Who are Jacksons Monk and Rowe referenced in the Elvis Costello song on the Juliet Letters album?

Answer 1

According to EC's stage banter, from the show "The Juliet Letters" (Live at Town Hall, NYC, March 18 1993):

The song came about from rehearsals for the Juliet Letters. During breaks, Brodsky Quartet founder/member Michael Thomas would exchange banter and family lore with sister Jacqueline Thomas (cello) -- Costello overheard him call her "Jacksons Monk and Rowe" which was explained to be the nickname of the "Sister 4" mentioned in the lyric. She was the baby and only girl after 3 boys, and was duly tormented by her older brothers in typical sibling fashion, as evidenced by the lyrics. Instead of calling her Jacqueline or Jackie, they called her "Jacks" or "Jackson" which then elongated into "Jacksons" and ultimately elongated further by the brothers 3 into "Jacksons Monk and Rowe" after the Solicitors (as the Brits call lawyers) of the same name in the town. The song was written as a sort of apology to the sister for tolerating her brothers, the play on words having double meaning in that the woman was either then in, or had been, or was about to be in the throes of divorce -- a brother's way of showing support for his dear sister and fellow musician! According to EC's stage banter, from the show "The Juliet Letters" (Live at Town Hall, NYC, March 18 1993):

The song came about from rehearsals for the Juliet Letters. During breaks, Brodsky Quartet founder/member Michael Thomas would exchange banter and family lore with sister Jacqueline Thomas (cello) -- Costello overheard him call her "Jacksons Monk and Rowe" which was explained to be the nickname of the "Sister 4" mentioned in the lyric. She was the baby and only girl after 3 boys, and was duly tormented by her older brothers in typical sibling fashion, as evidenced by the lyrics. Instead of calling her Jacqueline or Jackie, they called her "Jacks" or "Jackson" which then elongated into "Jacksons" and ultimately elongated further by the brothers 3 into "Jacksons Monk and Rowe" after the Solicitors (as the Brits call lawyers) of the same name in the town. The song was written as a sort of apology to the sister for tolerating her brothers, the play on words having double meaning in that the woman was either then in, or had been, or was about to be in the throes of divorce -- a brother's way of showing support for his dear sister and fellow musician! A. The song Jacksons Monk and Rowe was written by Michael Thomas (the then lead violinist) about his sister Jacqueline (cellist) of the Brodsky Quartet. It was written for her some years before the Juliet letters was ever conceived. Jacksons Monk and Rowe are solicitors in Middlesbrough, the town where they were brought up and was a nick name given to Jacqueline by her father. The previous explanation is largely incorrect. A. I agree with the previous answer. Jackson Monk and Rowe was written by Michael Thomas the 1st violinist of the Brodsky Quartet long before they even met Elvis Costello. Elvis Costello should make this clear when performing this song. Typical of him to take the glory for someone elses song. A. Jacqueline Thomas is part of a family of 8 children. 5 girls and 3 boys. The line sisters 4 and brothers 3 refers to the fact that she has 4 sisters and 3 brothers. Elvis Costello had nothing to do with the concept of this song.