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)
Birds of the Meadow
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you're doing these days
Didn't come to roll no stones away, no
I've come to tell you that the end is nigh
I've come to prophesize
You wanted a messenger and I am thee
Your heebie jeebie man, in ecstasy
You better hark
Fire is coming, fire is coming
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
Fire is coming, fire is coming
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
Honey, I'm a wild one and I'm dressed in rags
I roll you over, turn your bedside up, yeah
Before the whole thing's over, you're gonna shout my name
I don't care if you believe me
Fire is coming, fire is coming
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
Fire is coming, fire is coming
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
Fire is coming, fire is coming
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
Fire is coming, fire is coming
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
The song "Birds of the Meadow" by Josh Ritter seems to be a warning about imminent danger. The singer did not come just to check on how someone is doing, but to bring a message. He refers to himself as a messenger, a heebie jeebie man in ecstasy, and a prophet. He then emphatically declares that the end is nigh and fire is coming. The repetition of the verses and the urgency in the singer's voice create a sense of impending doom.
The chorus, with its repetition of "Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow," seems to suggest that even the most delicate and innocent creatures are not immune to the impending danger. The singer's warning is for everyone, not just the person he's addressing. The lines "Honey, I'm a wild one and I'm dressed in rags / I roll you over, turn your bedside up, yeah / Before the whole thing's over, you're gonna shout my name" could be interpreted as the singer being a force of nature, beyond anyone's control.
Overall, "Birds of the Meadow" is a warning song, encouraging listeners to prepare for the worst, to face the inevitable with courage and dignity.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't come to ask you
I did not come for small talk or pleasantries.
How you're doing these days
To inquire about your well-being or present status.
Didn't come to roll no stones away, no
I did not come to perform any menial tasks or offer help.
I've come to tell you that the end is nigh
I have arrived to warn you of the impending doom or disaster.
I've come to prophesize
I have arrived to make declarations or predictions of future events.
You wanted a messenger and I am thee
You were in need of someone to convey important messages, and that someone is me.
Your heebie jeebie man, in ecstasy
As your chosen messenger, I am experiencing an intense, almost trance-like feeling.
But my eyes are blazing and I'm mental dark
My eyes express passion and commitment, while my mind may seem unfathomable and complex.
You better hark
You would do well to listen and heed my message carefully.
Fire is coming, fire is coming
A great destructive force or change is approaching.
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
The creatures of nature will bear witness and react to this imminent event.
Honey, I'm a wild one and I'm dressed in rags
I am a free spirit, unconstrained and unbound by conventions, and my appearance is modest and rough.
I roll you over, turn your bedside up, yeah
I will shake you out of your complacency and disturb your life as you know it.
Before the whole thing's over, you're gonna shout my name
My impact will be significant and unforgettable, and my name will be remembered and invoked.
I don't care if you believe me
My message is not contingent on your acceptance or understanding of it.
Fire is coming, fire is coming
The approaching disaster will affect and consume everyone.
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
The innocent animals and creatures of the world will be impacted and suffer as well.
Fire is coming, fire is coming
The warning of this imminent event cannot be repeated enough.
Birds of the meadow, birds of the meadow
The innocent creatures and the beauty of nature will too encounter the same impending event.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind