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.
Row Boys Row
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don’t wait for the whip to crack and row, boys, row
Is it wise to be moaning when the captain comes?
Tip your hat and get grinning though you’re worn to the gums
Is it wise to be needy in the land of the free?
Is it wise to be bleeding in a shark-filled sea?
Should have read the small print
Save my soul, save my soul
I’m chained below, chained below
Carving sailors little keepsakes
Out of teeth and nails and driftwood
Got to keep the old ship moving
Ploughing through the Sea of Cortez
Living skeletons for neighbors
Hear the Bo sun, beat the drum and row, boys, row
Slavery till kingdom come and row, boys, row
Is it wise to be asking for a morsel more
When you see what they done to them what asked before?
Is it wise to be kneeling with your arse poking free?
Is it wise to be bleeding in a shark-filled sea?
Richard Thompson’s song Row is a haunting and powerful criticism of the slave trade. The lyrics describe the harsh reality of life for slaves on the ships, rowing through the shark-filled sea. The refrain of “row, boys, row” is a constant reminder of the never-ending work that the slaves had to endure. The opening lines of the song, “Feel that sting across your back and row, boys, row, Don’t wait for the whip to crack and row, boys, row” paint a vivid picture of the brutality of the slave masters, and the fear that the slaves had to live with every day.
As the song goes on, the lyrics become more and more critical of the injustice of slavery. Thompson questions the wisdom of “moaning when the captain comes”, suggesting that it is better to keep quiet and avoid punishment. He asks whether it is “wise to be needy in the land of the free”, highlighting the hypocrisy of a country that claims to be ‘free’, but still allows the enslavement of human beings. Thompson also sings about the desperation of the slaves, carving “sailors little keepsakes out of teeth and nails and driftwood”. This is a chilling reminder of the inhumanity of slavery and the terrible conditions that the slaves had to endure.
The final verse, “Hear the Bo sun, beat the drum and row, boys, row, Slavery till kingdom come and row, boys, row” is a powerful statement about the never-ending nature of slavery. The slaves will continue to row until the end of time, and their suffering and exploitation will never end. This is a bleak and haunting reminder of the terrible legacy of slavery, and a call to never forget the atrocities that were committed in the name of profit.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel that sting across your back and row, boys, row
Endure the pain and keep rowing, even if it hurts.
Don’t wait for the whip to crack and row, boys, row
Don't wait for orders or harsh punishments to motivate you. Keep working hard.
Is it wise to be moaning when the captain comes?
Is it wise to complain when the person in charge arrives?
Tip your hat and get grinning though you’re worn to the gums
Put on a brave face and smile, even if you're exhausted and in pain.
Is it wise to be needy in the land of the free?
Is it wise to ask for help in a place that prides itself on individual freedom and independence?
Is it wise to be bleeding in a shark-filled sea?
Is it wise to put yourself in danger when there are potentially harmful consequences?
Seven years of bad luck / Should have read the small print
Bad things happen when you don't pay attention to the details.
Save my soul, save my soul / I’m chained below, chained below
Literally meaning that he is chained up, away from the world or more figuratively, it could have a religious connotation to being stuck in a life of sin or with someone making your life unenjoyable.
Carving sailors little keepsakes / Out of teeth and nails and driftwood
Making little tokens or baubles from unimportant or discarded items.
Got to keep the old ship moving / Ploughing through the Sea of Cortez / Living skeletons for neighbors
The crew must keep going, as they are sailing with death around every corner.
Hear the Bo sun, beat the drum and row, boys, row / Slavery till kingdom come and row, boys, row
The only way to survive in this life is to work hard and row.
Is it wise to be asking for a morsel more / When you see what they done to them what asked before?
Is it wise to ask for more when you've seen others punished for doing the same?
Is it wise to be kneeling with your arse poking free? / Is it wise to be bleeding in a shark-filled sea?
Is it wise to put yourself in unnecessarily dangerous or compromising situations?
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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.