Song Of The Day 30/01/2011: Richard & Linda Thompson - Withered And Died

Much of the stuff that Thompson has released during his long post-Fairport Convention career has been very downbeat, ever since the car crash in May 1969 that killed his then girlfriend, Jeannie Franklyn, as well as Fairport's drummer Martin Lamble. The album from which this song is from, 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight', is one of the bleakest of the lot, dealing largely with loneliness and a struggle with the pointlessness of life. Some songs go beyond just being merely downbeat to fostering a sense of complete emptiness.. It is also one of the best albums ever released, with Richard's brilliant guitar playing, wife Linda's stunning, emotional voice and some of the warmest horn parts I've ever heard showcasing some absolutely outstanding songwriting. Admittedly, the beginning of side 2 is slightly weaker than the rest of the album, but overall this is a criminally underrated record, and listening to it properly front-to-back is a stunning experience.

Having said that you should listen to the full thing, here's just a single song, the third track. In theory, this is an incredibly depressing song, written from the point of view of someone who has lost everything they care about. Somehow, however, it manages to make the complete collapse of a life sound more hopeful than anything else.

Richard & Linda Thompson - Withered & Died