Getting Ready To Get Down
Josh Ritter Lyrics

Mama got a look at you and got a little worried
Your mother saw something different in you and she became anxious about it.

Papa got a look at you and got a little worried
Your father also noticed a change in you and became concerned as well.

Pastor got a look and said, ya'll had better hurry
Even the pastor thought that you needed to take action quickly.

Send her off to a little bible college in Missouri
The solution was to send you away to study the Bible in Missouri.

And now you come back sayin' you know a little bit about every little thing they ever hoped you'd never figure out
However, after returning, you claim to have uncovered things that they didn't want you to discover.

Eve ate the apple 'cause the apple was sweet
Eve ate the forbidden fruit because it was tempting and desirable.

What kinda God would ever keep a girl from getting what she needs
Josh Ritter questions why God would keep a girl from satisfying her desires.

And I'm getting ready to get down
The artist is preparing to take action and do what they want.

Now people cross the street when you walk in their direction
People avoid you and seem afraid of you now.

Talk between their teeth throwin' epithets
They murmur insults under their breath when they see you.

And the doctor thinks a devil musta got you by your senses
The doctor believes that something is wrong with you, possibly evil or demonic in nature.

But to live the way you please doesn't sound like possession
The artist believes that living differently than social norms is not equivalent to being possessed.

It's four long years studyin' the Bible
The education at Bible college was a four-year long process.

Infidels, Jezebels, Salomes, and Delilahs
These are the character types learned about in Bible college.

Back off the bus in your own home town, say you didn't like me then probably won't like me now
Returning to your hometown after studying at Bible college, the singer assumes that past acquaintances will have the same judgmental attitude towards them.

All the men of the country club, the ladies of the 'xilliary, talkin' 'bout love like it's apple pie and liberty
The elites of the community speak about love in a trite and simplistic way.

To really be a saint, you gotta really be a virgin
The standard of sainthood in this community is to have never had sexual intercourse.

Dry as a page of the King James Version
This phrase perfectly describes the uptight nature of the community.

No "ohh la la"s, no "oh, yes"s, no "I can't wait"s "I gotta see you again"ses
There is no allowance for romantic or sexual expression in this community.

Just turn the other cheek, take no chances
The attitude towards challenges is passive, avoiding confrontation at all costs.

Jesus hates your high school dances
The artist highlights the community's overly-strict religious morals, even towards seemingly harmless activities.

Said your soul needed saving, so they sent you off to Bible school
Sending you to Bible college was seen as a way to save your soul.

You learned a little more than they had heard was in the Golden Rule
You gained knowledge and understanding beyond the typical teachings of Christianity.

"Be good to everybody, be a strength to the weak, be a joy to the joyful, be the laughter in the grief"
You learned to live in a way that is kind, uplifting, and empathetic to all.

And give your love freely to whoever that you please
You learned to love unconditionally, without being judged or restricted by others' expectations.

Don't let nobody tell you 'bout who you oughta be
The singer encourages you to remain true to yourself, regardless of others' opinions and judgments.

And when you get damned in the popular opinion, it's just another damn of the damns you're not giving
The singer advises you to not care about being rejected by society because living life freely and authentically is more important.

The Red Sea, the Dead Sea, the Sermon on the Mount
These are the specific Biblical teachings that were studied at Bible college.

If you wanna see a miracle watch me get down
It is implied that living a free, authentic life is a miracle, and the artist is ready to do that.