Queen Josephine

[chip withrow]

Just watched the bongos video in another thread here, decided to post this one with a bit of my percussion playing in it.
I started writing this song in 2004, when our daughter Josie was 2. Finally got it right and put it on an album called Brother Bird.
Many of you have mixing and mastering skills I just don't possess, so Black Dog Studio in Tampa, Florida helped with the album. Most of the songs are much more layered and sophisticated, but this one sounds pretty much like me when I perform. I learned a lot from the guys at Black Dog, but I still have a ways to go.
I play this song at just about every one of my gigs, and lately I've been doing it more slowly with more fingerpicked guitar. I've also done it as a solo piano song.

Queen Josephine

All hail Queen Josephine
She's the toughest girl you have ever seen
Life's a carnival and she is the prize
Secret language hidden in her eyes
Queen Josephine

Dancing tiptoe across the floor
She don't stop for nothing when she's running out the door
Star of pillowfighting puddle-stomping scenes
I can't say enough about my one and only
Queen Josephine

She talks to angels cause I can't hear what they say
Sun shines in her window even on a cloudy day
She likes to dance on a brick wall in the park
She likes to fall asleep singing in the dark

You want to protect her as she's climbing up the walls
You want to be there for her every time she falls
You want to throw your arms around her and save her from this world
She says, "That's OK, I'm not a little girl."

She's my hero Queen Josephine
Wants to be a pirate every Halloween
Can't count high enough for the blessings she's given me
All she wants is a day at the beach and a lemon tree
Queen Josephine

 We could all learn a lesson from Queen Josephine
She'd never hurt your feelings but she says just what she means
Tries hard to share her toys and she'll give what's in her heart
I've known her for a thousand years and we've never been apart
Queen Josephine

[Vanncad]

Chip - this is great!

Has a sort of Cake flavour to it (that is a damn good thing to me - one of my favourite bands)

Wants to be a pirate every Halloween

= I love that lyric man. Great one!


Love that shaker too!

[stoman]

Nice and groovy, Chip! You can write some very catchy tunes.

Regards,
  Steffen

[Gritter]

Love this song...it's beautiful, it's catchy and it touched me deeply.

[cuthbert]

Don't know if it was intentional, but the bongos here kind of reminded me of tiny footsteps. I like percussion arrangement, and the overall direct sound you've gotten on this.

Nice acoustic tune, chip!

[Ferryman]

Another brilliant song for tonight's listening. The lyrics on this are brilliant, they nearly brought a tear to my eyes just reading them. Great chord sequences, great performance of a truly wonderful song. I'd love to hear this with a bit more production as well - not much, but perhaps a bit more guitar and some harmonies on the chorus and the na na na nas. Enjoyed the percussion as well.

Great stuff, superb song.

Cheers,

Nigel

[launched]

I love the freshness you displayed here - Fantastic tune!

Mark

[Greeny]

I like the clean, uncluttered mix and performance of this very much. The songwriting is fresh, catchy and completely wonderful. Those lyrics are sheer class. I can hear Tom Petty doing this. Mighty fine!

[Geir]

I have too little tome these days to catch every tune here, but I'm sure glad I didn't miss this one!!

Brilliant songwriting, and I love the naked production of this as well.

Would love to see and hear you do this live !

[Gary F]

Great songwriting Chip!!!
Catchy melody!

Gary