Richard Thompson — Sibella
Album: Mock TudorAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 985
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Oh some girls hold the ace, the deuce, the trey
X-ray the deck to see what's coming
Mary Antoinette she smiled that way
Easy to smile when the luck is running
Like a myth you rode in from the west
From the go you had my button pressed
Did the tea-time of your soul
Make you long for wilder days?
Did you never let Jack Kerouac
Wash over you in waves?
Sibella, we don't make sense together
But my heart's with you
Sibella, I found myself
Strange but true, strange but true
Some say you can learn a lot from books
Thrill right to second-hand living
Life is just as deadly as it looks
But fiction is more forgiving
You took chances well within your means
Salon hair and creases in your jeans
All those lonely winters long
Did you really think it through
Did you really ache for me like I really ached for you
Sibella, we don't make sense together
But my heart's with you
Sibella, I found myself
Strange but true, strange but true
Sibella, we don't make sense together
But my heart's with you
Sibella, I found myself
Strange but true, strange but true
Strange but true, strange but true
Strange but true
X-ray the deck to see what's coming
Mary Antoinette she smiled that way
Easy to smile when the luck is running
Like a myth you rode in from the west
From the go you had my button pressed
Did the tea-time of your soul
Make you long for wilder days?
Did you never let Jack Kerouac
Wash over you in waves?
Sibella, we don't make sense together
But my heart's with you
Sibella, I found myself
Strange but true, strange but true
Some say you can learn a lot from books
Thrill right to second-hand living
Life is just as deadly as it looks
But fiction is more forgiving
You took chances well within your means
Salon hair and creases in your jeans
All those lonely winters long
Did you really think it through
Did you really ache for me like I really ached for you
Sibella, we don't make sense together
But my heart's with you
Sibella, I found myself
Strange but true, strange but true
Sibella, we don't make sense together
But my heart's with you
Sibella, I found myself
Strange but true, strange but true
Strange but true, strange but true
Strange but true
Comments (66)add comment
This is a great song, and this lyric stays with me in particular:
Some say you can learn a lot from books
Thrill right to second-hand living
Life is just as deadly as it looks
But fiction is more forgiving
Some say you can learn a lot from books
Thrill right to second-hand living
Life is just as deadly as it looks
But fiction is more forgiving
I wonder if Father John Misty used RT as an influence. Has a very similar vibe.
bstevens1951 wrote:
I passed up my first chance to see Tommy Emmanuel at the same venue. I made up for by seeing him in 2020. At the end, my Hubby said something like "all those chords." in reference to his playing. Just phenomenal, and as bstevens says, just an outstanding entertainer. Very highly recommended.
Lads and Lassies, if you have not seen Mr. Thompson live in concert, you cannot begin to appreciate him. He makes records, but he is truly not a recording artist. He is a performance artist. We have seen him a dozen times, in small venues with intimate seating, Watching him play up close and personal, where you'd swear there were two more guitarists, is when you appreciate some of the talents of this man. He has always been a fantastic guitar player. What he has acquired with age is an amazing voice that reveals his life experience. Top notch songwriting. Dig him acoustic, dig him electric. Thanks Bill, the world could use more Richard Thompson.
I passed up my first chance to see Tommy Emmanuel at the same venue. I made up for by seeing him in 2020. At the end, my Hubby said something like "all those chords." in reference to his playing. Just phenomenal, and as bstevens says, just an outstanding entertainer. Very highly recommended.
I love the way he belts a song with such passion. His guitar work is right in there too. I used to only think of Richard Thompson is association with Red Molly and the 1952 Vincent Black Shadow. I played that song recently then played the whole album. Loved it. I can imagine hearing him small venue live, as some commenters have mentioned. One of the songs I heard had what sounded like an audience repeat of lines of the lyric as part of the song. Could have been just the band, but I bet he rocks the house and often has many singing along.
bstevens1951 wrote:
I just saw him in Berkeley last Tuesday (Feb. 22). He is on tour with his wife (a very good singer herself). Great show. Have seen him several times in the past, including 1000 Years of Popular Music, which is on YouTube. Definitely recommend.
Lads and Lassies, if you have not seen Mr. Thompson live in concert, you cannot begin to appreciate him. He makes records, but he is truly not a recording artist. He is a performance artist. We have seen him a dozen times, in small venues with intimate seating, Watching him play up close and personal, where you'd swear there were two more guitarists, is when you appreciate some of the talents of this man. He has always been a fantastic guitar player. What he has acquired with age is an amazing voice that reveals his life experience. Top notch songwriting. Dig him acoustic, dig him electric. Thanks Bill, the world could use more Richard Thompson.
