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.
It Won't Be Long
Richard Thompson Lyrics
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It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long yeah, till I belong to you
Every night when everybody has fun
Here am I sitting all on my own
It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long yeah, till I belong to you
Since you left me, I'm so alone
Now you're coming, you're coming on home
I'll be good like I know I should
You're coming home, you're coming home
Every night the tears come down from my eyes
Every day I've done nothing but cry
It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long yeah, till I belong to you
Since you left me, I'm so alone
Now you're coming, you're coming on home
I'll be good like I know I should
You're coming home, you're coming home
So every day we'll be happy I know
Not I know that you won't leave me no more
It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long yeah, yeah
It won't be long yeah, till I belong to you, woo
The lyrics to Richard Thompson's song "It Won't Be Long" express the singer's longing for a lover who has been absent from his life. The repetition of the phrase "It won't be long" is a hopeful assertion that their reunion is imminent. The singer expresses his loneliness in the opening line of the second verse, contrasting his solitude with others who are having fun. He describes how he has been crying every day and night since his lover left him but hopes that they will be happy together now that they are reuniting.
The lyrics also include a promise from the singer that he will be good and make things work between them. The lyrics express a deep devotion and commitment to the relationship that the singer hopes will be reciprocated by his lover. The phrase "till I belong to you" suggests that the singer feels incomplete without his lover and is looking forward to being reunited with them.
Overall, the lyrics to "It Won't Be Long" capture the pain of separation and the hope for a happy future together. The repetition of the central phrase emphasizes the singer's optimistic outlook, despite the difficult times he has endured.
Line by Line Meaning
It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah
I am eagerly waiting for the day when you belong to me, and it won't take much longer.
It won't be long yeah, till I belong to you
I'm certain that soon we'll be together and I'll belong to you.
Every night when everybody has fun
While others are having fun, I'm alone with my thoughts every night.
Here am I sitting all on my own
I am sitting alone with my thoughts and feelings.
Since you left me, I'm so alone
Ever since you left, I've been feeling a profound sense of loneliness and sadness.
Now you're coming, you're coming on home
I'm happy you're on your way back home to me.
I'll be good like I know I should
I promise to be good and to do right by you.
Every night the tears come down from my eyes
Every night I cry for you and the love we lost.
Every day I've done nothing but cry
Every day I am overwhelmed with sadness and tears.
So every day we'll be happy I know
Once we are together, I know we will be happy every day.
Not I know that you won't leave me no more
I know you won't leave me again, and I am confident in our future happiness.
It won't be long yeah, yeah
It won't be much longer until we are together.
It won't be long yeah, till I belong to you, woo
Soon, we will be reunited and I can't wait to belong to you once again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERMAINE A. COLE, JERMAINE L. COLE
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.