Meeting Simon Joyner

Simon Joyner is one of my favourite musical artists of all time – according to my Last.Fm account, he’s my third top artist behind Bright Eyes and The Beatles, and that’s tracked my listening history since 2006. When I finally got the chance to see him, then, I leaped at it. I got to meet him, which was cool, and I wrote this poem the day after. Happy days!

 

Meeting Simon Joyner

on the first floor

of a vintage clothes shop

where they wheel away the merchandise,

rig up a PA

(and a makeshift bar

selling lager, ale

and Jagerbombs),

bring on the musicians

and put a show on,

only £4.50

for a ticket.

I knew it was him

because he wore a hat,

like some indie signer/songwriter

Terry Pratchet,

with a harmonica

in a holder

on his neck.

I’ve wanted to do this

since I was seventeen,

maybe eighteen.

And Simon has a book

with his lyrics in,

and I got a copy

and he signjed it.

He was sweet

and he was humble,

and not at all

bigger than Jesus.

He was just about

big enough.