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.

Straight and Narrow
Richard Thompson Lyrics

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She walks the straight and narrow
She does what the Good Book says
She walks the straight and narrow
She got eyes in the back of her head, boys
Eyes in the back of her head

And when she looks to Heaven
She's looking at you instead

When she looks to Heaven
She got eyes in the back of her head, boys
Eyes in the back of her head

A man's a fool to need her
A man's a fool to yearn
Giving up everything for maybe
Nothing in return

She walks on clouds of glory
Her feet don't touch the dirt
She walks on clouds of glory
It'll make you tear your shirt, boys
Make you tear your shirt

A man's a fool to need her
A man's a fool to yearn
Giving up everything for maybe
Nothing in return

She trips the light fantastic
But she dances all alone
Her clothes are made of plastic
But her heart is made of stone, boys
Her heart is made of stone

She walks the straight and narrow
She does what the Good Book says
She walks the straight and narrow

She got eyes in the back of her head, boys
Eyes in the back of her head

Overall Meaning

In "Straight and Narrow," Richard Thompson paints a vivid picture of a woman who adheres to strict morality, keenly aware of every move of those around her. She "walks the straight and narrow" and strictly follows the teachings of the Good Book. The woman's behavior is so regulated and inflexible that she appears otherworldly, akin to an angel or a being of light, and Thompson uses celestial images to describe her, such as "she walks on clouds of glory." However, the song implies that this woman's apparent virtue may be a facade, as her rigidity separates her from the rest of humanity, leaving her ultimately unapproachable and her heart made of stone.

Despite the allure of her angelic qualities, Thompson seems to critique the dangers of a zealous adherence to religious and moral rules. He suggests that unquestioning obedience to faith and morality may come with gaining the esteem of others on the surface, but may lead to inner emptiness and loneliness. The woman's seeming lack of empathy is juxtaposed with her apparent righteousness, which may be the result of her "eyes in the back of [her] head." Thompson's lyrics imply that it is a lonely path to walk, as evidenced by the woman's dancing alone, as well as a difficult one to follow, trading the risk of everything in the hopes of receiving nothing in return.

Line by Line Meaning

She walks the straight and narrow
She leads a virtuous life according to religious teachings

She does what the Good Book says
She follows the instructions in the Bible

She got eyes in the back of her head, boys
She is very vigilant and can spot any misconduct behind her

And when she looks to Heaven
When she prays to God

She's looking at you instead
She is praying for someone else's well-being

A man's a fool to need her
It is foolish for a man to become too attached to her as she is devoted to God

A man's a fool to yearn
It is foolish to desire her when she has committed herself to a life of piety

Giving up everything for maybe
It is illogical to make life-changing decisions based on uncertain outcomes

Nothing in return
There may not be any tangible benefits for such sacrifices

She walks on clouds of glory
She has unwavering faith and feels divine joy

Her feet don't touch the dirt
She feels spiritually uplifted