“Beeswing”. Richard Thompson. Cayamo 2022

Richard Thompson on the pool deck of the Norwegian Pearl during the Cayamo music cruise performing “Beeswing”. 3/23/22

[@BeSpokeEm]

These moving words, "And maybe that's just the price you pay for the chains you refuse." 💔

[@deborahskeels3372]

Chains can be wings in another life? Just like the bee’s fly when you can .

[@ashuapmushuan]

This song just reminds me of a one summer love, long time ago. I let her go and never new what she became after. More than 50 years have passed but I never forgot her.

[@robgray2621]

A mere decade behind you man

[@TheMaxg85]

Richard Thompson is a King. What a great songwriter and guitarist, amazing Richard, Thank you mate! x

[@Raelspark]

More than King --- he's the song Emperor.

[@robertbowles860]

This and Vincent Black Lightning are maybe th most wonderful songs ever

[@user-ue6jn1tn4z]

How about 'Galway to Graceland?' And nearly everything else he has written?!

[@olliepardo3512]

Absolutely one of Richard's best songs. So haunting and beautiful.

[@LongtownLee]

Absolutely one of everyone's best songs

[@kevinb3812]

I tear-up every time I hear this song. It really doesn’t get any better than this! Many will carry this song with them the rest of their days… I know I will.

[@melanietappe7245]

I have a dear friend who sings this song 🎶 with a multitude of amazing vocal sounds 🔔 Thank you - You're very gifted!

[@paulcoomber4009]

He played this in Cardigan last night and the whole set was totally brilliant 👏

[@thomasramsey6942]

This man is a world treasure and I prayed for the great whatever it is for him to be ok.

[@leemitchellmusic]

Just so beautifully incredible...XXXXXXXXXXXX

[@NallDave]

Awesome song by an awesome musician. Beautiful.

[@gibby6904]

King Richard ....delivering the truth to his subjects...

[@duncanpaton8227]

Richard sounds and playing better than ever!! Top song! Top man😎😎😎😎

[@harrypalmer7169]

One of my many favorites of the great mans songs.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Richard managed to evoke the old world British ballad feel on a modern fable

[@kevinb3812]

Yes, he has… timeless yet with modern references. May it live on forever!

[@JockLambert1972]

Written about Annie Briggs I believe.

[@wheeliefun2276]

Learned this tune through John Smith’s covers. What a performance!

[@vanu49]

So beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Shelley!!

[@pauljames4458]

You'll have to listen to it at least 5 times a day to make up for what you've been missing

[@nesnejls]

First time I’ve heard it. Absurdly good.

[@harveyjones1245]

I was nineteen when I came to town They called in the Summer of Love They were burningbabies, burning flags The Hawks against the Doves I took a job in the STeamie Down on Cauldrum Street I fell in love with a laundry girl Was working next to me She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child She was running wild, she said As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way Brown hair zig-zag round her face And a look of half-surprise Like a fox caught in the headlights There was an animal in her eyes She said, young man, O can't you see I'm not the factory kind If you don't take me out of here I'll surely lose my miind She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child She was running wild, she said As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way We busked around the market towns And picked fruit down in Kent And we could tinker lamps and pots And knives wherever we went And I said that we might settle down Get a few acres dug Fire burning in the hearth And babies on the rug She said O man, you foolish man It surely sounds like hell You might be lord of half the world You'll not own me as well She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child She was running wild, she said As long as there's no price on love, I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way We was camping down the Gower one time The work was pretty good She thought we shouldn't wait for frost And I thought maybe we should We were drinking more in those days And tempers reached a pitch Like a fool I let her run With the rambling itch Last I hear she's sleeping out Back on Derby beat White Horse in her hip pocket And a wolfhound at her feet And they say she even marriend once A man named Romany Brown But even a Gypsy caravan Was too much settliing down And they say her flower is faded now Hard weather and hard booze But maybe that's just hte price you pay For the chains you refuse She was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing And I missher more than ever words could say If I could just taste All of her wildness now If I could hold her in my arms today Then I wouldn't want her any other way Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Richard John Thompson

[@chrislindsay7707]

Thanks, Harvey, hmm, I'm lazy and havent looked it up, but my fav line is not in here. Too late, I'm singing it. 'I might crush her where she lay....'

[@heidipax]

Breathtaking

[@karleemiles2988]

Wow! 😮 Never heard it like this before....😮

[@imsohandsome]

This is crazy good. Thanks for the link whoever you are

[@williamdillard4291]

Brilliant song that I just discovered this year. Reminds me a a certain girlfriend I once had. After I told her I loved her it was never the same

[@theharvestgypsy]

In the rain!

[@robinkershaw]

Such a great song😊

[@paulb2097]

"But maybe that's just the price you pay For the chains you refuse." Classic Richard Thompson writing.

[@alanclare4744]

Stunning song

[@kevinrossington509]

Allegedly,,written about anne Briggs, folk singer,a real wild child

[@modelleg]

Beautiful.

[@lindsayheywood7195]

Such beautiful guitar playing!

[@figulus1]

Lovely storey!

[@jeffwhitehead7990]

Bravo . . . . Bravo.

[@hisandhondas2393]

that last verse though

[@keirbateman267]

This is his best song that I have heard yet. Christy Moore's version is also brilliant.

[@kevinmurtagh3434]

I have to agree

[@zackdavis9654]

"The hawks against the doves" for some reason, those lyrics get me. A true story teller.

[@Raelspark]

How about ---- "Maybe it's just the price you pay for the chains that you refuse." AMAZING.

[@MIKE-TYTHON]

Wow I didn’t know he was still doing gigs his performance is still great.

[@paulmackilligin1754]

Seven decades he's been performing, from the 1960's to the 2020's.

[@judsonh1949]

I saw him open for Jason Isbell not too long ago. Maybe 100 people in a venue that held about 1,500 ... he kept us rapt for about 45 minutes before the loud and rowdy crowd waiting outside for Jason Isbell to start bum-rushed the room. Such a stark contrast.

[@fractuss]

Yep, gonna see him in July.

[@jackdaw7781]

One epic song! Also check out Roy Bailey's version.

[@Raelspark]

Quite remarkable.

[@Big_Bag_of_Pus]

When did he get a big crack in his Lowden's top?

[@ChosenHandle117]

Yep, it's a crying song. Genius.

[@davidkoral1673]

Looks like Richard's far away on the rolling seas ...

[@2wayplebney]

Who else can do this? I'll wait.

[@laurindabohrer2806]

Check out Davy Knowles. You'll thank me later.

[@paulbear1]

Only one of the greatest songs ever written and played….