Thompson, Richard - Persuasion Lyrics






You and I
Tempted by the promise of a different life
Time has fled
There's a constant battle running through my head

And I don't know what to do
'Cause I still believe

After all the foolish things that we've been through
I could always make a start on something new
And I've always been a man who's open to
Persuasion

Blind romance
There'll be no half measures given half a chance
But we never learn
Trusting in the fire while the cruel flame burns

And we need to rebuild
What was never there
What got left behind

After all the foolish things you put me through
I could always make a start on something new
And I'll always be a man who's open to
Persuasion

And it's written in my heart
So that everybody can see it
And it's written in my soul
After all I still believe it
I still believe it, don't you know
I still believe it

And I don't know what to do
'Cause I still believe

After all the foolish things that we've been through
I could always make a start on something new
And I'll always be a man who's open to
Persuasion, persuasion

Ooh I still believe it
Oh yes I still believe it
Oh don't you know don't you know don't you know
Oh persuasion
Oh persuasion
I still believe it





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

Thompson, Richard Persuasion Comments
  1. B.... V....

    What happened to the video of the live version?

  2. S.... ....

    Gets better with age. Richard is so underrated as a songwriter. And Teddy’s voice is amazing.

  3. P.... P....

    Still sounds great 20 years on thanks you R and T

  4. B.... H....

    A song to drive by. Time and anxiety fly away and you float along. Such exquisite lyrics and a gorgeous rendition by a Father and his Son. Such a blessing to sing with your child. Thank you for sharing.

  5. P.... P....

    Saw them do this in Dublin 10 odd years ago, never forgot it really great track , thank you

  6. P.... P....

    You know it sounds even better., what a track thanks

  7. M.... S....

    Has there ever been a father and son team who could make such beautiful music?

  8. M.... K....

    I miss transatlantic sessions with a glass of Irish

  9. M.... M....

    Recently came across this song - what truth life sentiments - always choosing to believe that something will work even when the evidence says it wont.

  10. S.... M....

    I need this to calm myself down..........things are just too
    much

  11. s.... o....

    Sublimely beautiful vocals and harmonies.

  12. E.... L....

    Great video...of a great song! Thanks arkgunslinger!

    E.... L....

    Edward La Corte
    thank you for watching !

  13. c.... z....

    "We need to build what was never there" how sad but true.

  14. J.... G....

    Great song. When I heard the song first on Spotify I assumed it was Tim O'Brien joining in (anyone else go there?). Glad to be introduced to Teddy whose voice I now like as much as Tim O'Brien's!

  15. d.... d....

    Well done arkgunslinger. What a great song. I really appreciate your efforts even if some others don't. Keep up the good work.

    d.... d....

    Thanks del de lorme!

  16. M.... D....

    If you want an illustration of the Holy Spirit;look no further.

  17. M.... D....

    Art we not all sons and daughters of God? God is ways open to persuasion, he love us so much.

  18. M.... D....

    This is the conversation between the Father and Son. .

  19. s.... ....

    I'm swooning.

  20. M.... ....

    16 dislikes because of the shitty video. NOT because of the song lol

    M.... ....

    Hey, I do say in the description "The video is lame.." but the song is great and I hope you're right the dislikes are due to my lame video and the likes are for the song.
    15 dislikes vs 431 likes from over 200K views, I'm OK with that.

    M.... ....

    Haha. Hey, no disrespect toward your video it's great because you're sharing such a wonderful song with all these people but yeah I've made these kind of videos in the past too with Windows Movie Maker. lol

  21. B.... B....

    Richard, Linda, and Teddy- The First Family of Modern Music

    B.... B....

    +Billy B I'll drink to that!

  22. f.... ....

    One of my favorites!

    f.... ....

    teddy's got it !

  23. b.... ....

    Had the great pleasure of seeing the two of them perform this wonderful song at the Ridgefield Theater in Ridgefield Ct. about 2 or 3 years ago

  24. J.... J....

    One of those songs that stops you in your tracks and makes you listen breathlessly..... gorgeous.....

  25. b.... ....

    Teddy Thompson's voice touches my soul.

  26. y.... ....

    this is such a beautiful song; what stunning vocals. <3
    "i don't know what to do/ because i still believe"

  27. t.... p....

    Saw them do it in Dublin must be 12 years ago and it still stops me in my trcks just like it did that night increadable track  

  28. R.... J....

    A sublimely beautiful song, and you get a sense of real closeness between father and son. Love it.

    R.... J....

    yeah... not so much... http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/teddy-thompsons-folk-rock-family-reunion.html?_r=0

  29. J.... K....

    Possibly the most beautiful song ever

    J.... K....

