I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight showed a clear development from Richard Thompson's first solo effort, Henry the Human Fly, with Linda's vocals adding grace, as well as the opportunity for Richard to write from a female perspective. Although Thompson's trademark gloom is already evident, the lightness and beauty of the arrangements counterbalances this to produce moments of great beauty. The use of brass, from the renowned CWS silver band in particular takes forward Thompson's continuing crusade to find a more contemporary and ordinary expression of Englishness in music, (as opposed to the forays into the Morris form of his Fairport contemporary Ashley Hutchings, solo, and with The Albion Band). The next year's release, Hokey Pokey, to some extent repeated the formula, although it wass improved in production values, and was stylistically more adventurous still.
Pour down Like Silver extended the reach of the Thompsons' music, and without the occasional weaker tracks of the preceding releases.
In 1975 they decided to leave the music business and move to a Sufi commune in East Anglia. Songwriting was by Richard throughout, lead vocals generally by Linda, and backing by a consistent core band of English folk-rock musicians. In 1978 Richard decided to take his family out of the commune and go back to their old home in Hampstead. He also decided to return to making music, partly because, as he commented at the time, he'd come to realise "that [he] wasn't really any good at anything else".
Re-uniting the core band, the resulting album, First Light, was warmly received by the critics but did not sell particularly well. Neither did its follow up, 1979's harder-edged and more cynical Sunnyvista. Chrysalis Records did not take up their option to renew the contract, and the Thompsons found themselves without a contract, but not without admirers.
About a year later Joe Boyd signed the Thompsons to his small Hannibal label and a new album was recorded. Shoot out the Lights included new recordings of many of the songs recorded in 1980. Linda Thompson was pregnant during the sessions, and so the album's release was held back until the Thompsons could tour in support of the new album. Linda's pregnancy also meant that she did not sing on all of the songs.
On its release in 1982, Shoot out the Lights was lauded by critics and sold fairly well - especially in the USA. The Thompsons, now a couple for professional purposes only, toured the USA to support the album and then went their separate ways. Both the album and their live shows were well received by the American media, and Shoot out the Lights effectively relaunched their careers - just as their marriage was falling apart.
Borrowed Time
Richard and Linda Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're taking heads for bounty
Wake up Corinne, they come to ride us down
Sweetness we have tasted
The time to move is wasted
They're riding like a hurricane through this town
We've been too many nights sleeping in a feather bed
You got to stand and fight for what you believe
You got to face death with your heart on your sleeve
Life is a card-game, you've soon got to leave
Living on borrowed,
Living on borrowed,
Living on borrowed time
If you say that you want your freedom
They'll hear you in every kingdom
They'll travel ten thousand miles just to shoot you down
Well the judge he was deluded
And the sheriff he soon colluded
And they swore they'd hang me six feet off the ground
They'll hunt you down 'cause you dare to tell the truth
A man ain't safe these days under his own roof
But you can't live your life under no man's thumb
They'll all pay double for what they've done
Our day's coming but their day's come
Living on borrowed,
Living on borrowed,
Living on borrowed time
You can't live your life under no man's thumb
They'll all pay double for what they've done
Our day's coming but their day's come
Living on borrowed,
Living on borrowed,
Living on borrowed time
The first verse of Richard Thompson's "Borrowed Time" tells a story of outlaws on the run, evading the bounty hunters that are after them. Corinne, most likely a lover of one of the outlaws, is woken up when the bounty hunters come after them, riding like a hurricane through the town. The sweet peace and rest that the outlaws enjoyed has been disrupted, and they must escape before it's too late. The second verse emphasizes the severity of the situation, noting that you can't close both your eyes with a price on your head. The outlaws have to fight for their beliefs and face death with their hearts on their sleeves to survive. The third verse talks of freedom and the dangers that come with it. The judge was deluded, and the sheriff colluded to catch the outlaws and hang them six feet off the ground. However, the outlaws' day will come, and the people who have done them wrong will pay double for their wrongdoings.
"Borrowed Time" talks about the transience of life and the idea that everyone is living on borrowed time. The outlaws in the song know that they cannot hide forever and are aware that their time is running out. The use of the metaphor of a card game in the chorus reminds the listener that life is a game of chance, and one's time might be up soon. The song also shows the courage and bravery required to fight for what one believes in, even if it means putting oneself in harm's way.
Overall, "Borrowed Time" is a powerful ode to living life with purpose, fighting for what you believe in, and facing the consequences of one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
There's riders in this county
There are violent riders in this area
They're taking heads for bounty
They are collecting heads for reward
Wake up Corinne, they come to ride us down
We need to be alert and ready, because they are coming to attack us
Sweetness we have tasted
We have enjoyed a good life so far
The time to move is wasted
It's too late to escape
They're riding like a hurricane through this town
They are causing destruction and chaos as they move through the town
We’ve been too many nights sleeping in a feather bed
We have been living comfortably for too long
You can't close both your eyes with a price on your head
You can't let your guard down when you are being hunted
You got to stand and fight for what you believe
You need to be ready to defend your principles
You got to face death with your heart on your sleeve
You have to be brave in the face of danger
Life is a card-game, you've soon got to leave
Life is unpredictable and short
Living on borrowed,
We are living beyond our means
Living on borrowed,
Our time is limited
Living on borrowed time
We are running out of time
If you say that you want your freedom
If you express your desire for freedom
They'll hear you in every kingdom
You will be hunted by powerful forces everywhere
They'll travel ten thousand miles just to shoot you down
They will stop at nothing to capture or kill you
Well the judge he was deluded
The judge was misguided
And the sheriff he soon colluded
The sheriff joined the attackers
And they swore they'd hang me six feet off the ground
They threatened to kill me
They'll hunt you down 'cause you dare to tell the truth
You will be targeted for speaking the truth
A man ain't safe these days under his own roof
Even in one's own home, one is not safe anymore
But you can't live your life under no man's thumb
You need to resist being controlled by others
They'll all pay double for what they've done
They will face consequences for their actions
Our day's coming but their day's come
Justice will be served in the end
Living on borrowed,
We are living beyond our means
Living on borrowed,
Our time is limited
Living on borrowed time
We are running out of time
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Brown
I WISH WE COULD JUST LISTEN TO THE WHOLE ALBUM INSTEAD OF ALL THIS NONSENSE. THIS ALBUM IS ONE OF THE BEST EVER BEEN RECORDED. Yes it should be able to be BOUGHT!
Neal Hugh Hurwitz
Michael Arsham. :)