I just saw him in Berkeley last Tuesday (Feb. 22). He is on tour with his wife (a very good singer herself). Great show. Have seen him several times in the past, including 1000 Years of Popular Music, which is on YouTube. Definitely recommend.
Go cry to your mother
Great!!
New to me-nice! I gotta check his concert schedule. Only saw him live twice. Not enough!
One of my all-time fave Richard Thompson songs. I like it loud!
My first encounter with Richard Thompson was "DEAR JANET JACKSON".
If you still remember nipplegate after nearly 20 years, find this song on YouTube and enjoy :)
If you still remember nipplegate after nearly 20 years, find this song on YouTube and enjoy :)
!!!!
I'll give it a 7 for the Jack Kerouac reference.
Never warmed up to this guy's voice.
bstevens1951 wrote:
Funny you should say that. I think it was one of the 1st Richard Thompson concerts we attended (acoustic) and my husband leaned over and said "I swear there's someone behind the curtain playing guitar". We've seen him electric as well - just last winter in fact and amazing as always!
Lads and Lassies, if you have not seen Mr. Thompson live in concert, you cannot begin to appreciate him. He makes records, but he is truly not a recording artist. He is a performance artist. We have seen him a dozen times, in small venues with intimate seating, Watching him play up close and personal, where you'd swear there were two more guitarists, is when you appreciate some of the talents of this man. He has always been a fantastic guitar player. What he has acquired with age is an amazing voice that reveals his life experience. Top notch songwriting. Dig him acoustic, dig him electric. Thanks Bill, the world could use more Richard Thompson.
Funny you should say that. I think it was one of the 1st Richard Thompson concerts we attended (acoustic) and my husband leaned over and said "I swear there's someone behind the curtain playing guitar". We've seen him electric as well - just last winter in fact and amazing as always!
bstevens1951 wrote:
Ditto, Mr Bill. More Richard Thompson please.
Lads and Lassies, if you have not seen Mr. Thompson live in concert, you cannot begin to appreciate him. He makes records, but he is truly not a recording artist. He is a performance artist. We have seen him a dozen times, in small venues with intimate seating, Watching him play up close and personal, where you'd swear there were two more guitarists, is when you appreciate some of the talents of this man. He has always been a fantastic guitar player. What he has acquired with age is an amazing voice that reveals his life experience. Top notch songwriting. Dig him acoustic, dig him electric. Thanks Bill, the world could use more Richard Thompson.
Ditto, Mr Bill. More Richard Thompson please.
Thanks for re-awakening the great appreciation for Tommo, which lies dormant in a permanent vegetative state within. This man has never written, played, sang, a bad toon. Awesome !! Ta much !
RedGuitar wrote:
Having had the good fortune of both acoustic and electric RT performances, I prefer ....both.
I've twice seen him play a live solo acoustic show at a small intimate venue. He is phenomenal on the guitar and his voice seems to get stronger. I wish I could have seen him with an electric band.
Having had the good fortune of both acoustic and electric RT performances, I prefer ....both.
Good one for me from RT!
posner wrote:
nice! think I'm going to enjoy myself some RT, thanks for the neat note posner : )
Saw RT just last month in a small theatre — simply amazing. I am not a musician, but he somehow manages to seem to play both bass-track and melody simultaneously, while singing, across an impressively wide range of songs that he composed/wrote. I've never seen one person with an acoustic guitar produce such a rich aural experience. I am not nuts about all of his tunes and his voice works better for some songs than for others, but I will always marvel at his artistry.
nice! think I'm going to enjoy myself some RT, thanks for the neat note posner : )
Si Picko Bello punk
Are you my proto type ?
Lads and Lassies, if you have not seen Mr. Thompson live in concert, you cannot begin to appreciate him. He makes records, but he is truly not a recording artist. He is a performance artist. We have seen him a dozen times, in small venues with intimate seating, Watching him play up close and personal, where you'd swear there were two more guitarists, is when you appreciate some of the talents of this man. He has always been a fantastic guitar player. What he has acquired with age is an amazing voice that reveals his life experience. Top notch songwriting. Dig him acoustic, dig him electric. Thanks Bill, the world could use more Richard Thompson.
Aw yeah!!!
kjf06 wrote:
Lucky Dog!
We adopted a happy young rescue dog who came to DC from Kentucky. She had the unfortunate name of "Sad Annabelle". She now lives with a chef and other things that make dogs happy. We renamed her "Sibella" because I loved this song and knew we didn't make sense together, but it was all so good and 'true'.
Lucky Dog!
We adopted a happy young rescue dog who came to DC from Kentucky. She had the unfortunate name of "Sad Annabelle". She now lives with a chef and other things that make dogs happy. We renamed her "Sibella" because I loved this song and knew we didn't make sense together, but it was all so good and 'true'.