    John King One of the most for sure

  30. G.... P....

    brilliant thanks for uploading, i love your video!
    i've seen them both loads of times but never together, this really is a double act of a song, richard brings all the character and story, but no doubt, teddy is the voice, when he opens his mouth to sing it's a perfect countrified tenor, amazing to listen to

    G.... P....

    Very good

  31. j.... ....

    I still believe it

  32. j.... ....

    It still sounds awesome. One of the best songs ever written. Great voices, and music with such wonderful emotion.

  33. w.... ....

    Richard wrote the main body of the song as an instrumental for a movie soundtrack (Sweet Talker)- Tim Finn, if I recall correctly, wrote the words and the 'middle eight'. Not a 'Finn Bros' song when only one's involved. :)

  34. e.... ....

    Thanks. I came to Richard via Teddy, who has to be one of the most underrated singer-songwriters around. Great songwriter and his voice is spectacular. Also, really good, fun performer. The NY TImes did a piece on him a few years back and I thought it was sign he on his way but he's still slow burn. Maybe he's for discerning tastes only.

  35. M.... P....

    I grew up in the urban city with rap and R&B and I really love this group. This song is awesome. So soulful and heartfelt.

    M.... P....

    I know what you mean – there's something undeniable here.

  36. j.... ....

    Still sounds awesome

  37. L.... H....

    Great version of Finn Bros song (split enz, crowded house)!

    L.... H....

    Lynn Humphrey I love the Finn brothers.

  38. g.... ....

    Teddy's voice is majestic. Their blend is incredible. The song -- perfect!

  39. a.... ....

    Sorry there, Witt but what lead you to believe this was a live performance video? The title does not say "Live"?

  40. m.... g....

    Pisses me off when posters represent posts as live performances as represented by photos ...I have the CD...I was hoping to see the performance...if it's just a recording, let us know...wee can handle it.

  41. V.... E....

    I am not one for "father-son" kind of things, especially in music, but I have to say that Teddy is a talent in his own right. Wow, what music has come from this family. Teddy reminds me of Lyle Levitt, but maybe better even.

  42. E.... ....

    I have listened to this countless times and every time I'm intent on listening to every lyric but before I know it I'm in a blissful world of my own and this is the soundtrack.

  43. t.... p....

    I was lucky enough to catch them do this live in Dublin a few years ago absolutely stunning

  44. g.... w....

    Great post, I love both Father & Son, even the Mothers brilliant if "erratic "

  45. p.... t....

    I hope people realize that half this song was written by a Finn brother. The Finn Brothers have written some of the finest songs ever.

  46. L.... P....

    I still cannot understand how this song is not a standard, it has to be one of the most emotionally honest songs I know of. Plus it's also just a real great song with a great melody line.

  47. j.... ....

    CROPREDY??

  48. a.... ....

    Ha! I wish I was the artist!
    I love this performance by the father & son ( Richard & Teddy Thompson) and put this video(corny as it is) together back in 07 in the hopes of getting others to listen to this great song and appreciate their tremendous musical talent.
    Still one of my favorite performances..

  49. D.... R....

    I can't tell you in words what a fantastic song and performance this is. I write ,sing and perform my own songs, and I have to say you have certainly nailed the performance,
    Not to mention the licks, and harmonies.
    I love it!! Just brilliant, and great voices too!!
    Well done, I'm humbled.

  50. a.... ....

    Glad you find it "amusing"! A friend asked me to post the song a few years back and I just had a bit of fun with the video.
    So I ended up with a very goofy video for a very beautiful song. Hopefully one or the other makes people smile.

  51. M.... J....

    I think the video is amusing in its literalness. I've watched this a few times.

  52. p.... ....

    @arkgunslinger ...most welcome...maybe I shall get around to posting the instrumental but it could be a while!

  53. a.... ....

    @preyeus
    Thanks for the info. & for stopping by.

  54. p.... ....

    This was originally an instrumental composed by RT for the soundtrack of the film 'Sweet Talker'. Tim Finn did indeed write the lyrics (as you mentioned in an earlier post) resulting in this excellent piece.

  55. b.... j....

    @kristlkrost I know this true also. My day has been filled with tears and then for the first time I heard this song. How fitting.

  56. s.... ....

    Brilliant, simple as!!!!

  57. a.... ....

    Fabulous - thank you!

  58. M.... ....

    @arkgunslinger Oh I see, very nice

  59. P.... V....

    @ak47doubletap CDs can fail too, I have a few which cannot be played without errors. And there is a way of backing up your iTunes of course...

