Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British singer/songwriter and guitarist. Highly regarded for his guitar techniques, Thompson was awarded the Orville H. Gibson award for best acoustic guitar player in 1991. Similarly, his songwriting has earned him an Ivor Novello Award and, in 2006, a lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio. Thompson made his debut as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in September 1967. He left the group in 1971 and began recording with his wife as Richard & Linda Thompson, before their marriage dissolved in 1983. Since then, Thompson has maintained a critically-acclaimed solo career.

He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.

Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.

My Daddy Is a Mummy
Richard Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh my name is Amenhotep
I'm a prince of the Nile
When my daddy died
He really went in style
They put him in his burial chamber
With his favourite things
For his afterlife journey
Oh that's because he's a king

Now my daddy is a mummy
He's inside a pyramid
Oh my daddy is a mummy
Close the door, shut the lid
(Join me kids)
My daddy is a mummy
He's inside a pyramid
Oh my daddy is a mummy
Close the door, shut the lid

Well a priest made a potion
And he rubbed him lots
Then they wrapped him up in bandages
Put him in a stone box
Then they covered it in gold
And they sealed it up tight
'Cause you wouldn't want him sneaking out
In the middle of the night

Well my daddy is a mummy
He's inside a pyramid
Oh my daddy is a mummy
Close the door, shut the lid

Three thousand years later
Ah it's really too bad
They put him in a museum
Won't you come and see my dad

Oh my daddy is a mummy
He's inside a pyramid
My daddy is a mummy
Close the door, shut the lid

Yes my name is Amenhotep
Be my penpal, write to me
Just send me a postcard
To a 1000 BC
Then send it off to Egypt
Well that's the name of my land
But please write in hieroglyphics
Or I won't understand

Yeah my daddy is a mummy
He's inside a pyramid
Ohh, my daddy is a mummy
Close the door, shut the lid
Aay my daddy is a mummy
He's inside a pyramid

Oh my daddy is a mummy
Close the door, shut the lid

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Richard Thompson's song My Daddy Is a Mummy are a tribute to the ancient Egyptian culture and its customs surrounding death and afterlife. The song humorously narrates the story of Amenhotep, a prince whose dad, the king, passed away and was mummified according to tradition. The song starts with Amenhotep introducing himself as a prince of the Nile and explaining that his father died in style. He then describes the process of mummification, which involves placing the deceased's possessions and essential items in the burial chamber, wrapping the body in bandages, and sealing it in a gold-covered stone box. The song then propels forward to the present day, where Amenhotep's father's mummy is on display in a museum.

The catchy chorus declares proudly that "my daddy is a mummy, he's inside a pyramid, close the door, shut the lid." The song is a witty commentary on the enduring fascination that the ancient Egyptians' burial practices and beliefs continue to evoke in people. The song is a satirical take on the Egyptian culture, and Thompson seems to be having great fun with his subject matter, while he remains respectful.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh my name is Amenhotep
Introducing the singer by name

I'm a prince of the Nile
Identifying the singer as a royal figure

When my daddy died
Referring to the death of the singer's father

He really went in style
Describing the grandeur of the father's burial

They put him in his burial chamber
Stating where the father was placed after death

With his favourite things
Mentioning that the father was buried with his prized possessions

For his afterlife journey
Explaining the purpose of the burial ritual

Oh that's because he's a king
Attributing the father's lavish burial to his royal status

Now my daddy is a mummy
Referring to the father's preserved corpse

He's inside a pyramid
Providing the location of the father's burial

Close the door, shut the lid
Calling for the closure of the pyramid

Well a priest made a potion
Describing the embalming process

And he rubbed him lots
Additional detail on the embalming process

Then they wrapped him up in bandages
Explaining how the father's body was preserved

Put him in a stone box
Describing the container of the father's mummified body

Then they covered it in gold
Detailing the decoration of the father's container

And they sealed it up tight
Explaining how the father's tomb was secured

'Cause you wouldn't want him sneaking out
Humorously suggesting the motive behind the tight security

In the middle of the night
Further emphasizing the humor of the previous line

Three thousand years later
Jumping ahead in time to the present day

Ah it's really too bad
Expressing regret over the father's current situation

They put him in a museum
Stating where the father's body currently resides

Won't you come and see my dad
Inviting the listener to visit the father's museum exhibit

Yes my name is Amenhotep
Reintroducing the artist

Be my penpal, write to me
Requesting communication from the listener

Just send me a postcard
Specifying the requested form of communication

To a 1000 BC
Providing the time period where the singer resides

Then send it off to Egypt
Identifying the destination for the postcard

Well that's the name of my land
Clarifying the artist's country of origin

But please write in hieroglyphics
Humorously requesting that the postcard be written in the singer's native language

Or I won't understand
Expanding on the previous line's humor

Aay my daddy is a mummy
Repeating the earlier line

He's inside a pyramid
Repeating the earlier line

Oh my daddy is a mummy
Repeating the earlier line

Close the door, shut the lid
Repeating the earlier line

Contributed by Sophie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@drychaf

I'll never forget this performance - the only time, alas, that I saw RT. He was so masterful on that stage, it was mesmerising. And what he was able to do with that guitar! He filled the airwaves as if he was a band. As good as his recordings are, there's a very different dynamic live. As I say - he was masterful.

I was also surprised to see Strawbs play - some 30 years after I'd got into them as a kid. Quite emotional to see them, again for the only time. Sang my heart out.

I wish I'd returned regularly to Trowbridge Village Pump Fest - they always had a great line-up, and it was easy to get to see everyone.

Thanks for the upload. Did you ever get to see Steve Hillage at Bath Free fest? That's going back a bit! Again, memorable. Ah, my youth.

@rondennis3059

No didnt see that

@GrilloTheFlightless

I remember seeing Richard play live in Guildford - it must have been late 90s, or 2000 at the absolute latest. He performed this and the audience went mad for it. Towards the end of the gig Richard opened up to audience requests. So we all shouted for him to play this one again. And he kindly obliged, despite appearing baffled as to why we would want him to. That was a great night out!