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.
Razor Dance
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comes the catacomb of tongues
Who can spit the meanest venom
From the poison of their lungs
Cruelest dance is the razor dance
Circle in and circle around
He said, she said, she said, he said
The razor dance, the razor dance
This time, gone too far
This time, can't heal the scar
I want to break out of this spin
The gravity's pulling me in
The razor dance, the razor dance
What flies straighter than an arrow?
What cuts deeper than a lance?
Your wit may shine on the withering line
Cruelest dance is the razor dance
The razor dance, the razor dance
Blood boils, tears burn
Some people never learn
If time could crawl back in its shell
And mischievous tongues could untell
But that's not the meaning of hell
Take your partners for the razor dance
Take your partners for the razor dance
Take your partners for the razor dance, the razor dance
The razor dance, the razor dance
The lyrics to Richard Thompson's song Razor Dance speak to the destructive power of words, particularly in the context of a toxic relationship. The opening lines suggest that repeated kisses, while initially pleasurable, can lead to a thousand small betrayals, each of which takes a toll on the relationship. This is followed by a reference to the catacomb of tongues, which speaks to the idea that words, like bones in a cemetery, accumulate over time, building up into a heavy burden that can crush a relationship. The lines "Who can spit the meanest venom / From the poison of their lungs" suggest that the partners in this relationship are using words to hurt each other, and that there is a kind of perverse pleasure in seeing who can come up with the most devastating insult.
The chorus of the song, with its repeated invocation of the razor dance, is particularly effective. The razor dance is both a metaphor for the verbal combat between the two partners, and a kind of sadistic ritual they engage in. The circle they make around each other, trading barbs, is like a dance, but it is one that is intended to wound rather than to delight. The lines "He said, she said, she said, he said / Thrill to put the other one down" suggest that both partners in this relationship are equally complicit in the violence they are inflicting on each other. The singer seems to be suggesting that this kind of relationship can spiral out of control, leaving scars that cannot be easily healed.
Line by Line Meaning
After the death of a thousand kisses
After the end of many romantic encounters
Comes the catacomb of tongues
Then comes a time of harsh words and rumors
Who can spit the meanest venom
Who can insult others the most
From the poison of their lungs
Using their own cruel thoughts against others
Cruelest dance is the razor dance
The most painful social interaction is a verbal argument
Circle in and circle around
Going back and forth in a never-ending argument
He said, she said, she said, he said
Pointing fingers and blame-shifting
Thrill to put the other one down
Enjoyment at another's expense
This time, gone too far
This particular fight is out of control
This time, can't heal the scar
This argument has caused irrevocable damage and cannot be undone
I want to break out of this spin
Desire to escape from this cycle of arguments
The gravity's pulling me in
Being emotionally and mentally sucked into the argument
What flies straighter than an arrow?
What is more direct and precise than a weapon?
What cuts deeper than a lance?
What causes more emotional pain than a physical weapon?
Your wit may shine on the withering line
Your clever insults may cause emotional damage to another
Blood boils, tears burn
Anger and sadness are the result of this argument
Some people never learn
Some individuals don't know how to stop arguing
If time could crawl back in its shell
If time could be reversed
And mischievous tongues could untell
And the rumors could be taken back
But that's not the meaning of hell
Unfortunately, that can't be done, and that's not what hell is
Take your partners for the razor dance
Get ready for another emotional argument
Take your partners for the razor dance
Prepare yourself for another round of verbal sparring
Take your partners for the razor dance, the razor dance
Get ready for another painful argument
The razor dance, the razor dance
The never-ending cycle of arguing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN 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.