Carl wrote:
Agree.
Richard Thompson has been a mixed bag for me over the years. I really like his sardonic lyrics, subtle humor (like his "1000 Years of Popular Music" album concept), and guitar virtuosity, but his snide vocal quality grates on me. Hard to rate.
Agree.
What a nice little gem.
Never heard this before. Love it.
Never heard this before. Love it.
wonderful stuff RP Dahlia_Gumbo wrote:
Lucky Dog!
He was so fabulous on the Cayamo Cruise. And who'd a thunk he'd play duets with Loudon Wainwright III ("Loud and Rich").
I'm serious.
I'm serious.
Lucky Dog!
I love Richard Thompson.
Richard Thompson has been a mixed bag for me over the years. I really like his sardonic lyrics, subtle humor (like his "1000 Years of Popular Music" album concept), and guitar virtuosity, but his snide vocal quality grates on me. Hard to rate.
He was so fabulous on the Cayamo Cruise. And who'd a thunk he'd play duets with Loudon Wainwright III ("Loud and Rich").
I'm serious.
I'm serious.
The genius that is Richard Thompson. I've not met a piece of his work I have disliked.
Musician, poet and sadly underrated IMO. One of the worlds great guitarists.
Try and catch a live show, superb.
BTW I like him.
10
Musician, poet and sadly underrated IMO. One of the worlds great guitarists.
Try and catch a live show, superb.
BTW I like him.
10
Like a myth you rode in from the west
From the go you had my button pressed
Did the tea-time of your soul
Make you long for wilder days?
Did you never let Jack Kerouac
Wash over you in waves?
I have...I let him wash all over my sorry life and it was all good.
From the go you had my button pressed
Did the tea-time of your soul
Make you long for wilder days?
Did you never let Jack Kerouac
Wash over you in waves?
I have...I let him wash all over my sorry life and it was all good.
gprinc wrote:
I second the motion. One of RT's greatest songs.
Bill...Play Gethsemane from the Old kit bag.
I second the motion. One of RT's greatest songs.
I like Richard, but this song has parts that make me say 'skip'.
Ya, I like it.
Bill...Play Gethsemane from the Old kit bag.
Randomax wrote:
'another of the Thompson family'? What?!
Ah....there's another of the Thompson family!!! what genes! 
'another of the Thompson family'? What?!
Ah....there's another of the Thompson family!!! what genes!
timc wrote:
Please never utter these two names together again....Cave is less than zero in comparison...IMHO
Do you think he and Nick Cave could sing a duet sometime?
Please never utter these two names together again....Cave is less than zero in comparison...IMHO
inklip wrote:
OMG - I love this album....hmmmm....different ears for different folks I guess
How did you find a good song on this album? I was so disappointed on first listening, I almost never give it a try anymore.
OMG - I love this album....hmmmm....different ears for different folks I guess
Saw RT just last month in a small theatre — simply amazing. I am not a musician, but he somehow manages to seem to play both bass-track and melody simultaneously, while singing, across an impressively wide range of songs that he composed/wrote. I've never seen one person with an acoustic guitar produce such a rich aural experience. I am not nuts about all of his tunes and his voice works better for some songs than for others, but I will always marvel at his artistry.
How did you find a good song on this album? I was so disappointed on first listening, I almost never give it a try anymore.
One of the best concerts I've ever seen. More Richard, please!
RedGuitar wrote:
If you see him live, earplugs are highly recommended (at least near the front). When he has Danny Thompson on bass and Dave Mattocks (spelled right?) on drums, his performances are as powerful as any you will see. Just hope that he does not invite Henry Kaiser up on the stage. It is peculiar that someone as phenomenally brilliant on guitar would let his pal Henry wail away at ear-piercing volume and little apparent ability to differentiate between good playing and excessive numbers of notes, but that has been the story every time I have seen them together. Still, Richard Thompson live and electric is definitely worth seeing.
I've twice seen him play a live solo acoustic show at a small intimate venue. He is phenomenal on the guitar and his voice seems to get stronger. I wish I could have seen him with an electric band.
If you see him live, earplugs are highly recommended (at least near the front). When he has Danny Thompson on bass and Dave Mattocks (spelled right?) on drums, his performances are as powerful as any you will see. Just hope that he does not invite Henry Kaiser up on the stage. It is peculiar that someone as phenomenally brilliant on guitar would let his pal Henry wail away at ear-piercing volume and little apparent ability to differentiate between good playing and excessive numbers of notes, but that has been the story every time I have seen them together. Still, Richard Thompson live and electric is definitely worth seeing.
