Richard Thompson - A Love You Can't Survive - NYC 2003

[@lindsayheywood7195]

Wow! Never seen him sing quite like this before. Those high notes towards the end! Powerful performance. Gorgeous song.

[@hectorlp1298]

This majestic performance is a great illustration of the sensitivity with which he matches the accompaniment to the strong. No need for the instrumental virtuosity that he displays in other songs, just simple guitar that allows the drama of the song to shine through. Thanks for posting.

[@manthasagittarius1]

My god, how this man delivers the core truth. This is the performing that walks on water, so far out ahead of any thought of technique. You can get dazzled by that amazing fluent playing sometimes, until he decides to just open up the deep musicality of his singing, phrasing nuance, palette of vocal colors, throughline. Damn. None of that even scratched the surface of describing it.

[@maryfinelli9390]

Great review!

[@russhouldin5774]

Nailed it! Shivers.

[@maryfinelli9390]

The most soulful I've ever heard him sing, and I love all his music I've heard.

[@ansschapendonk921]

So intens………❤ 4:41

[@Bruchag]

This is it....seen him do it twice.....but he doesnt use capo or autotune on this version..guitar slung low....and his voice it roars.roars.. this is a genius at work....if you dont like....Och

[@Bruchag]

and Och..

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

What genius.

[@rebeccarail2810]

To Wednesday Weld. You posted 7 months ago so will've heard lots more RT. by now. You are so lucky to have so many RT to hear for the first time. When the Spell is Broken is the first one I ever heard. Listen to them ALL! But try Night Comes In by Richard & Linda Thompson. Also, listen to Fairport Convention & Sandy Denny singing Crazy Man Michael on Liege & Lief. Your world has turned from being monochromatic to being coloured with the most sublime of shades now that you have discovered RT. I'll forever be grateful to my ex-husband for introducing me to him. Thanks Pete. Mistress Bex xoxoxox

[@soozikins]

Love this song, WP Richard

[@jagtone]

From anyone else a story like this in song would be kitschy and melodramatic. From RT its truth.

[@benjyofwilmington]

a singular talent...

[@ElWeasle]

@TomRAFC It's true, even e-mailing him in advance of the gig can get a song into his setlist.

[@flawgee]

Put simply this song seems to be about putting everything into work and adventure and losing the one thing dearest to one's heart.

[@benmeltzer]

"With a half-ton of Charlie built in to the bulkhead right under the noses of all them police" is about smuggling cocaine.

[@manthasagittarius1]

Exile, heart body and soul. Someone who got off Scot free with everything but the one thing he never wanted to lose, and with all he gained he's near dead inside.

[@flawgee]

Maybe also about how, to paraphrase Buckminster Fuller, the world belongs to the fighters, and so desperately needs to belong to the lovers, if it is to survive...!

[@johngibbs799]

Top hravy

[@TomRAFC]

@Kilchattan7 i play this song regularly and belt it out but i assure you i have never sailed boat load of charlie. in several interviews riuchard has explained he sees songs as stroies and since he and linda split he has written more and more character stories

[@gdh7260]

I think that the lyrics refer to the story of a person, not Thompson himself, but probably someone he has met who was imprisoned for five years in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo. Now HIV rates are rather high in the Congo and I would suspect that this applies especially to the prisons. And we know what happens to people in prisons. A love you can't survive.

[@heishephaestion4178]

Guy Hibbins yea I don't think RT smuggled in a half ton of heroin into new orleans either of

[@farflownfalcon1076]

He did and we're still grateful

[@TomRAFC]

RT almost always plays any requests he gets

[@Bruchag]

Point I was making...not autobiographical, but about an experience/s of love. One woman? guilt emotions...a love you cannot forget..lost forbidden thwarted unrequited. If you cant forget it must have some weight and you don't belt this out unless its in yer soles and soul..:-))

[@rebeccarail2810]

To