Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Sa… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on 9 December 1950) and brought up in Birmingham, England, is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.

She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.

Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.

Rosie
Joan Armatrading Lyrics

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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 I said "Awe Rosie, don't you do that to the boys

Don't you come on so willing
Don't you come on so strong
It can be so chillin'
When you act so willin'
And your warmth sets like the sun"

He has a little baby brother
A big fat mama
His sister asks for dimes on the street
He doesn't feel it's a cover
In fact he knows
For sure he can please

I said he's out there right now
Running with the devil
Struttin' down the alley ways
With the nervous young hopeful
At his heel
And know his satisfaction won't drive him away

And I said "Awe Rosie, don't you do that to the boys
Don't you come on so willing
Don't you come on so strong
It can be so chillin'
When you act so willin'
And your warmth sets like the sun"

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

And I said "Awe Rosie, don't you do that to the boys
Don't you come on so willing
Don't you come on so strong
It can be so chillin'
When you act so willin'
And your warmth sets like the sun"

And I said "Awe Rosie, don't you do that to the boys
Don't you come on so willing
Don't you come on so strong
It can be so chillin'
When you act so willin'
And your warmth sets like the sun"

And I said "Awe Rosie, don't you do that to the boys
Don't you come on so willing
Don't you come on so strong
It can be so chillin'

When you act so willin'
And your warmth"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joan Armatrading's "Rosie" tell the story of a man named Rosie who presents as a flamboyant drag queen. Despite his playful appearance and demeanor, he is actually quite calculated and only interested in leading men on and taking advantage of them. The singer warns, "Don't you come on so willing, don't you come on so strong," reminding the listener that acting too eager can be a turnoff and lead to disappointment. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of not being too forward and setting appropriate boundaries.

The song ultimately speaks to the complexities of romantic interactions and the challenges of navigating mutual attraction. Though Rosie may seem like a carefree figure, his manipulative behavior reflects the sometimes dark realities of love and desire.

Line by Line Meaning

He has little red feet
He wears shoes that are too small for him and his feet stick out.

His stockin's in his shoes
He has socks on and his shoes look too tight because they're bulging.

Lipstick and rouge on his face
He's wearing makeup on his face, including lipstick and blush.

He has his hair piled high
His hair is styled in a large piled up hairdo.

Has a red umbrella
He's carrying a red umbrella as an accessory.

And carries his head in the sky
He walks with his head held high, in a confident and proud manner.

And I said "Awe Rosie, don't you do that to the boys
The singer is warning Rosie not to behave in a certain way around men.

Don't you come on so willing
Don't be too eager or willing to engage with men.

Don't you come on so strong
Don't be too aggressive or assertive in your behavior around men.

It can be so chillin'
It can be unsettling or disturbing for men when women approach them too strongly.

When you act so willin'
When you appear too eager and enthusiastic in your behavior.

And your warmth sets like the sun"
Your initial friendliness and warmth can be fleeting and can quickly turn cold.

He has a little baby brother
He has a young sibling who is still an infant.

A big fat mama
His mother is large in size.

His sister asks for dimes on the street
His sister begs for money on the street.

He doesn't feel it's a cover
He doesn't believe that his family members are pretending or faking their situation.

In fact he knows
He is certain and confident that his family is truly struggling.

For sure he can please
He is confident that he can please others, even in difficult circumstances.

I said he's out there right now
The singer is describing the person who was previously mentioned.

Running with the devil
He's living recklessly and dangerously.

Struttin' down the alley ways
He's walking with confidence and swagger through narrow streets.

With the nervous young hopeful
Someone who is hopeful is following him anxiously.

At his heel
The hopeful person is following closely behind him.

And know his satisfaction won't drive him away
He won't be deterred or satisfied by a single encounter or experience.

He's not looking for a friend
He's not seeking genuine companionship or connection.

He's not looking for a lover
He's not seeking a romantic or intimate relationship.

There in the crowded bar
He's in a busy place, surrounded by people.

He has rings on his fingers
He wears jewelry on his hands, possibly as a display of wealth or status.

He's there to tease
He's flirting and playing with people's emotions.

You know he only wants to take things too far
He's interested in pushing boundaries and taking risks.

And your warmth
The singer is once again addressing Rosie's behavior around men.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Realsongs, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DIANE WARREN, JON BON JOVI, DESMOND CHILD, RICHARD SAMBORA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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