When Stephens received several requests for The New Vaudeville Band to tour he had to put together a group, since the song was recorded by studio musicians hired only for the recording session. He contacted a real group, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, which played similar music at the time. Only Bob Kerr from that group was interested, so he left The Bonzos to help Stephens form a touring version of The New Vaudeville Band. The lead singer of the touring version of the group was Alan Klein, who was billed as 'Tristram—Seventh Earl Of Cricklewood'. The group enjoyed success for two years until the novelty wore off. Kerr then formed his own group, Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band, which continues to perform.
In 1967, The New Vaudeville Band released the Finchley Central LP.
Rosie
New Vaudeville Band Lyrics
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"The Rose and Crown"
And one day I met Rosie there
She served my drink with a knowing wink
I knew I would get somewhere
I heard her whisper she was mine
So we left before closing time
There′s a pile of dirty glasses
Standing in the rack
Rosie, Rosie, stand by me
And those vile and bitter memories
Will soon be gone, you'll see
As the nights grow cold
In my arms I'll hold
The girl I call my Rosie Dear
I sometimes feel that it′s all unreal
And Rose′s thoughts aren't with me here
′Cause as I give my love a squeeze
She says, "Time, gentleman, please!"
The New Vaudeville Band's "Rosie" tells the story of a man who visits a pub called "The Rose and Crown" and meets Rosie, the bartender. He immediately feels a connection with her and she reciprocates with a "knowing wink" as she serves him a drink. They leave the pub together before closing time, and as they begin a romantic relationship, the man becomes worried that Rosie may not feel the same level of attachment that he does. He longs to hold her in his arms as the nights grow cold but acknowledges that she may not be fully invested in the relationship, as she reminds him to respect closing time and go home.
The lyrics of the song illustrate the tension between loving someone and fearing unrequited love. The singer is excited at the thought of being with Rosie, yet he is also worried that he might not mean as much to her as she does to him. The contrast between the joy of the first two verses and the more conflicted feelings expressed in the final verse demonstrates the range of emotions that can accompany a new relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a pub in town called "The Rose and Crown"
I know a local watering hole named 'The Rose and Crown'
And one day I met Rosie there
I met a woman named Rosie while drinking at that pub one day
She served my drink with a knowing wink
Rosie winked at me while serving my drink, indicating her interest in me
I knew I would get somewhere
Her gesture made me confident that I could win her over and we might have some fun
I heard her whisper she was mine
At some point, she whispered to me that we would be romantically involved
So we left before closing time
We left the pub early, presumably to spend time together elsewhere
Rosie, Rosie, don't look back
Don't worry about the past, just focus on the present and what we have together
There's a pile of dirty glasses standing in the rack
Just let the pub and everything else fade away
Rosie, Rosie, stand by me
Rosie, please support me and don't give up on us
And those vile and bitter memories will soon be gone, you'll see
Together we can overcome any dark memories and feelings we may have
As the nights grow cold
As the weather and the world around us become harsh and unwelcoming
In my arms I'll hold the girl I call my Rosie dear
I'll embrace you and be with the woman I love, Rosie
I sometimes feel that it's all unreal
Sometimes I question if this relationship is real or not, questioning if you could really love me
And Rose's thoughts aren't with me here
I worry that Rosie may not be fully present or invested in this relationship
'Cause as I give my love a squeeze
Yet despite these doubts, I still show affection for her
She says, "Time, gentleman, please!"
When I try to make further advances, Rosie reminds me to respect her boundaries and that we may need to slow down
Writer(s): Geoff Stephens, John Carter
Contributed by Gabriel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Walsh
Love it such a good performance makes me feel happy
Vladimir Paunovic
kod nas je ova pesma izašla na ploči zajedno sa winchester chatedral i jako mi se dopadala ali crkao mi je gramofon pa sam se sada setio ove lepe pesme
brett symington
This was played a lot on Radio 1 and there was also a cover version, which got played regularly, but I can't remember who it was.
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a 73yo Aussie fan.
Baron Frankenstein
🥂🍻🍷🍸🍹🍺
sten-esben aamot
I miss the recording of I wounder who kissing her now
Shane Fleming
dah deh deh