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Down Where the Drunkards Roll

[Richard Thompson]

Richard and Linda Thompson sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll in 1974 on their album I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight. A Richard Thompson solo live version with with Trevor Lucas singing backing vocals can be found on the fan-club cassette Doom and Gloom II (Over My Dead Body).

Trevor Lucas sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll with Sandy Denny harmonising at Fairport Convention’s L.A. Troubadour gig in February 1974 on the Sandy/Trevor cassette Together Again: The Attic Tracks Vol. 4.

Jim Mageean and Johnny Collins sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll in 1979 on their album Make the Rafters Roar.

Fraser and Ian Bruce sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll on their 1980 album Mrs Bruce’s Boys Vol 1; this track was also included in 2015 on their Greentrax anthology The Best of Mrs Bruce’s Boys. They noted on the first album:

A brilliant song by Richard Thompson illustrating the tragedies of drink and alcoholiam.“You may be Lord Jesus, all the world will understand Down Where the Drunkards Roll.” So often alcoholics are brushed aside as tramps and down-and-outs but beneath it all there’s a human being. This song is telling more of what the person imagines himself to be when drunk and hallucinating.

Tony Rose covered “Richard Thompson’s splendidly lugubrious hymn to Skid Row” [sleeve notes] in 1982 on his album Poor Fellows.

Martin and Jessica Simpson sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll in 1993 on the Hokey Pokey RT tribute album The World Is a Wonderful Place: Songs of Richard Thompson. This track was also included on Martin Simpson’s anthology The Definitive Collection.

Jon Boden sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll as the 21 September 2010 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Damien Barber and Mike Wilson sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll in 2011 on their CD The Old Songs.

Andy Turner sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll as the 26 March 2015 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll in 2015 on their CD Summat’s Brewin’. They commented:

We’ve loved the version sung by Linda Thompson for many years, so this album was a perfect excuse to finally cover it.

John Smith sang Down Where the Drunkards Roll in 2024 on Ben Nicholl’s Hudson album Duets.

A wonderful brilliant parody called Down With the Sausage Roll can be found on Les Barker and the Mrs. Ackroyd Band’s album Gnus and Roses.

Lyrics

Please find the lyrics for this song at Richard Thompson’s website.