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.
Waltzing's For Dreamers
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And fade down the light
I'm sad as a proud man can be sad tonight
Just let me dream on,
Oh just let me sway
While the sweet violins
And the saxophones play
And Miss, you don't know me,
That we care for each other,
Till the band reach the end
One step for aching, and two steps for breaking
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
One step for sighing and two steps for crying
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
Now they say love's for gamblers,
Oh the pendulum swings
I bet hard on love and I lost everything
So don't send me home now,
Put a shot in my arm
And we'll drink out old memories
And we'll drink in the dawn
And Mr Bandleader won't you play one more time
For I've good folding money in this pocket of mine
Oh, one step for aching, two steps for breaking
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
One step for sighing, and two steps for crying
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
Oh Miss, you don't know me,
But can't we pretend
That we care for each other,
Till the band reach the end
Oh, one step for aching, two steps for breaking
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
One step for sighing, two steps for crying
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
The song "Waltzing's For Dreamers" by Richard Thompson tells the story of a man who is heartbroken and seeking solace in a nighttime bar. He asks the band to play a blue song and dim the lights so that he can be alone with his sorrow. The singer has lost love and almost everything he had that was meaningful in his life. He is filled with regret and wishes to find comfort in the music and the company of the bartender. He longs for a connection with another person in his moment of pain, even if it's just pretend until the band stops playing.
The refrain of the song mentions waltzing as a metaphor for lost and broken love. One step for aching and two steps for breaking refer to the emotions felt during a waltz. The song tells of how love is something sought after by many but can lead to heartbreak and loss. Waltzing can be seen as a way to express that heartbreak and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh play me a blue song
I am feeling sad and need some music to help me feel better.
And fade down the light
I want to be in a dimly lit or dark environment to create a mood that matches my feelings.
I'm sad as a proud man can be sad tonight
Despite trying to maintain a sense of pride, I am feeling incredibly sad tonight.
Just let me dream on,
I want to be able to escape my sadness and dream for a while.
Oh just let me sway
I want to be able to move in a way that matches the music and my feelings.
While the sweet violins
The music being played has a soothing and emotional quality to it.
And the saxophones play
The music being played has a soulful and melancholic quality to it.
And Miss, you don't know me,
I am feeling so sad that I am seeking comfort from a stranger.
But can't we pretend
Let's pretend that we care about each other even though we don't really know each other.
That we care for each other,
Let's create a moment of human connection and empathy.
Till the band reach the end
Let's continue to dance and be present in the moment until the music stops.
One step for aching, and two steps for breaking
Dancing the waltz is a metaphor for the stages of heartache and breaking up.
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
The waltz is a dance for those who are romantic and sentimental, yet have also experienced heartbreak.
Now they say love's for gamblers,
Some people believe that love is a risky bet with unpredictable outcomes.
Oh the pendulum swings
The ups and downs of love can be likened to the swinging motion of a pendulum.
I bet hard on love and I lost everything
I took a big chance on love and it ended up causing me a great deal of pain and loss.
So don't send me home now,
I am not ready to face my sadness alone just yet.
Put a shot in my arm
I am seeking emotional numbing or escape from my feelings.
And we'll drink out old memories
Let's reminisce about the past and the good times we shared together.
And we'll drink in the dawn
Let's stay up all night and make new memories to replace the ones we lost.
And Mr Bandleader won't you play one more time
I want to hold on to this moment and the emotions it brings for a little while longer.
For I've good folding money in this pocket of mine
I have some money to spare and want to keep the music playing for as long as possible.
Oh Miss, you don't know me,
I am still feeling sad and need someone to connect with.
But can't we pretend
Let's continue to pretend we care about each other, even if it's just for a little while longer.
Waltzing's for dreamers and losers in love
The waltz continues to be a metaphor for the emotional experiences of love and heartbreak.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edgyandnordic
I once drove 1100 kilometres each way to see RT play a 45 minute set at a folk festival. This was one of the songs that made it a worthwhile journey.
@leadme2thebliss21
Wow. That is so awesome, I bet it was worth every mile! RT is an absolute legend!
@Bigaphid
This is a song that sounds like it has always existed and Richard Thompson discovered it.
@paulburgess8909
I've felt that way about many of his songs. You said it very well.
@goodun2974
"Myths are those things that never were but always are". Yeats
@Bigaphid
@@goodun2974 Good one Yeats.
@goodun2974
@@Bigaphid , the best songs often seem as if they were channeled from somewhere else outside of their creator. The same might apply to the artists themselves. Somebody once wrote "if Jimi Hendrix hadn't existed, somebody would have had to create him".
@beestonsteve
Townes Van Zandt said that about some of the songs he wrote, I think he and RT have a similar soul to their work.
@waynemyerson6120
An extraordinary guitarist and a soulful voice without a doubt.
@cogitotal5121
June Tabor does a pretty mean version too. English Folk rocks my World!