I was around five when I first heard ‘Rosie’ by Joan Armatrading. My mum had the “How Cruel” EP and “Rosie” was the house favourite.
Growing up I remember playing it non-stop on the record player (remember those), often ignoring the rest of the tracks on the EP. Something about the catchy chorus, cool piano solo in the mid-section remininscent of steel pans giving the song this tropical island sound, had me joyfully singing and dancing along.
Unsurprisingly back then I never really gave much thought to the lyrics, except to note that Rosie was somehow “willing” and came on “so strong”. I had a vague idea that this alluded to some sort of promiscuity but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realised that ‘Rosie’ was about a male prostitute in drag.
Thinking about it now, it’s obvious as the first verse shows:
He has little red feet
His stockin’s in his shoes
Lipstick and rouge on his face
He has his hair piled high
Has a red umbrella
And carries his head in the sky
And then in the final verse:
He’s not looking for a friend
He’s not looking for a lover
There in the crowded bar
He has rings on his fingers
He’s there to tease
You know he only wants to take things too far
It was a visit to Times Square in New York City in the 70s that inspired Joan Armatrading to write ‘Rosie’. Back then, the area was known for it’s seediness, crime and prostitution:
And I think it was 42nd Street or a street like that, there were all these gay guys and they were in their little shoes and their little shorty shorts. And that’s where I got ‘Rosie’ from, watching all the young boys in their kind of Rosie gear. That’s how I came up with ‘Rosie’.1
“Rosie” is a one of many examples of Armatrading’s ability to tell a story in song form. With her keen observational skills, she has created an almost larger than life character, who is showy, teasing and playful in his interactions.
And it’s near impossible to not love the character Rosie as he is so self assured, so loveable and knows exactly who he is even though it may not be clear to others. His playful persona shines through the song leaving the listener with a warmth that is in sharp contrast to the perhaps grim reality of the environment Rosie and others like him reside in.
Although “Rosie” was released as a single in the UK, it was not included on an album, and wasn’t a big hit. But it’s a firm favourite for many Joan Armatrading fans, and never fails to put a smile on my face whenever I hear it.
Listen to Rosie here:
Just Read It 