Richard Thompson - Beeswing - California 2005

[signofthebeast666]

This man always delivers. I am a devoted student of his and feel so lucky to be so. I think I have it all from watching. The notes anyway. His execution is so flawless! This'll be my song to practice for about 2 months! Lucky!

RT is the perfect guitarist to emulate. If you get 1/2 as good as him, you're a great guitarist. I'm almost a good guitarist because of him.

[shuvleman1]

I have followed this one for 30 years. This is very very very rare talent ! Only one in 100 million. Shuvleman1

[relefunt]

RT is the BEST.

[bigted644]

Total respect to Sir Richard of Thompson: what a voice! what a song! and what exceptional guitar playing!

[mctribble]

Bloody excellent..

[andyontheweb]

I've listened to practically nothing else for two weeks since discovering this beautiful beautiful song. It's perfect.

[kyraaxoxoable]

anyone know what tuning he's using?

[zneella]

@kyraaxoxoable DADGBE put the capo wherever it suits your voice. ;o)

[stelvans]

What idiot clicked dislike. Get a grip your dick head..

[kyraaxoxoable]

@stelvans

I couldn't agree more with you- both the song and the performance are sublime.

[zneella]

@stelvans i think a drunk person had a terrible accident while tryin to click like. thats the only logical explanation. ;o)

[carshagify]

@zneella That person is just a Philistine.

[fivethumbsfrank]

Perfection in its purest form.

[dpgibbins321]

Wow! Does music get any better?

[dpgibbins321]

Wow! Does music get any better?

[bluescommander]

fucking brilliant songwriter.

[funfinder27]

The royal family of the UK,Richard,Linda,Teddy & Kamil-one of my favs,from a heroic

back catolgue of gems to last 100 tears!

[coreyagraph]

@funfinder27 where do i start looking?

[RensStella]

sublime !!

[merlin53697]

Was there ever a purer performance of any song, anywhere.. anytime...

This is other worldly....in the presence of a master...

[royswales]

RT's imagery is unsurpassable - who, after listening to this song can not say that they have a vivid image of the subject? Lines like 'White horse in her hip pocket and wolfhound at her feet' sum up in a few words an image others would need to write a whole sog to convey! 'Maybe thats the price we pay for the chains we refuse' - CLASS

[rotunda07]

I went to see him the other night in Chesterfield, England, as usual ,he was magnificent. Richard Thompson is a national treasure!

[mctribble]

It doesn`t get much better than this.. Mirror Blue is a must.. Great stuff, Mc T

[TheNigelr]

This man is an enduring treasure,We are indeed fortunate............

[sa65cn1]

Do not ever miss this guy in concert, you will be most impressed. He is one of the greatest guitarist and storytellers of the last several generations

[creedyguldunjka]

It's hard to find enough complimentary words to describe Richard's musical genius. I just wish more people knew about him.

[colscols]

whats that pick-up ? kool song.

[joni36]

Sunrise magnetic soundhole pickup and a Countryman Isomax Condenser Mic in the soundhole..

[verityandstu]

Time just stood still. My goodness.

[GibsonHummingbird]

Superb song. RT is a monster guitarist too.

[FriedHockey]

This song has been making me cry for 15 years.

[mickenoss]

What an absolutely beautiful tune.

[TheNigelr]

Richard has influenced so many.........a living treasure, let's appreciate him while we can!

[Jenxxie]

truly awesome

[aBigWhiteBear]

A truly extraordinary man, a truly beautiful work.

[cheerydavie]

he plays with such ease technically THE modern master, emotionally supple Richard has written some great songs.must upload them

[bluesgunner]

This song was great on record, but this is absolutely stupendous. What a talent.

[nigusberries]

richard thompson sigs with a folk voice..

hes not someone you see on american idol, but, are those people real singeres either??

double edged sword really..

i love his voice

[peadee66]

It's not the voice, it's not the playing but, it's all so much more than the sum of it's parts. Knock it if you like, but if you do you must be better. So, let's hear it?

[SlightlySusan]

I wasn't knocking. It was an observation and it was supposed to go under another person's comment. There is such a thing as subtlety.

[peadee66]

CooWee, get you!! Chill Mrs, don't be so uptight. I'n not even sure my comment was aimed at you anyway, and who cares? It was 3 weeks ago!!! Subtle enough?