  60. a.... ....

    @MrHano2013
    You're welcome.

  61. H.... J....

    Thanks for posting this .. I love this version a lot, if not most ..

  62. a.... ....

    @blearyeyed09
    Thanks for watching

  63. s.... ....

    @ak47doubletap Thank you. Once heard, it will never be lost, because you'll always carry it with you. Wonderful music, will be made, with or without monetary compensation to the person making it. It's innate to our species.

  64. s.... ....

    @TomRAFC It's possible to show support without buying stuff.

  65. T.... ....

    @sptfgpn to support the legend that has gifted it to you

  66. T.... ....

    @ak47doubletap richard has been relatively unsucessfull in the grand scheme of things for some reason, teddy is well on track to outselling his dad aslong as he keeps making records. Richard is the greatest living songwriter.

  67. s.... ....

    Why would I want to purchase it, when I can listen to it here for free?

  68. a.... ....

    KeriHarkins96, sorry for your loss. I hope your Uncle had a long life.

  69. a.... ....

    Thanks Ox!

  70. a.... ....

    bomagosh, Ironically enoough joni36 and I posted our videos on the exact same day over two years ago. I posted mine because I wanted people to hear this great song and it wasn't on YT at the time.
    I didn't find out about joni36's scottish TV 99 version until sometime later.

    BTW I happen to like the live performance video as well!

  71. b.... ....

    I love this tune. I believe it first appeared as an instrumental on Sweet Talker. This is a great version but as long as you're on youtube, click on the scottish TV 99 version. Astounding.

  72. j.... ....

    Thanks so much!

  73. T.... M....

    Thank you!!!!

  74. a.... ....

    It's on Richard's "Action Packed the best of the capital years" (you can see the cover @ 00:16 in the video.)
    I think I bought mine from Amazon.

  75. j.... ....

    Thanks so much for letting me know. Is it available on cd, anywhere?? I'm addicted to it! Best Wishes, Thia.

  76. a.... ....

    I believe Richard wrote the music and Tim wrote the lyrics.

  77. j.... ....

    Just realised why this song reminded me so much of Crowded House songs. Tim Finn, brother of Neil Finn had some input into it. So who actually wrote it , Tim Finn, or Richard Thompson, or both?

  78. j.... ....

    This just gets more amazing everytime I listen to it. Such beautiful voices , music, and lyrics.

  79. g.... ....

    It is all amazing... seriously. If you enjoy his voice on this song you are in for a real treat. Brilliant vocals on every record.

  80. j.... ....

    Brilliant song, and brilliantly sung.

  81. a.... ....

    Drumbinnisbrian, glad you enjoyed it!

  82. a.... ....

    bradburyslaw, thanks for confirming that and for stopping by.

  83. M.... W....

    Richard wrote the music and Tim Finn wrote the lyrics some time later

  84. a.... ....

    Thanks for commenting elenapullix !
    Glad you enjoyed the Thompsons.

  85. a.... ....

    I believe Richard co-wrote it with Tim Finn.

  86. a.... ....

    Just a silly play on the word soul ( sole ).

  87. M.... ....

    Why was there a picture of feet?

  88. a.... ....

    thanks, romyarena!

  89. a.... ....

    littlewingg, glad you liked the song anyway :)

  90. C.... R....

    the song is awesome, but yes, the video is lame

  91. _.... ....

    Wait....What? Speak english.

  92. y.... ....

    Thanks for the tip, hurleym65. I heard this live before I heard the recorded version, and much prefer the live. The studio version is overproduced (who decided the light-rock percussion track was a good idea?). Still a lovely song in any case, but I'm glad to hear there's a live version preserved on commercially available recording.

  93. a.... ....

    Thanks biggears64 !

  94. a.... ....

    fryeme1more, Glad you enjoyed it.

  95. M.... H....

    My favorite version of this is the live take with RT & Teddy on Celtschmerz (possibly the finest RT live album, available only from his web site); but this comes pretty close. I saw them do this live at the Buskirk in Bloomington, IN and it was mesmerizing. If RT comes to your town, go see him!

  96. J.... P....

    Met your uncle, 5 weeks ago, Interviewed him for the radio before he played a concert over here in the Shetland Islands (scotland).
    Great musician great guy too.

  97. d.... ....

    They must feel great that you are so proud of them.

  98. a.... ....

    I agree with mouse2227 your grandfather and uncle are awesome!

  99. m.... T....

    your grandfather and uncle are awesome!

  100. a.... ....

    draziwthe, thank you very much and I agree this is my favorite version.