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.
You Don't Say
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking down the street
She's back in town again
She's looking out for you
She says you used her
And you were indiscreet
It really wounded her
When you bid adieu
Do you mean she still cares
Do you mean she still cares
Do you mean she still cares
Oh you don't say
Do you mean she still cares (Do you mean she still cares)
Do you mean she still cares (Do you mean she still cares)
Do you mean she still cares
But you don't say (you don't say)
She keeps half a ring
She says you've kept the other
She says you broke your word
When you pursue another
She says "You're getting love
Mixed up with sympathy
Young man, do your duty
And come on back to me"
Do you mean she still cares (Do you mean she still cares)
Do you mean she still cares (Do you mean she still cares)
Do you mean she still cares
Oh you don't say (you don't say)
Oh do you mean she still cares
Do you mean she still cares
Do you mean she still cares
Oh you don't say
She says her heart aches
Like you had bought and sold her
She took all her hopes
And pinned them on your shoulder
She sends you rosemary
And by this gift you're given
Remember love heals
And old wrongs forgiven
Do you mean she still cares (Do you mean she still cares)
Do you mean she still cares (Do you mean she still cares)
Do you mean she still cares
Oh you don't say (you don't say)
Do you mean she still cares
Oh do you mean she still cares
Do you mean she still cares
Oh you don't say
In Richard Thompson’s “You Don’t Say”, the singer sees their ex-partner’s old flame walking down the street. She tells the singer that he used her and was indiscreet, which hurt her deeply. The old flame still cares for the singer, but he doesn’t say if he feels the same way.
The singer highlights the mixed emotions of a past relationship. The ex-partner's old flame reappears, which acts as a reminder of a time when both parties were different people. The old flame still cares for the singer, which creates a sense of confusion for the singer. The refrain “do you mean she still cares” emphasizes the singer's confusion and fear of vulnerability, and is juxtaposed with the phrase “you don't say” which shows the singer's disregard for the complexities of the relationship. It is a sad love song, and the final message is one of hope for healing and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw your old flame
I am aware of the person you used to be with
Walking down the street
She was walking around outside
She's back in town again
She returned to the place where she used to live
She's looking out for you
She is trying to find you or keep tabs on you
She says you used her
She claims that you took advantage of her
And you were indiscreet
You were not careful or secretive about what you did
It really wounded her
It hurt her a lot emotionally
When you bid adieu
When you said goodbye
Do you mean she still cares
Are you implying that she still has feelings for you
Oh you don't say
You are being sarcastic or dismissive
She keeps half a ring
She has part of a ring that used to belong to both of you
She says you've kept the other
She believes that you still have the other half of the ring
She says you broke your word
She claims that you did not keep a promise or agreement
When you pursue another
When you started a relationship with someone else
She says 'You're getting love
She thinks that you are confusing love with something else
Mixed up with sympathy
You are being kind or feeling sorry for someone instead of actually loving them
Young man, do your duty
She is giving you a command or obligation as a man
And come on back to me'
She wants you to return to her
She says her heart aches
She is really sad about something
Like you had bought and sold her
She feels like you used her like property
She took all her hopes
She had high expectations or dreams for the future
And pinned them on your shoulder
She relied on you to make these hopes a reality
She sends you rosemary
She is giving you a plant usually associated with love and remembrance
And by this gift you're given
She hopes that you will appreciate the gesture
Remember love heals
She believes that love can fix things
And old wrongs forgiven
She thinks that by putting the past behind you, you can move on and start over
Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mrdr999999
One of the best songs ever written a real classic which deserves greater recognition. Perfection.
@jimmytrafficant
Great song, just keeps getting better over the years!!!!
@honeychurchgipsy6
I agree with BucksStudent - Mirror Blue is an excellent album - and Richard Thompson has continued to get better and better through the years
@LetMeGoForever
That's not true. Of course, it's subjective, but he wrote incredible songs on those albums, and his playing was even more unique. Mirror Blue was revolutionary for the time, and not just for the percussion, but the acoustic guitar through an electric amp.
@LetMeGoForever
But that was a different time. Artists have to move forward.
@TessaCoker
Sooooo eighties!
@rotsa1
Bucks- I would rather be locked in a room listening to "Disco's Greatest Hits"...NOT! Of COURSE it's subjective, but IMO Joe Boyd brought something to the sound of not only RT, but Fairport Convention and Nick Drake (and others), that only a very special record producer can. What would Simon and Garfunkel have sounded like without Roy Halee at the helm? They were TERRIBLE prior to his refinement of their distinctive vocal sound. Others come to mind. T Bone Burnett is one of the greats as well.
@rotsa1
The great old Joe Boyd days. Was never as good with Mitchell Froom.
@georgecav
Great track but the video clip so not rt