Quote

As the writer, you're always a presence in the song. If you get close to what human beings are like, you're writing about common experience. We all do much the same things, so if you nail somebody, then you've also nailed yourself.

Richard Thompson

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Richard Thompson
Age: 75
Born: 1949
Born: April 3
Guitarist
Mandolinist
Musician
Recording Artist
Singer
Singer-Songwriter
Songwriter
London
England
Richard John Thompson
Things
Song
Nail
Like
Experience
Nails
Also
Presence
Human
Beings
Humans
Close
Writing
Writer
Much
Somebody
Always
Common
Nailed

More quotes by Richard Thompson

Image
Amplifying acoustic instruments more than a little is really cheating, and everything becomes a compromise.
Richard Thompson
Image
If you're up on a stage, naked and solo and singing songs to people, there's not much place to hide, so you may as well confess what you want to confess and say what you want to say, whatever that is. Some songs just turn out as being more about me, and some are more through the eyes of other people, or third-person descriptions of people.
Richard Thompson
Image
I think you can refine what you do, and become more consistent. And you write better songs that have a better shape and a better feeling. You evolve into and out of things, and go through stages, but, ultimately, you do improve.
Richard Thompson
Image
There is in fact a controversy over Darwin's theory. Clearly both theories have religious implications. But this is not about God.
Richard Thompson
Image
I have to remind myself not to set boundaries.
Richard Thompson
Image
You want the audience to be uncomfortable.
Richard Thompson
Image
I probably wrote three-quarters of the songs without an instrument in my hands.
Richard Thompson
Image
There's a part of me that wishes I'd never said one single solitary word on any subject publicly. Then I could have been the tortured poet, and there's so much mileage in that. But it's too late to stop now.
Richard Thompson
Image
I'm always making a conscious effort to be viable and accessible.
Richard Thompson
Image
Every day I'll wear your memory like a favorite shirt upon my back
Richard Thompson
Image
I think the reason kids get into drugs and smoking is they don't have anything to do.
Richard Thompson
Image
I think it's absolutely possible to write a song and go somewhere where no one's been before, uncharted territory. In terms of content, I see limitations where there should be none. I know there are things I wouldn't write about, but that shouldn't be the case. You should be able to make a song out of anything, out of any situation.
Richard Thompson
Image
I want people to come to my music without prejudice. I want them to get the music first. And who I am isn't that important. If they like the songs to me that's a good thing.
Richard Thompson
Image
People want to hear about the extremes of human nature. They want things that are larger than their own lives, and more romantic, and not necessarily of their own experiences.
Richard Thompson
Image
Nothing is plainer than that, if the principles of the church of Rome prevail here, our Constitution would fall. The two cannot exist together. They are in open and direct antagonism with the fundamental theory of our government and of all popular government everywhere.
Richard Thompson
Image
I try to look for the good in everybody, regardless of the way they're labeled.
Richard Thompson
Image
I don't really know how writing process happens, how these songs are arrived at. One of the things I like about the writing process is, I don't necessarily know where it's going, and even if I think I know where it's going, it'll turn out different. I find that exciting and rewarding.
Richard Thompson
Image
To stand up on a stage alone with an acoustic guitar requires bravery bordering on heroism. Bordering on insanity.
Richard Thompson
Image
I'm glad there are a lot of guitar players pursuing technique as diligently as they possibly can, because it leaves this whole other area open to people like me.
Richard Thompson
Image
When you stand up acoustic in front of an audience, you really are a man without any clothes on. And that can be fun - it depends how much of an exhibitionist you are, I suppose. I quite enjoy it.
Richard Thompson