I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight deed destijds weinig, wat wel te wijten zal zijn aan Thompson’s zwartgallige – soms regelrecht deprimerende – teksten. Aan het materiaal kan het in elk geval niet gelegen hebben. Dit is één van de mooiste songs van het album. “Probably the greatest Thomas Hardy novel that Hardy never wrote”, schrijft iemand op Youtube. Perfect samengevat.
This cruel country has driven me down
Teased me and lied, teased me and lied
I’ve only sad stories to tell to this town
My dreams have withered and died
Once I was bending the tops of the trees
Kind words in my ear, kind faces to see
Then I struck up with a boy from the West
Played run and hide, played run and hide
Count one to ten and he’s gone with the rest
My dreams have withered and died
Silver moon sail up and silver moon shine
On the waters so wide, waters so wide
Steal from the bed of some good friend of mine
My dreams are withered and died
If I was a butterfly, live for a day
I could be free just blowing away
This cruel country has driven me down
Teased me and lied, teased me and lied
I’ve only sad stories to tell to this town
My dreams have withered and died
Uitgelichte afbeelding: By Martinevans123 – Own work by the original uploader, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50614020