More Richard please!
huebdoo wrote:
I agree on all counts, such an interesting voice and phrasing, play more RT. (And I love the Vincent Black Lightning song too, had to look the lyrics up after I heard it the first time.)
I have to admit, his "Vincent Black Lightning 1952" is probably one of my favs as songs goes... its an amazing work
I like his other stuff, but the vincent song blows me away
this is good - like the other posts, his voice seems so incredibly strong ... great stuff
I like his other stuff, but the vincent song blows me away
this is good - like the other posts, his voice seems so incredibly strong ... great stuff
I agree on all counts, such an interesting voice and phrasing, play more RT. (And I love the Vincent Black Lightning song too, had to look the lyrics up after I heard it the first time.)
Do you think he and Nick Cave could sing a duet sometime?
Great...love the album cover too.
I have to admit, his "Vincent Black Lightning 1952" is probably one of my favs as songs goes... its an amazing work
I like his other stuff, but the vincent song blows me away
this is good - like the other posts, his voice seems so incredibly strong ... great stuff
I've twice seen him play a live solo acoustic show at a small intimate venue. He is phenomenal on the guitar and his voice seems to get stronger. I wish I could have seen him with an electric band.
Well to me that's the joy of RP.. What a playlist! Smth you don't like? Mute for three minutes and the next one's a gem. IMO RT is a wonderful artist making provocative and engaging music.
pyxxel wrote:
?? What makes you think that? He sounds pretty ordinary to me... a 4.
theodore wrote:
One of the all-time great artists.
?? What makes you think that? He sounds pretty ordinary to me... a 4.
theodore wrote:
One of the all-time great artists. Everybody wants to play the guitar like him, and write like him, too. More Richard Thompson, please (Little blue number, Tear-stained letter, Waltzing's for dreamers, for instance).
I uploaded Tear Stained Letter on the LRC a while back but it got sorried after a 15/1 run.
One of the all-time great artists. Everybody wants to play the guitar like him, and write like him, too. More Richard Thompson, please (Little blue number, Tear-stained letter, Waltzing's for dreamers, for instance).
I never get excited about Norah Jones's music, and I never get bored by Richard Thompson's.
She can sing circles around him - but that's the problem. She never gets anywhere! ;)
He pauses just a touch on a word or two and twists his voice just a bit, and you feel more pain/anger/glory/hurt in a stanza than you get in an entire album from Ms. Jones.
- Riff
Rickvee wrote:
RT is an amazing artist but this is just an average tune by his high standards. Bill, please play "Calvery Cross" or "Heart Needs A Home" by RT.
From the Mock Tudor album, I give Sibella a 9 and Bathsheba Smiles a 10. Anyway you cut it, Mock Tudor is a tour de force. With Richard Thompson, it just gets better with age. Either way, I'm just happy whenever I hear RT on RP.
RT is an amazing artist but this is just an average tune by his high standards. Bill, please play "Calvery Cross" or "Heart Needs A Home" by RT.
At first I thought this was Paul Revere and the Raiders' "Indian Reservation"...same driving drum beat and low guitar. Bill, you wouldn't happen to have that gem lying around, would ya? ("Cherokee people! Cherokee tribe!")
I do like Richard Thompson, though I'll be the first to admit his voice ain't his strong suit. This song is average-above average for me.
Mairy wrote:
Is this the guy who played John-Boy? :)
That Gentleman's name was Richard Thomas. :D
Is this the guy who played John-Boy? :)
Shoot out the Lights is an incredible breakup album between Richard and Linda. I love Richard, but miss Linda's vocals. His first few albums after SOTL were great, but I have only been MILDLY impressed by his most recent stuff. This song isn't bad, IMO.
Richard Thompson is one helluva songwriter and guitarplayer. But this is not among his best, but still very enjoyable.
Every song is a story with enough substance for an entire movie. Listening to Richard Thompson for a long time can make you weary, and requires your full attention. But then again it is very rewarding when you are in the mood.
How about Bee's Wing or 1952 Vincent Black Lightning? Those songs are better, if you ask me!
Honestly, I'd rather read this song rather than listen to it. Perhaps he could publish instead of perform.
Lads and Lassies, if you have not seen Mr. Thompson live in concert, you cannot begin to appreciate him. He makes records, but he is truly not a recording artist. He is a performance artist. We have seen him a dozen times, in small venues with intimate seating, Watching him play up close and personal, where you'd swear there were two more guitarists, is when you appreciate some of the talents of this man. He has always been a fantastic guitar player. What he has acquired with age is an amazing voice that reveals his life experience. Top notch songwriting. Dig him acoustic, dig him electric. Thanks Bill, the world could use more Richard Thompson.
Going to see him Saturday and I'm bringing my dad! It's been a long time coming.