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.

Patty Don’t You Put Me Down
Richard Thompson Lyrics

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Patty don't tell me one thing and change your mind
We might be in bed together but the deal's not signed
They say you collect shrunken heads, would you like to have mine?
Patty Don't You Put Me Down
Don't colour me cruel
You're so used to skimming the ace and palming the jack
The right hand giving and the left hand taking it back
At society functions they probably give you more slack

Patty Don't You Put Me Down
Don't colour me cruel
You can stamp all you want, but this ain't television
I can't fix it all with a small incision
It's a meltdown you're having, not nuclear fission
There's no room service at the seaman's mission
In your ten watt world it's beyond any pleasure you know
To stick your fingers in the socket, and give yourself a glow
Keep that up and they might make you part of the show

Patty Don't You Put Me Down
Don't colour me cruel

Overall Meaning

In Richard Thompson's song "Patty Don't You Put Me Down," the singer warns Patty not to change her mind after promising something. He expresses his skepticism about her, saying that even if they are in bed together, nothing is final. He mentions that she is rumored to collect shrunken heads and jokes that she can have his, too. He accuses her of being manipulative, always "skimming the ace" and "palming the jack," taking and giving back with each hand. He calls out her behavior at society functions, where she is given more leniency despite her questionable actions. The singer tells Patty not to paint him as cruel, even as he exposes her true character. He warns her that there are limitations to what he can do for her, as she tries to fix her problems. With clever wordplay and metaphors, Thompson conveys a message about trust and human nature.

One interpretation of the lyrics is that there is a power struggle between the two individuals in the relationship. While Patty seems to have the upper hand, the singer warns her not to underestimate him. He suggests that her actions are self-serving and that she is using her charm to manipulate others. Despite this, there is still a sense of attraction between the two, as seen in the line "We might be in bed together but the deal's not signed." The song could be about the toxic nature of relationships, where both parties try to assert their dominance over the other, leading to mistrust and instability.

Line by Line Meaning

Patty don't tell me one thing and change your mind
Don't deceive me, Patty. Don't say one thing and do another.

We might be in bed together but the deal's not signed
Even though we are physically intimate, we have not committed to each other yet.

They say you collect shrunken heads, would you like to have mine?
There are rumors that you collect unusual objects, like shrunken heads. Would you want mine to add to your collection?

Patty Don't You Put Me Down
Don't criticize or belittle me, Patty.

Don't colour me cruel
Don't paint me as a bad person, Patty.

You're so used to skimming the ace and palming the jack
You are skilled at manipulating situations to your advantage.

The right hand giving and the left hand taking it back
You give something with one hand (e.g. kindness), but then take it away with the other (e.g. betrayal).

At society functions they probably give you more slack
People may go easier on you at social events because of your status or charm.

You can stamp all you want, but this ain't television
You can throw a tantrum, but this is real life, not a scripted TV show.

I can't fix it all with a small incision
I can't solve all our problems with a quick and easy fix.

It's a meltdown you're having, not nuclear fission
You are having an emotional meltdown, not a nuclear explosion.

There's no room service at the seaman's mission
Life is not always luxurious and convenient, even if we want it to be.

In your ten watt world it's beyond any pleasure you know
Your limited and shallow worldview cannot comprehend true pleasure.

To stick your fingers in the socket, and give yourself a glow
You are foolishly seeking pleasure that will only hurt you in the end.

Keep that up and they might make you part of the show
If you continue to act recklessly, you may become an object of public entertainment or ridicule.

Patty Don't You Put Me Down
Don't criticize or belittle me, Patty.

Don't colour me cruel
Don't paint me as a bad person, Patty.

Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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