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.

Put It There Pal
Richard Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Old friend, it's been so long, and it's been so real
And if I helped you once it was no big deal
Too bad, I can't be there when they call your name
They're going to write you down in the hall of fame

You really got to what you wanted, I'm thrilled as pie
It really couldn't happen to a nicer guy

Put it there pal, put it there
Now and then just throw me a crumb
Put it there pal, put it there
Thanks for the help when I needed it, chum

You saw me drowning, you said I was a fake and laughed
Then you jumped right in and used me for a raft

You shot me down with friendly fire
You were all dressed up to play gun for hire
The rope you threw me was made of barbed wire
But put it there pal, put it there, pal, put it there

I know you mean well, call me a sentimental fool
I know sometimes you've got to be kind to be cruel
When you pat me on the back, that was quite some slap
That kind of compliment, it could kill a chap

So I'll drink your health, oh, this emotion's given me a thirst
But maybe, I'll have my food taster, drink it first

Put it there pal, put it there
You deserve everything you got coming
Put it there pal, put it there
Call me up if you want to come slumming

Some say, you're a rattlesnake in the grass
But I say the sun shines out of your arse

So it's no hard feelings, live and let live
With a gift like yours, you're born to give
You're so full of love, it leaks out like a sieve

So put it there, pal, put it there, pal
Put it there, put it there

Put it there, put it there, pal
Put it there, pal, put it there, pal

Overall Meaning

The song "Put It There Pal" by Richard Thompson is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to a friend who has betrayed, insulted, and yet ultimately come through for the singer. The lyrics are infused with sarcasm, wit and a certain brand of British humor that Thompson has become known for. The singer is acknowledging the achievement and fame of the friend, but also recalls the hard times when the friend had kicked him when he was down. This friend has been a rattlesnake in the grass and a gun for hire and yet the singer cannot help but be grateful to him.

The song is about the complicated nature of friendship and how it can be fraught with many challenges. The singer in the song is caught between feeling grateful towards his friend and wanting to be wary of him. There is a sense of wistfulness to the lyrics, a feeling that the singer wishes he could be more certain about his friend. Even as he raises a toast to him, there is a sense of doubt that lingers in the background.

Overall, "Put It There Pal" is a song that captures the complexities of human relationships, and the way that even our closest friends can sometimes be our greatest enemies. It is a cautionary tale, but it is also a tribute to the ways in which we can overcome our differences and find common ground.

Line by Line Meaning

Old friend, it's been so long, and it's been so real
It's been a long time since we last met, but our friendship is still strong and true.

And if I helped you once it was no big deal
I didn't do anything special by helping you out, it was just something friends do.

Too bad, I can't be there when they call your name They're going to write you down in the hall of fame
I wish I could be there to see you get recognized for your impressive achievements and contributions.

You really got to what you wanted, I'm thrilled as pie It really couldn't happen to a nicer guy
I'm so happy for you and proud of what you have accomplished, you truly deserve the success.

Put it there pal, put it there Now and then just throw me a crumb Put it there pal, put it there Thanks for the help when I needed it, chum
Let's shake hands as a sign of our friendship, and when you can, do me a favor and help me out like I did for you.

You saw me drowning, you said I was a fake and laughed Then you jumped right in and used me for a raft
You were quick to judge me and made fun of my struggles, but in the end you still came to my rescue.

You shot me down with friendly fire You were all dressed up to play gun for hire The rope you threw me was made of barbed wire But put it there pal, put it there, pal, put it there
You hurt me with your criticism and your help wasn't exactly gentle, but I still value our friendship and want to shake your hand.

I know you mean well, call me a sentimental fool I know sometimes you've got to be kind to be cruel When you pat me on the back, that was quite some slap That kind of compliment, it could kill a chap
I understand you have good intentions but your actions can be harsh. Even your compliments are strong and can be overwhelming.

So I'll drink your health, oh, this emotion's given me a thirst But maybe, I'll have my food taster, drink it first
I want to toast to your success and show my appreciation, but I'm still wary that you might play a trick on me, so I'll take some precautions.

Put it there pal, put it there You deserve everything you got coming Put it there pal, put it there Call me up if you want to come slumming
Let's shake hands to congratulate you on your success, you earned it. And you can always count on me as a friend whether you're on top or not.

Some say, you're a rattlesnake in the grass But I say the sun shines out of your arse
Some people say you're a sneaky and dangerous person, but I disagree and think that you're always shining and exuding positivity.

So it's no hard feelings, live and let live With a gift like yours, you're born to give You're so full of love, it leaks out like a sieve
Let's not hold grudges against each other and move on. I believe that your talent and generosity are innate and come naturally to you.

So put it there, pal, put it there, pal Put it there, put it there Put it there, put it there, pal Put it there, pal, put it there, pal
Let's shake hands and show our friendship several times over, because that's how strong and important it is to both of us.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Ken Soehn

on Love in a Faithless Country

32w

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.