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.
Take Care the Road You Choose
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I shrug off a skin or two
I'll come looking in the wasted places
Beat-up, last ditch rendezvous
If it had been some other place
Some other time to find me
If I had been in my right mind
Not looking for ghosts behind me
Then I'd hold you with my fingers burning
Kiss your little tears of yearning
But sometimes there's no turning
Take Care The Road You Choose
If I ever get out of my mind
Guillotine myself to stop me dreaming
And let my heart go where it will
Without those other voices screaming
Some take the high, some take the low
Some take the straight and narrow
Some still standing at the crossroads
Some fly like an arrow
With my radar I'll find you, darling
No regrets to blind you, darling
And never look behind
Take Care The Road You Choose
The lyrics of Richard Thompson's song Take Care the Road You Choose revolve around the theme of making choices and the consequences that come with them. The singer of the song is reflecting on the path he has taken so far and the missed opportunities that resulted from his choices. He acknowledges that sometimes there is no turning back and advises the listener to be cautious when making decisions because it is not always easy to undo them. The tone of the song is contemplative and regretful, as the singer wonders what could have been if he had chosen differently.
The first two verses of the song suggest that the singer is trapped in a situation he did not choose for himself. He refers to his shoes as a metaphor for his current state, implying that he is uncomfortable and wants to escape it. He also talks about shedding a skin or two, indicating that he wants to leave behind some of his past and start anew. The use of the phrase "beat-up, last ditch rendezvous" suggests that he is in a difficult situation and that he is looking for a way out. The third verse of the song shows the singer reflecting on the choices he has made and the consequences that came with them. The metaphor of the guillotine implies that he wants to cut off a part of himself to stop himself from dreaming and hoping for things that are not possible. He wants to let his heart guide him without being influenced by other people's opinions.
Overall, Take Care the Road You Choose is a song about the importance of making good choices and being aware of the consequences that come with them. It suggests that sometimes we make the wrong choices because we are not in the right frame of mind, but it also implies that we have the power to change our situation if we are bold enough to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
If I ever get out of these shoes
If I ever escape the situations that hinder me or the roles that limit me
And I shrug off a skin or two
And I shed the layers I no longer need or that suffocate me
I'll come looking in the wasted places
I'll search for you in the desolate and hopeless places of the world
Beat-up, last ditch rendezvous
A battered and final attempt at finding love
If it had been some other place
If I had been somewhere else at another time
Some other time to find me
If the cosmos aligned differently in time to bring us together
If I had been in my right mind
If I was focused and not troubled by my past
Not looking for ghosts behind me
Not haunted or consumed by my past experiences
Then I'd hold you with my fingers burning
If everything were perfect, I would hold you so tightly that my fingers would burn
Kiss your little tears of yearning
Reassure you by kissing your tears of longing
But sometimes there's no turning
But often we don't have the power to change things
Take Care The Road You Choose
Take care of yourself, and be deliberate in the path you select
If I ever get out of my mind
If I can break free from my inner demons
Guillotine myself to stop me dreaming
End my dreams with finality to cease worry or anxiety
And let my heart go where it will
Allow your heart to guide your journey through life
Without those other voices screaming
Without the other voices who contribute a lot to your confusion and fear
Some take the high, some take the low
Different people have different ways of living life
Some take the straight and narrow
Others adopt the safe path that enables them to avoid danger and risks
Some still standing at the crossroads
Numerous people can't decide which path to take
Some fly like an arrow
Some follow their heart's desire, without flinching or hesitation
With my radar I'll find you, darling
With my sixth sense of reading the environment, I could trace you, my sweetie
No regrets to blind you, darling
Live without remorse to avoid affecting you, my love
And never look behind
And never regret your past or dwell on your mistakes
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Peter Bielecki
If I ever get out of these shoes
And I shrug off a skin or two
I'll come looking in the wasted places
Beat-up, last ditch rendezvous
If it had been some other place
Some other time to find me
If I had been in my right mind
Not looking for ghosts behind me
Then I'd hold you with my fingers burning
Kiss your little tears of yearning
But sometimes there's no turning
Take Care The Road You Choose
If I ever get out of my mind
Guillotine myself to stop me dreaming
And let my heart go where it will
Without those other voices screaming
Some take the high, some take the low
Some take the straight and narrow
Some still standing at the crossroads
Some fly like an arrow
With my radar I'll find you, darling
No regrets to blind you, darling
And never look behind
Take Care The Road You Choose
AnneMarie Lewis
He's definitely one of the top 10 guitarists alive on the planet today! His songwriting skills are beautiful... Love me some RT.
Trollificus
One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century and one of the most underrated guitar players. Unusual technique and unique phrasing. A great, great artist. Thank you forever, RT.
Mary P
I never had to get used to it. I loved his sound and style right away. And unlike many older rockers, his voice has only gotten better. And of course, the guitar playing, too.
honeychurchgipsy6
@400billionsuns - you have so much to discover!!
I found some of his electric guitar solos a bit dissonant to begin with - this one is very easy listening because it is sort of bluesey and sort of country - but try shoot out the lights, Hard on Me or Calvary Cross live. I love all of his electric guitar work now, but it took me a few listens and I've had a few friends who just can't get into his work other than the obvious ones such as Beeswing and Black Lightning.
400billionsuns
I just discovered him in the last hour (no joke!) and feel the same way already.
James Kendrick
Just saw him for first time up close in concert here on Maui. How I missed him all these years, I don't know. I've seen Hendrix Neil Young and many others among the best. Thompson, I think, may have been the best guitarist I've ever seen. He makes his guitar sing like no other.
Toni Francis
His guitar skills, his songs, his voice, heart melting.
Britt Wolfe
You can always tell Richard Thompson's playing, like when he's sitting in on a song. You can just tell it's him by the phrasing and the tonality of his playing. He's like Mark Knopfler in that regard.
Peter Glazer
There are few guitar players at his level, in my opinion. His sense of orchestration and harmony are second to none, not to mention his technique. He elevates any track he contributes to. One of my many favorite Thompson accompaniments is on Bonnie Raitt's "The Luck of the Draw." https://youtu.be/qOqGGPfKYy4 Once you get to know his style, you can identify his playing in a moment, whenever you come across it.
honeychurchgipsy6
@Peter Glazer - and that is surely one of the signs of a great musician - that they are recognisable instantly because they have their own style!
I love how, at the end of his song Guitar Heroes - after flawlessly playing like all of his heroes - with almost no use of special effects - on a battered old 'parts' Stratocaster, he then plays us out in his own unique style and - to my ears - it's as good and as original as any of his heroes.