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.
Just the Motion
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember, we sealed it with a golden band?
Now your eyes don't meet mine, you've got a pulse like fever
Do I take you for a lover or just a deceiver?
Simple is simple and plain is plain
If you leave me now you won't come back again
When the game is up, ah, don't renege on our love
No, don't renege on our love
Ah, no, don't renege on our love, don't renege on our love
Well, give me just an ounce of sympathy
Give me my chains of liberty
There's a rope that binds us and I don't want to break it
If love is a healing why should we forsake it
Well, hunger is hunger and need is need
Am I just another mouth to feed
When the game is up, well don't renege on our love
No, don't renege on our love
No, don't renege on our love, don't renege on our love
When my heart breaks it breaks like the weather
If you leave me now it'll thunder forever
Oh, don't give it up, well, well, don't renege on our love
Ah, no, don't renege on our love
No, don't renege on our love, don't renege on our love
Don't renege on our love
The Richard and Linda Thompson song "Just The Motion" is an emotive plea to a partner not to turn away from a relationship. The song is poignantly sung, with heartbreak clearly evident in the lyrics. The song opens with nostalgic memories of a bygone time when the two were in love and their relationship sealed with a golden band. However, there has been a change, and the singer feels that the partner's heart is no longer in the relationship as their eyes do not meet, and the pulse is like fever. The singer is unsure whether the partner is still a lover or now deceptive, betraying the trust they put in them.
The singer pleads for a shred of empathy from their partner, assuring them that they do not want to break the rope that binds them together. Hunger and need are prevalent, and the singer is not sure if they are merely another mouth to feed. The refrain "don't renege on our love" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of fidelity and loyalty in their relationship. The song conveys a genuine sense of desperation, and the singer implores their partner not to renege on their love, to remain connected to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember, when we were hand in hand?
Do you remember the time when we were together and everything was going well?
Remember, we sealed it with a golden band?
Do you remember when we made a commitment to each other?
Now your eyes don't meet mine, you've got a pulse like fever
I can see that something is wrong between us, you seem distant and uninterested.
Do I take you for a lover or just a deceiver?
I'm not sure if you still have feelings for me, or if you're just playing games.
Simple is simple and plain is plain
Sometimes things are exactly as they seem - there is no hidden meaning or complexity.
If you leave me now you won't come back again
If you break up with me, our relationship is over for good.
When the game is up, ah, don't renege on our love
When our relationship has reached its conclusion, please don't abandon our love.
Give me just an ounce of sympathy
Please show me some kindness and understanding.
Give me my chains of liberty
I want to have the freedom to make my own choices, but I need some boundaries to keep our relationship intact.
There's a rope that binds us and I don't want to break it
Our love is a strong connection, and I don't want to do anything to damage it.
If love is a healing why should we forsake it
Love has the power to heal our wounds and make us whole, so why would we give it up?
Am I just another mouth to feed
Do you see me as a burden or an inconvenience, rather than a partner?
When my heart breaks it breaks like the weather
My emotions are intense and unpredictable, like the weather.
If you leave me now it'll thunder forever
If you break up with me, the pain will be so intense that it will never go away.
Oh, don't give it up, well, well, don't renege on our love
Please don't give up on our relationship, and please don't abandon our love.
No, don't renege on our love
I'm begging you not to give up on our love.
Ah, no, don't renege on our love
Please, I'm pleading with you not to abandon our love.
Don't renege on our love
Our love is too important to let go of, please don't abandon it.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD 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.