Song For Josh

Album: Positive Songs For Negative People (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a somber dedication to Josh Burdette, the security guard at Washington punk hangout, the 9:30 Club who committed suicide in 2013. "He was a staple of the American punk scene. When he died, Green Day had his picture up behind them in stadiums, Frank Turner recalled to NME in 2015. "He and I were very good friends. When I did the show at Wembley he did security for me, which was just an excuse for me to hang out with my buddy."

    "He took his own life a year and a half ago – nobody saw it coming at all," he added. "The song was recorded in front of his crowd in his venue. His whole family and all the 9:30 crew were there."
  • The song is the closing track of Positive Songs for Negative People and brings a really poignant end to the record. Turner told Digital Spy: "You know, I'm a songwriter. The things that bother me tend to emerge sooner or later in the form of songs. Once it was done and out there I was thinking about how and when to record it... should it be on the album, that kind of thing. And in the end, the version on the record we recorded live at the 9:30 club with family and all his workmates there. It was a really moving, special occasion and once it was done, it was just like, 'This has to go on the record'. And there wasn't really anywhere else to put it other than the last song. I don't think you could have had that tune followed by something else - that was it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.