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All audiences should be slightly off balance.

I want people to come to my music without prejudice. I want them to get the music first. And who I am isn't that important. If they like the songs to me that's a good thing.

I try to make songs visual and tactile to kind of put you into the action.

Richard Thompson

Action

Songs

I think the reason kids get into drugs and smoking is they don't have anything to do.

I probably wrote three-quarters of the songs without an instrument in my hands.

Richard Thompson

Songs

I like the idea of playing in unison with yourself.

Richard Thompson

Idea

I just like to entertain myself by sitting down and writing songs.

Richard Thompson

Songs

Writing

I'm always making a conscious effort to be viable and accessible.

Richard Thompson

Effort

As the writer, you're always a presence in the song. If you get close to what human beings are like, you're writing about common experience. We all do much the same things, so if you nail somebody, then you've also nailed yourself.

Amplifying acoustic instruments more than a little is really cheating, and everything becomes a compromise.

Richard Thompson

Cheating

Compromise

But music can save your life sometimes. It probably saved me from working in a bank or something. That's a kind of salvation right there.

Well, first of all it's entertainment. That stops us becoming too pretentious or thinking we're great artists.

I'm glad there are a lot of guitar players pursuing technique as diligently as they possibly can, because it leaves this whole other area open to people like me.

You want the audience to be uncomfortable.

Richard Thompson

Want

To stand up on a stage alone with an acoustic guitar requires bravery bordering on heroism. Bordering on insanity.