He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.
Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.
Josephine
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Josephine wishes the stars would appear
Breathless she'll run to her tryst
On the brow of the hill
If God will
Josephine looks for a rose
To perfume the tight angry curls of her hair
Again, but where
Or when
And the leaves blow in
And the leaves blow into the hall
Josephine dresses her wound
One scent of blood and he might disappear
Or maybe he'll want to devour her
Whole and complete
In a heart beat
Josephine talks in her sleep
More friends around her asleep than awake
Cries desolation to phantoms
But nobody hears
A dream's tears
And the leaves blow in
And the leaves blow into the hall
Josephine writes on the wall
Writes all the thoughts that escape from her head
Hundreds and thousands of words
Written small on a wall
That's all
In Richard Thompson's song "Josephine," the titular character is portrayed as a woman longing for love and connection. Through the imagery of pacing, wishing on stars, and dressing her wound, Josephine is shown to be anxious and vulnerable, waiting for her lover to arrive. Thompson's repetition of the lines "if God will" and "or when" emphasize the uncertainty and fragility of Josephine's situation. When she talks in her sleep, she reveals her greatest fears and desires, but there is nobody there to hear her. Ultimately, Josephine finds solace in writing all her thoughts on the wall, perhaps as a way of grappling with her own inner turmoil.
Thompson's use of vivid and sensory language creates a powerful image of Josephine's world. Her tight angry curls, the scent of blood, and the leaves blowing in all contribute to a sense of atmosphere and mood. Through these details, Thompson captures the complexity of Josephine's emotions and desires, and invites the listener to empathize with her struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Josephine paces her room
Josephine is restless and anxious, and she walks around her room to calm down
Josephine wishes the stars would appear
Josephine longs for a sign of hope, something to guide her in the darkness
Breathless she'll run to her tryst
Josephine is eagerly waiting for a secret rendezvous with her lover, and she will run to meet him without catching her breath
On the brow of the hill
Josephine and her lover have chosen a secluded spot, away from prying eyes, where they can be alone
If God will
Josephine is aware of the risks and uncertainties of their affair, and she hopes that fate will be kind to them
Josephine looks for a rose
Josephine wants to enhance her beauty and allure, and she searches for a fragrant flower to adorn her hair
To perfume the tight angry curls of her hair
Josephine's hair is tangled and wild, reflecting her inner turmoil and defiance, and she hopes that the sweet aroma of the rose will calm her down
He'll come this once, and maybe
Josephine's lover is unreliable and unpredictable, and she is uncertain whether he will show up as promised, or whether this will be their last meeting
Again, but where
Josephine wonders where they will meet again, and if they will ever be able to overcome the obstacles and restrictions that keep them apart
Or when
Josephine is desperate for any clue or hint that might help her anticipate her lover's next move, but she has no control over his actions
And the leaves blow in
The wind is a constant reminder of the passage of time, and the transience of love and life
And the leaves blow into the hall
The leaves that are blown into the hall symbolize the intrusion of reality and the outside world into Josephine's private space
Josephine dresses her wound
Josephine has been hurt, physically or emotionally, and she tends to her own pain, without seeking help from anyone else
One scent of blood and he might disappear
Josephine fears that her vulnerability and weakness might scare her lover away, or make him lose interest in her
Or maybe he'll want to devour her
Josephine is torn between her desire to please her lover and her fear of being consumed by him, or losing her own identity
Whole and complete
Josephine wants to be loved unconditionally, as a whole person, but she is afraid of losing herself in the process
In a heart beat
Josephine knows that her fate is tied to her lover's, and that her heart may break at any moment
Josephine talks in her sleep
Josephine's subconscious mind betrays her, revealing her deepest fears and desires, even when she is not fully conscious
More friends around her asleep than awake
Josephine feels isolated and misunderstood, surrounded by people who cannot relate to her struggles and emotions
Cries desolation to phantoms
Josephine's cries for help and comfort go unheard, and she feels abandoned and hopeless
But nobody hears
Josephine's despair and loneliness are compounded by the fact that she cannot find anyone to share her burden with
A dream's tears
Josephine's tears are the result of her dreams, hopes and wishes, which remain unfulfilled and unrealized
Josephine writes on the wall
Josephine expresses herself through words, which she writes down on the one surface that is available to her
Writes all the thoughts that escape from her head
Josephine's thoughts are abundant, chaotic and uncontainable, and she tries to capture them before they slip away
Hundreds and thousands of words
Josephine has so much to say, but no one to say it to, so she writes it all down instead
Written small on a wall
Josephine's words are small and insignificant compared to the vastness of her emotions, but they are all she has
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Drexler
This is another masterpiece by Richard thompson. His lyrics really makes you think. The thinking man's musician. Thanks for posting this.
Bouwe Bear
Josephine paces the room
Josephine wishes the stars would appear
Breathless she'll run to her tryst
On the brow of the hill
If God will
Josephine looks for a rose
To perfume the tight angry curls of her hair
He'll come this once, and maybe again, but where
Or when
And the leaves blow in
And the leaves blow into the hall
Josephine dresses her wound
One scent of blood and he might disappear
Or maybe he'll want to devour her whole and complete
In a heart beat
Josephine talks in her sleep
More friends around her asleep than awake
Cries desolation to phantoms
But nobody hears
A dream's tears
(Chorus)
Josephine writes on the wall
Writes all the thoughts that escape from her head
Hundreds and thousands of words written small on the wall
That's all.