Stony Ground
Love's Thorny Dance: Richard Thompson's Stony Ground Tale
Lyrics
Old Man Morris got it bad last week
Old Man Morris faced a difficult situation recently
Fell for the widow from across the street
He became infatuated with a widow living across the street
She clipped him in the ear, she told him what's what
The widow confronted him and asserted her opinions
But he couldn't keep his mind off her honey pot
Despite her warning, he couldn't resist thinking about her allure
Silly old man with his teeth all gone
Morris is portrayed as an elderly man with missing teeth
Poking his nose where it don't belong
He meddles in affairs that do not concern him
She's a rose all right but she's got thorns
The widow is attractive but has her own challenges
Working on stony ground
They are in a difficult or unproductive situation
Lost his heart to Buxom Betty
Morris fell in love with Buxom Betty
Throwing out the compliments like confetti
He showered her with compliments excessively
Left and right, he threw them all around
He complimented others as well, but all in vain
But everything was landed on stony ground
All his efforts were fruitless, as they fell on unresponsive ears
Silly old man with his teeth all gone
Morris is still described as a foolish old man
Poking his nose where it don't belong
He continues to involve himself in inappropriate matters
She's a rose all right but she's got thorns
The widow is compared to a rose with thorns, symbolizing complexity
Working on stony ground
They are facing challenges and obstacles in their relationship
Widow's got a brother, henchman too
The widow has a protective brother and his intimidating friend
A pair of gorillas from the London Zoo
Her brother and his friend are powerful and imposing
They call on Morris and they tell him what's what
They warn Morris about the consequences of his actions
But he can't keep his mind off her honey pot
Despite the warning, Morris remains fixated on the widow
Silly old man with his teeth all gone
Morris is still portrayed as a foolish old man
Poking his nose where it don't belong
He persists in meddling where he shouldn't
She's a rose all right but she's got thorns
The widow is reiterated as a beautiful yet challenging woman
Working on stony ground
They are still facing difficulties in their relationship
Kicked him in the head, poked him in the eyes
Morris experiences physical harm from the widow's associates
Shoved him in the gutter and there he lies
He is mistreated and left in a vulnerable state
Dripping with blood, dripping with snot
Morris is injured and in a pitiful condition
But he's still dreaming of her you-know-what
Despite his plight, he continues to dream about the widow
Silly old man with his teeth all gone
Morris is once again described as a foolish old man
Poking his nose where it don't belong
His unwarranted interference leads to dire consequences
She's a rose all right but she's got thorns
The widow is compared to a rose with thorns, reiterating challenges
Working on stony ground
They continue to face difficulties and obstacles in their relationship
Working on stony ground
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