[SlightlySusan]

Although he does not have what is either classically or popularly considered a beautiful voice, he is one of those people who know how to sing. Richard, along with Gabriel Yacoub, Christy Moore, Stan and Garnet Rogers, Ian Anderson and James Keelaghan are among my favorite folk/pop singers. Over all, one of the most talented singers ever is Colm Wilkinson who, as I have said, could sing the phone book.

[gregvandeusen]

Susan's comment goes directly to the question about how (and if) an artist should be judged. When Dylan came on the scene, and even now, he's critiqued for his singing voice, which some (I) might say misses the point. There are a lot of excellent singers out there, but fewer artists. Is this so different than the casual observer's opinion of Jackson Pollack: " I could do that." Sometimes "getting it" takes work, but Richard is well worth it.

[SlightlySusan]

Let's paraphrase a Richard Thompson song, I was certainly misunderstood. Actually, my comment is so much more laudatory than a comment made about someone like Bryn Terfel or Phillip Quast. Some people do have naturally beautiful voices but others know how to sing. Look at the main clause.

[milesgma]

I think you are wasting your time watching things you don't like just so you can be a smart-ass.

[neptown]

I love him as he is but... my wife just agreed with you 100percent!

It is a love hate thing

[Likamusica]

His accent and natural vibrato make him mesmerizing. Wow! How unique!

[SteveLeeG]

oopsie. comment below refers to salishea's, two steps downstairs.

[thekilo23]

the last verse and chorus breaks your heart every time............mesmerising

[salishsea]

Richard Thompson writes the most beautiful songs about the soft places inside hard men.

[squalorholla]

You are right.

[SteveLeeG]

i usually avoid youtube comments like the plague, but yours is may be the most insightful and eloquent i've ever read. i wish i had written it (and you may consider it stolen!).

[mrbinkybonky]

hey stevie lee .....!!! i agree with you on this one ,dont like to comment ... but this deserves a comment and i wish i thought of it too!

[salishsea]

Thanks Steve...

[mrbinkybonky]

you have pinpointed a tiny place inside every man salishsea .... well spotted !!!!!!!!!

[Seanmoc01]

...seen him 8 times in the States. 3 more times this coming March.

If I had to pick one artist that I can return to again and again it would be Richard Thompson.

[oracleofaltoona]

I'm going to see him tomorrow night! For the first time. I am so excited. I can hardly wait.

[OneBigRetard]

If Aliens came down and said we need guitarists to represent your civilisation I would send Mclaughlin and Thompson.

Funny that they are both English.

[FredGumbo1]

I was just trying to imagine the race of aliens that would make that demand. They could be fairly cool dudes, you know apprieciating great guitar music, lolling around on thick rugs and cushions eating turkish delight (or the alien equivelant) or more likely it would be Kang and Kodos from The Simpsons who would probably gobble up Thompson and McLaghlin in one go and go on to nibble on The Edge as a light snack.

[liquidrunning]

"the Real Thing, the Genuine Article" - I like that, and I completely agree.

[thewolffrompennswood]

I fell in love with this song in 1995 working long nights of securety in Tennessee. The college station that played it was one of my late night solitary voices that gave me the comfort and info of what-then was new music on the scene. Richard T.'s Beeswings was my intro to him and his music. I fell in love with this and his Vincent Black Lightening 1952 on the same album. And a lot of tears forthe familiar life I had lived long before that too.

[anglinthemtns]

It was said by someone that he wrote this song about the English folk singer-songwriter Anne Briggs- does anyone know if that is true or not? I am a fan of Anne Briggs so that is the reason I would like to know. Also is she still in the music scene at all... what happened to her? Thanks!

[edgyandnordic]

Thompson says it isn't about anybody in particular, and that he only met Anne a few times. There are a couple of references to her, however. Anne almost completely dropped out of the music scene about 35 years ago, which is most unfortunate as she was a marvelous singer. If you search the video "Fairport Convention on Folk Brittania" there is a very brief interview with Anne talking about Sandy Denny. Sadly she looks and sounds pretty rough.

[Zootallure]

My favourite song of all time. So poignant and carries resonance for all who hear it.

[skyekaya]

Lovely, such a raw talent..

[BillyNiblick]

Magnificent. What a simply amazing song. It must touch all of us of a certain age, and those of an uncertain age too. I'm humbled.

