Richard Thompson has openly confirmed that the song is partly in response to the death of his then girlfriend Jeanie Franklyn and the band's drummer Martin Lamble when their van crashed in 1969. Jeanie was a dressmaker. The reference to cutting cloth is literal.
There is however plenty in the song for us to reflect on, regardless of whether they are estranged from us or us from them.
The first four lines (chorus) are the 2 deceased speaking to the survivors (the Band, and perhaps all roving minstrels who rise for the moon and risk their lives on the winding road).
The first four lines (chorus) are the 2 deceased speaking to the survivors (the Band, and perhaps all roving minstrels who rise for the moon and risk their lives on the winding road).
The next 2 lines are the survivors asking the drummer if he will return to see his drums.
The next 2 lines are the survivors asking the drummer if he will return to see his drums.
And will you never return to see
Your bruised and beaten sons?
And will you never return to see
Your bruised and beaten sons?
He answers.
He answers.
"Oh, I would, I would, if welcome I were
For they loathe me, every one"
"Oh, I would, I would, if welcome I were
For they loathe me, every one"
The rest of the lines are for the seamstress. The dead sleep along side each other.
The rest of the lines are for the seamstress. The dead sleep along side each other.
Richard Thompson has openly confirmed that the song is partly in response to the death of his then girlfriend Jeanie Franklyn and the band's drummer Martin Lamble when their van crashed in 1969. Jeanie was a dressmaker. The reference to cutting cloth is literal.
There is however plenty in the song for us to reflect on, regardless of whether they are estranged from us or us from them.
@PBA
@PBA
@PBA
@PBA
The first four lines (chorus) are the 2 deceased speaking to the survivors (the Band, and perhaps all roving minstrels who rise for the moon and risk their lives on the winding road).
The first four lines (chorus) are the 2 deceased speaking to the survivors (the Band, and perhaps all roving minstrels who rise for the moon and risk their lives on the winding road).
The next 2 lines are the survivors asking the drummer if he will return to see his drums.
The next 2 lines are the survivors asking the drummer if he will return to see his drums.
And will you never return to see Your bruised and beaten sons?
And will you never return to see Your bruised and beaten sons?
He answers.
He answers.
"Oh, I would, I would, if welcome I were For they loathe me, every one"
"Oh, I would, I would, if welcome I were For they loathe me, every one"
The rest of the lines are for the seamstress. The dead sleep along side each other.
The rest of the lines are for the seamstress. The dead sleep along side each other.