bathroom and I'll pay any price

I’ll tag along
I'll stick around and enjoy the ride

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD THOMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@billchurch1145

Great song to play along with on rhythm guitar!

@glennstraw1672

Damn great guitar player

@sidDkid87

4y↑2

"you'll hardly know I'm there" 🎶

just now