Get ready for the Festival, In The Backyard July 25, 2007

So unsuccessful is John Otway – he makes a living now out of being a glorious failure and a laugh and appears in the Circus tent at Glastonbury, I can’t find his lyrics nor downloadable “Josephine” anywhere on the web.

He was born near me. I saw him in the market square at Aylesbury. Heard the legend of him and girls and horses up Princes Risborough way.

Then one day more recently I heard he was coming my new way, well not far away – to Alston Village Hall, up there in the hills and wilds of Cumbria. Right sort of place for him. Indeed John Otway claims to be some sort of Lord Otway with a ‘seat’ in nearby Sedbergh area somewhere.

There he was, backstage of the hall, waiting to go on. Mary The Faerie in support. I bought Mary a pizza because she looked like she needed it – her set was terrible.

John was next and larking about to a packed hall. Alston loves music and being different. He was balancing on chairs on chairs crashing to the floor with microphone, remarkably uninjured.

Something was lacking in the performance – the serious, beautiful side. During his interval I asked him to play “Josephine”. He looked at me, slightly surprised. I started reciting even singing the lyrics – he joined in. Okay he said, Okay, I will sing it.

I heard he did sing it, beautifully. But I was gone before he did, on a 400 mile drive south to get married.

JOSEPHINE by JOHN OTWAY
“Get ready for the festival
for the festival is only once a year
raise your glasses in the air
and fill the barrels full of beer
Mother Nature weave a wand
Over this lady’s hand
May her reign mean a good year
On our land

And the legend Josephine
The blonde blue-eyed May Queen
Spent the night
In the arms of her lover
The day before the crown
Gifts and flowers by her bed
Tired eyes and sleepy head
Stay warm til the morning calls you in.

And the crowd scream Josephine
Our May Day eyes are on you
And the people sing and drown in wine
To crown the Queen of springtime…

…It’s a long song (seven minutes)

I will try and find out more about who was Josephine. And if there is a Josephine alive and well today.
John may play it live for you amidst the tomfoolery if you sneak round the back of the stage iron his shirt for him and remind him how it goes. Catch him at, amongst other places Fri 3rd August Chalgrove Festival Oxon 01993 201327 Sun 5th Rhythm Festival (OTWAY & BARRETT) Fri 10th Rattlinghope Farmer Phil’s Festival (Band) Sat 11th Blackpool Rebellion Festival Sun 19th Cambridge Rock Festival (Band) Sun 26th Midsomer Norton Music Festival Mon 27th – 1st Sept Arundel Festival (Six Nights)