[Kegwithlegs]

It always makes me smile when I see some of these "guitar-players" playing Rock music, swinging their guitars around while they play, the real guitar players like Richard and D.Gilmour concentrate more on playing than showing off for the fans!

[twiggystick]

He epitomises the word "talent"! David Gates of Bread (a fan) said "he's not a household name - serves him right for being so good!"

[fastabulus]

Hands down the best live acoustic guitar player I've ever seen. Technically THE modern master, emotionally supple, a fantastic and sincere showman, and quite an improviser. I've never met an acoustic guitar player who didn't worship the man's technique and skills.

[ak47doubletap]

agree 100%/ he plays with such ease/ on all his songs/ slow or fast/ me thinks the man is THE MASTER of GUITAR/ acoustic or electric

This song is so beautiful/ lovely/ lovely/

[ulinbach]

Die beste Ballade, die jemals gehört habe .RT ist großartig und hat mir schon so viel musikalische Inspiration gegeben

[ThomsonAS100]

This is just so good - why is RT not properly recognised as a stonkingly worderful guitarist and songwriter? Few are worthy even to polish his plectrum!

[PappyHab]

RT is totally recognized for every thing that he does and his audience grows immensely from year to year. I would say most of it is word of mouth. I've taken 8-10 friends to see him over the years and they are all big fans now. Thats all it takes.

Every guitarist who is worth his salt knows exactly who Richard Thompson is.

If your expecting him to win a bunch of Grammies, that type of recognition. its never going to happen.

[ak47doubletap]

He will be recognized long after grammies have turned to dust/ though the man deserves MORE GRAMMIES THAN ANYONE. He loves the music, performing, writing, / the total creative process/ and does it with such magical grace and talent.

[yaisum]

He IS recognised. Amongst his peers, and by fans of this style of music, as an absolute gem. But this stuff is not chart fodder. It is not that kind of pap. Remember, the chart is what the public buy. The public, as a group, have quite embarrassingly poor taste in music. Such is the way of things. That's why Martin Simpson, Chris Thile, Michael Hedges and so many others are not household names. If it were done on merit alone, they would be legends. I like it this way. He is our wonderful secret!

[TaconazoRedondo]

Superb. Just gorgeous, and one of those songs that never fails to move you.

[stuartus]

Friends, this man is the Real Thing, the Genuine Article, a dying breed indeed. Cherish him.

[laoban1954]

Absolutely magnificent! RT comes to Bloomington, IN every year or so, but not often enough! One of the great geniuses of our time. See him when you can!

[TheIkaraCult]

this song never loses anything

[mwtosh]

Just stunning. Beautiful. I'm speechless!

[WolftownTV]

Over the years I have seen RT many times and never tire of his songs.

I have many happy recollections of Cropready.

[SeaChanter]

Remarkable. I love his voice and his music, and no matter what, I keep coming back to this song.

[gilcarj]

Saw Mr. Thompson a week ago in Bozeman, Montana. I couldn't really imagine before that one man with a guitar could pack so much emotion in two warm and bold hours. It was stunning, a big blow in the heart and in the stomach. What an amazing artist. It seems that he is getting many new admirers by the day, thanks to YouTube in part perhaps. It is long overdue. I can't wait until he blesses our town with his next visit.

[jazzizm]

Arguably the most beautiful lost love song ever.

Interesting how RT uses a regular flatpick plus two fingers for a hybrid style. I always thought he played regular fingerstyle.

[edmcgrew]

you just made my day. it was the first thing i noticed too. some of the best pickers in the world play this way.

[kurtcobain2902]

Same here. I noticed that but I wasn't positive.

[toastedmonkee]

Thompson's music makes me laugh, makes me cry, raises my ire, and soothes my soul. Blake, Yeats...lets add Richards name to the list. Beautiful imagery. Beautiful song.

[monalisadreams]

Probably the most evocative song about a lost love ever written.

[lyletuck]

Sweet mother of God.

The beauty of this is simply stunning.

[twiggystick]

Always the consummate craftsman!  Thanks for posting.

[peskirabbit]

RT's songs are as fine as a beeswing too.I first heard this song badly done round a campfire and it still blew me away.

[JRbonneville]

Superb

[mrwopsle]

Thanks again for supplying me with a primo Thompson fix.

DD