Ever wondered what happened to Maggie May once Rod told her to wake up because he had something to say?
Well, Acclaimed songwriter David Rotheray who many of you will know from The Beautiful South has been pondering the same thing, and now he’s put together an album of ‘Answer Ballads’, the continuation of Maggie and other characters’ stories.
The album was released this week, on Navigator Records. Each song is based on a character created in a song by somebody else. Every character is also played by a different performer. Maggie’s Song features Radio 2 Folk Award Winner Eliza Carthy on vocals.Other songs include answers to The Police’s Roxanne and Elton John’s Daniel,
David told SMILER ‘”The idea for the ‘Answer Ballads’ album was to take characters who are the subjects of other people’s songs, and tell their story from their point of view. In the case of Maggie May, I’d always imagined her as a very warm character, who lived life to the full – I liked her- and I’d always felt the ‘Rod’ character should have stuck with her! I figured he was lucky to have her. So in my song I imagine them meeting again years later, him being shocked at how old she seems , and she gently upbraiding and chiding him. It’s an affectionate song but also a slightly aggrieved one.”
David also gave us the lyrics to Maggie’s song…
Maggie’s Song
Right until the end, Maggie continued to indulge her taste for younger men. Some lasted a year , some a day. All of them were grateful.
When i saw you again, after all this time
All you saw was the changes
My story was written line by line
You can’t read my book, just by counting the pages
I’ve lived my life a butterfly,
In a series of painful stages
So make the most of me
You’ll miss me when I’m history
I’m not the girl I was maybe
And likely never more will be
Why don’t you buy an old VW van
And paint it psychedelic
For yesterday’s old rusty heap
May become a precious relic
And just like every year that passes me by
Just makes my face unique
And yesterday’s old castaway
May become a fine antique
So make the most of me
You’ll miss me when I’m history
I’m not the girl I was maybe
And likely never more will be
Why don’t you dig out all those old 45’s
You left up in the attic
For yesterday’s embarassment
May become a future classic
And just like every year that passes me by
Only makes my face unique
For honey, I’m a vintage wine
And you can taste me at my peak
So make the most of me
You’ll miss me when I’m history
I’m not the girl I was maybe
And likely never more will be
Written by: D. Rotheray/ E. Carthy
And here is the track listing and a link to buy the Answers Ballads album
1.Mrs Jones’ Song (featuring Lisa Knapp)
2.Maggie’s Song (featuring Eliza Carthy)
3.Daniel’s Song (featuring Kris Drever)
4.Roxanne’s Song (featuring Kathryn Williams)
5.Pearl’s Song (featuring Gemma Hayes)
6.Billy-Joe’s Song (featuring John Smith)
7.Marie’s Song (featuring Josienne Clarke)
8.Bobby’s Song (featuring Naomi Bedford)
9.Lucille’s Song (featuring Mary Coughlan)
10.Mrs Avery’s Song (featuring Jackie Oates)
11.Sylvia’s Song (featuring Bella Hardy)
12.Dino’s Song (featuring Alasdair Roberts)
13.Jolene’s Song (featuring Julie Murphy)