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.
Should I Betray
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She doesn't know the things I've seen
She must still think you're Mr. Clean
Just like the man she wed
Should I betray you to your spouse?
The wife who waits back at the house
She doesn't know that you're a louse
She doesn't know the deals you make
The throats you cut, the vows you break
To buy up some old lady?s stake
Quick before she's dead
She doesn't see your oily smarm
You pour on in the place of charm
When you've got some shopgirl by the arm
Steering her into bed
That virgin forest you chopped down
To build another ugly town
I?ll tell your wife you bribed them 'round
To back your plan instead
But perhaps she doesn't want to see
The heel that you turned out to be
That's why, she?ll take a gin or three
To drive doubts from her head
While she's working hard enough
With housework, kids, and all that stuff
You're out there with some bit of fluff
Cruising on the Med
She thought the leopard?s spots were paint
She thought she?d turn you to a saint
Kept hoping, though the hope grew faint
That you were better bred
In Richard Thompson's song "Should I Betray?", the singer contemplates whether they should tell two women, Charlene and the wife of the person they are addressing, the truth about the man's character. The singer believes that Charlene believes the man to be virtuous, but they know of questionable actions, such as deceit and murder, that he has committed. The same goes for the man's wife who is oblivious to her husband's unfaithful behavior. The singer ponders whether they should be the whistleblower and reveal the truth to these women. The final stanza reveals that the man's wife prefers to live in ignorance and turn to alcohol to escape, while the man continues his unfaithful behavior.
The lyrics provide commentary on the tension between maintaining appearances and the truth. Charlene and the wife want to believe the best about the man, but the singer has knowledge that contradicts this. The man is someone who prioritizes his desires over the well-being of others, and the only thing stopping the singer from revealing his true nature is their own ethical conscience. The song suggests that it's difficult to reveal the truth when it comes to personal relationships because it can potentially damage those relationships beyond repair.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I betray you to Charlene?
Should I reveal your true self to Charlene?
She doesn't know the things I've seen
Charlene is unaware of your wrongful acts
She must still think you're Mr. Clean
Charlene believes you are an honest and trustworthy person
Just like the man she wed
Charlene married you as someone she believed to be genuine
Should I betray you to your spouse?
Should I reveal your true self to your spouse?
The wife who waits back at the house
Your spouse is waiting for you at home
She doesn't know that you're a louse
Your spouse is in the dark about your wrongful acts
That's not the man she wed
Your spouse married who you pretended to be
She doesn't know the deals you make
Your spouse is unaware of your shady business deals
The throats you cut, the vows you break
You have no problem hurting others to profit
To buy up some old lady’s stake
You're willing to do anything to make more money
Quick before she’s dead
Before the lady whose stake you want dies
She doesn’t see your oily smarm
Your spouse can't see your fake charm and flattery
You pour on in the place of charm
You substitute true charm with a false façade
When you’ve got some shopgirl by the arm
You charm and sleep around with women who aren't your spouse
Steering her into bed
You manipulate women into having sex with you
That virgin forest you chopped down
You're destroying natural resources for profit
To build another ugly town
You're destroying for purposes that don't benefit anyone
I’ll tell your wife you bribed them 'round
I'll inform your spouse that you bribed people to support your destructive plans
To back your plan instead
The people you're bribing will support you instead of the natural world
But perhaps she doesn’t want to see
Maybe your spouse chooses not to acknowledge your wrongdoings
The heel that you turned out to be
The unpleasant person you've become
That’s why, she’ll take a gin or three
She'll drink to forget about your true self
To drive doubts from her head
Drinking helps her ignore the possibility of you being different than she thought
While she’s working hard enough
While your spouse is working tirelessly
With housework, kids, and all that stuff
Juggling household duties and children
You’re out there with some bit of fluff
While your spouse works, you're out with another woman
Cruising on the Med
Traveling on the Mediterranean
She thought the leopard’s spots were paint
Your spouse thought your negative traits could be disguised and eventually fade away
She thought she’d turn you to a saint
She believed she could change you into a good person
Kept hoping, though the hope grew faint
Despite disappointment, she still clung to the hope of your goodness
That you were better bred
She believed you were raised with good moral values
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.