The Electric Richard Thompson Quiz

Answer: Buxom Betty

A sad tale of unrequited love. The gentleman's attentions are unwelcome, they fall on the stony ground of the song title. He may very well have; "Lost his heart to Buxom Betty. Throwing out the compliments like confetti" but it goes nowhere. Sadly, he doesn't get the hint.

What does Betty do next? Well, she gets some contacts to tell Morris the same thing.
"Widow's got a brother, henchman too
A pair of gorillas from the London Zoo
They call on Morris and they tell him what's what"

Quite forcefully as the next verse carries on.
"Kicked him in the head, poked him in the eyes
Shoved him in the gutter and there he lies"

But the overall effect is negligible because the last verse ends with; "But he's still dreaming of her you-know-what".

Of the other options I would note the Sister Josephine is a burglar, big bad Norman who has been on the run and hiding in a convent for 15 years. According to the song by Jake Thackrey that is. Red-haired Molly appears in the Richard Thompson sing "1952 Vincent Black Lightning".

Answer: London

This song is once more about a less than perfect relationship. In this song the man is annoyed at himself for having spoilt his relationship, "She should be lying on my pillow. If I wasn't such a hard nose." And "I do better when I'm dreaming. Better than I did last night."

The question asked about a train, the details are in the last verse.
"Though the rain is pelting down
There's a train goes back to London"

Answer: Chassis

The chassis in this case is the human body, not that of a vehicle. The lyric here is:
"How many stumpers
Can cause such a rumpus
With a smile and shake of the chassis"

The theme of this song would appear to be a female demagogue in the USA. The lines preceding the quote above are;
"The crazies are raving
So keep the flag waving
It still hypnotises the masses".

This is indicative of the political style of the songs subject. But the claim that this is set in America is not yet clear. Back to an earlier section of the lyrics and we find the following.
"Now they talk way down south
Without moving their mouth
And the houses are old antebellum"

To me this is clearly USA, antebellum meaning before a war, is generally used in respect of the American Civil War. The subsequent lines return to the description of a political demagogue.
"There you'll find supporters
Revolutionary daughters
Who'll believe everything that you tell 'em"

Before trying to identify the subject of this song it is worth noting that the album was recorded in 2013, prior to the current crop of politicians who feature in the news.

Answer: Steel

This song is about a hard working but low paid worker in the steel industry. Working just to survive with no hope of improving themselves.

The opening of the song; "The money comes in. The bills go out. Round and round we go again." demonstrate this plainly. The next verse discusses the job.
"Another day of punching steel
Till my arm's too numb to feel
Like a hamster on a wheel
I'm stuck on the treadmill"

The lyrics carry on in the same theme, worrying about being replaced by a robot, talk of strike action but then the ending completes the circle.
"Next year, what'll I be doing?
Stuck on the treadmill"

Answer: Hate

A song about two people who are united by their dislike of each other. Over time they have come to need each other as an enemy, it become their raison d'etre.

The last verse demonstrates this:
"Now we're just two old men on the brink
Each waiting for the other to blink
If I should lose you, I'd be left with nothing but fate
As I see your life fall apart
I should smile but I don't have the heart
At the end of the day, it's still too much effort to hate"

A slightly different take on a similar situation is the Richard Thompson song "Put it There Pal".

Answer: Mona Lisa

Back to one of Richard Thompson's fertile song writing subjects, less than perfect relationships. Here the singer's wife is unfaithful. She is the bad person of the title, her happiness in an affair is the good thing.

The relevant lyrics here are:
"You cried the day I walked you down the aisle
And I know you've been bad
From the way you smile
Mona Lisa, what a teaser
What's that strange cologne I'm smelling"

I am sure that "Starry Night" has appeared in song lyrics, less likely is "Persistence of Memory". As for "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte", I doubt if that phrase has ever been included in the words of a song

Answer: Roads

A fairly simple song lyrically, about trying to find a place where you belong. Lines such as "I used to know the street" and "I never find a place where I belong" are a fair sample of the theme. On to the last verse and we have the lyrics:
"I stare at endless walls, pace endless floors
I lie in endless beds, slam endless doors"

This is where the question is derived from, with "roads" being the word not appearing.

Answer: Plastic

A song of a woman who is unobtainable. Her eyes are set on Heaven and her life controlled by the Good Book. "She walks on clouds of glory" and she's got "eyes in the back of her head".

The final verse runs:
"She trips the light fantastic
But she dances all alone
Her clothes are made of plastic
But her heart is made of stone, boys
Her heart is made of stone"

There is a reference to a rope made of barbed wire in the Richard Thompson song "Put it There Pal" but I don't recall any songwriter mentioning clothes of such. Silks and satins for a lady, the phrase seems familiar but not here. Sackcloth seems suitable for mourning but it does not appear in this song either.

Answer: Like a fish on a slab

With a similar theme to the previous track "Straight and Narrow" this song is about a woman who is difficult to have a relationship with. The difference in this case is that the relationship is possible but is unlikely to work out for the best.

The opening verse describes the situation thus:
"Northern winds will cut you
Northern girls will gut you
Leave you cold and empty
Like a fish on the slab"

Further on we get examples of the conflicting possibilities as the singer considers the situation. "Will the joys that tempt me. Soon turn and kick and stab."

Answer: All the time, I didn't know it

Put it together and you have each verse ending with "All the time, I didn't know it. I Was Saving The Good Stuff For You." The chorus also predominantly consists of the song's title. Of the other options, "Another small thing in her favour" is the one track on the album I haven't written a question about. The two remaining phrases both form the second line of a verse in this song.

The general theme here is of a man telling his lover that despite all the experiences he has had in life this time is the best, as he was "saving the good stuff for you" even though he didn't realise it at the time.