Josh Ritter (born in Moscow, Idaho on October 21, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band (as Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band). Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.
Born to two neuroscientists, Ritter bought his first guitar from the local K-MART after hearing the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash classic Girl From The North Country. Read Full BioJosh Ritter (born in Moscow, Idaho on October 21, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band (as Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band). Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.
Born to two neuroscientists, Ritter bought his first guitar from the local K-MART after hearing the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash classic Girl From The North Country. He started at Oberlin College with the intent to follow in his parents' scientist footsteps, but instead discovered songwriting, and the music of artists like Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt, and Leonard Cohen. He graduated and then moved east, favoring its close proximity to historic folk clubs such as "Club Passim" in Boston. On a shoestring budget he recorded his critically acclaimed breakthrough album Golden Age of Radio in 2002 at various tiny, one-room studios on the East Coast. He has continued to grow from there, further developing his sound on subsequent albums.
Josh has recorded several records and E.P.s. In chronological order, they are:
Josh Ritter (Self Titled) (2000)
Golden Age of Radio (2001)
Come and Find Me EP (2003)
Hello Starling (2003)
4 Songs Live E.P. (2005)
The Animal Years (2006)
Girl In The War E.P. (2006)
Good Man E.P. (2006)
In The Dark: Live At Vicar Street (2006)
The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter (2007)
Live at the Record Exchange EP (2008)
So Runs the World Away (2010)
To the Yet Unknowing World (2011)
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Live at The Iveagh Gardens (April 2011)
The Beast In Its Tracks (2013)
Acoustic Live, Vol.1 (2015)
Sermon on the Rocks (2015)
Born to two neuroscientists, Ritter bought his first guitar from the local K-MART after hearing the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash classic Girl From The North Country. Read Full BioJosh Ritter (born in Moscow, Idaho on October 21, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band (as Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band). Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.
Born to two neuroscientists, Ritter bought his first guitar from the local K-MART after hearing the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash classic Girl From The North Country. He started at Oberlin College with the intent to follow in his parents' scientist footsteps, but instead discovered songwriting, and the music of artists like Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt, and Leonard Cohen. He graduated and then moved east, favoring its close proximity to historic folk clubs such as "Club Passim" in Boston. On a shoestring budget he recorded his critically acclaimed breakthrough album Golden Age of Radio in 2002 at various tiny, one-room studios on the East Coast. He has continued to grow from there, further developing his sound on subsequent albums.
Josh has recorded several records and E.P.s. In chronological order, they are:
Josh Ritter (Self Titled) (2000)
Golden Age of Radio (2001)
Come and Find Me EP (2003)
Hello Starling (2003)
4 Songs Live E.P. (2005)
The Animal Years (2006)
Girl In The War E.P. (2006)
Good Man E.P. (2006)
In The Dark: Live At Vicar Street (2006)
The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter (2007)
Live at the Record Exchange EP (2008)
So Runs the World Away (2010)
To the Yet Unknowing World (2011)
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Live at The Iveagh Gardens (April 2011)
The Beast In Its Tracks (2013)
Acoustic Live, Vol.1 (2015)
Sermon on the Rocks (2015)
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Girl in the War
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Peter said to Paul
"All those words that we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go"
But now talkin' to God is Laurel beggin' Hardy for a gun
I gotta girl in the war, man I wonder what it is we done
Paul said to Petey
"You gotta rock yourself a little harder,
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
And I got a girl in the war, Paul the only thing I know to do
Is turn up the music and pray that she makes it through
Because the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom
And the angels fly around in there, but we can't see them
And I gotta girl in the war, Paul I know that they can hear me yell
If they can't find a way to help, they can go to Hell
If they can't find a way to help her, they can go to Hell
Paul to Petey "you gotta rock yourself a little harder,
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
But I gotta girl in the war, Paul her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain
Sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Josh Ritter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Jenny Goodall
What a powerful song! I have been moved by it since 2006. Thanks for posting it!
My favorite lines include:
"Peter said to Paul, 'You know all those words we wrote /
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go.'"
"Now talking to God is Laurel begging Hardy for a gun."
"I know that they can hear me yell /
If they can't find a way to help her /
They can go to hell."
Betty Basche
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD THIS SONG. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
Julie A
I so appreciate you posting all his albums. Going to see him live again in January and I'm already preparing!
indy_go_blue60
The irony is hearing a man singing of his beloved being off in combat instead of the usual reverse. Beautifully done. I especially love "... her eyes are like champagne, they sparkle bubble over in the morning all you've got is rain"... life devoid of meaning, like a bottle of champagne that's gone flat.
andrew stahl
My take is that this is a clear critique of of modern life full seeming godlessness, corruption, wars, and loss of virtues and historical values..namely all the words and meanings attributed to Christianity (ie love thy neighbor, love, hope ,faith)
....Peter and Paul are the founders of the churches of Christ ( Catholic and Orthodox). For nearly 1500 years these were the only heads of Christianity. The church has been referred to as (Christ's bride). The church(or the doctrines of Christianity is the "Girl in the war." . The Church is God's kingdom on earth, we are the church. The church and the world has fallen away from christianity and virtue. I think indy's analysis is pretty intersting as well.
Lost Amongst Stars
indy_go_blue60 the war is the war in heaven. Peter and Paul are from the Bible. The kingdom of heaven is inside hence why he sings "the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom and the Angels fly around in there but we can't see them" we're all just vessels, I guess Peter got a girl. "Turn up the music and pray that she makes it through." In the Bible some people can hear prophecy or God through music, music is an important part of the Bible. I'm not talking just church music, all music. "Turn up the music and pray that she makes it through." I guess she hears them and can't handle it it so she cries. I'm not a religious nut, I'm just telling the meaning of the song as I understand it.
Danilo
such a good song and it fits so well with mourning dove
Didi
God i love this song...
Jenny Goodall
What a powerful song! I have been moved by it since 2006. Thanks for posting it!
My favorite lines include:
"Peter said to Paul, 'You know all those words we wrote /
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go.'"
"Now talking to God is Laurel begging Hardy for a gun."
"I know that they can hear me yell /
If they can't find a way to help her /
They can go to hell."
TheAboriginal
I am still in love with this song. Still. And forever.
MrCrompton 33012
i love this song