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)
Leaves and Kings
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A silent singularity when glances chanced to meet
You looked into my glasses, said you'd seen a ghost
I tried my best to make you smile as we calypsoed close
You seem to be recovering but I felt a little pale
Our house it was on seventeenth above a hardware store
And there we lived with seven cats all named for seven dwarves
But like leaves and kings, all things must fall
No diamond ring's gonna cut through it all
You were working as a graverobber, you could do your job at night
I was living hand to mouth just looking for a fight
The reason why we parted it ain't that hard to find
I was always busy, and you never had the time
well the reason why we parted it ain't that hard to see
But I was never sure if I left you or you left me
(chorus)
And when it was all over I lost myself in work
You got married to a lawyer painting murals in New York
(You got married to a dentist building bridges in New York)
And though it seems a million miles ago since I saw the light
The hours flowed by nervously like warships in the night
Many times I've been corrupted but I've never been in love
I began to realise that that's just where I was
So I packed up my possessions and caught an east-bound train
met you in Ohio sleeping in the rain
(chorus)
So now we're going back again to start where we began
With rules and regulations but no real kind of plan
I've learned my lesson well with no mistakes at all
Once you find yourself true love you just keep holding on
Like leaves and kings, all things must fall
No diamond ring's gonna cut through it all
But now out of the dark, out of the blue,
like leaves and kings I've fallen in love with you
The song “Leaves and Kings” by Josh Ritter tells the story of two people who meet at a party or on a crowded street and fall in love. Despite their differences and the obstacles that they face, they try their best to make it work. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of their lives together: they live on seventeenth above a hardware store with seven cats named for the Seven Dwarves, the singer is living hand to mouth and looking for a fight, while the object of his affection is working as a graverobber. However, all things must come to an end, and the couple eventually breaks up due to their busy schedules and lack of time for each other.
The chorus of “Leaves and Kings” repeats the line “Like leaves and kings, all things must fall / No diamond ring’s gonna cut through it all,” emphasizing the idea that nothing is eternal and that even the strongest love can’t withstand the natural passage of time. However, the final verse offers hope that love can still triumph in the end, as the singer confesses that he has fallen in love with his former flame once again.
Overall, “Leaves and Kings” is a touching love song that captures both the beauty and fragility of human relationships. It reminds us that no matter how much we may want to hold onto something or someone, we are all subject to the inevitable changes of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I met you at a party or on a crowded street
Our paths crossed when we were both out and about.
A silent singularity when glances chanced to meet
We were drawn together by an unspoken connection.
You looked into my glasses, said you'd seen a ghost
You broke the ice with a witty comment, easing the awkwardness of the moment.
I tried my best to make you smile as we calypsoed close
I did my best to make you laugh as we danced together.
I have been to Cleveland and you have been to jail
We both have a past, places we've been that we may not be proud of.
You seem to be recovering but I felt a little pale
You seem to be doing better than me, but I still feel a bit sickly.
Our house it was on seventeenth above a hardware store
We lived in a modest home above a store that sold tools and appliances.
And there we lived with seven cats all named for seven dwarves
We shared our space with a bunch of cats, each named after a fictional little person.
But like leaves and kings, all things must fall
Everything is temporary, even the reigns of powerful leaders or the beauty of autumn leaves.
No diamond ring's gonna cut through it all
No amount of wealth or status can truly prevent the decline of all things.
You were working as a graverobber, you could do your job at night
You had a secretive, possibly illegal occupation that you could only perform under the cover of darkness.
I was living hand to mouth just looking for a fight
I was struggling to survive, perhaps seeking conflict to give purpose to my life.
The reason why we parted it ain't that hard to find
The reason we split up is fairly obvious and straightforward.
I was always busy, and you never had the time
I was often preoccupied with other things, while you seemed to have more free time.
well the reason why we parted it ain't that hard to see
The reason we broke up is pretty clear.
But I was never sure if I left you or you left me
The end of our relationship was blurry and ambiguous, with both of us unsure of who initiated the break.
(chorus)
Refrain: Everything is temporary, so don't get too attached to material possessions or transitory experiences.
And when it was all over I lost myself in work
After the breakup, I threw myself into my job as a way of coping.
You got married to a lawyer painting murals in New York
You moved on and married someone else, an artist who worked with a legal professional.
(You got married to a dentist building bridges in New York)
Alternatively, you may have married someone who constructed structures such as bridges, and who had a background in oral medicine.
And though it seems a million miles ago since I saw the light
Although it's been a long time since I've been truly happy or content.
The hours flowed by nervously like warships in the night
Time passed uneasily, with a sense of tension and apprehension.
Many times I've been corrupted but I've never been in love
I've been exposed to many negative experiences, but I've never had the pure joy and happiness of true love.
I began to realise that that's just where I was
I finally understood that I was lacking something important in my life.
So I packed up my possessions and caught an east-bound train
I decided to make a change and leave everything behind to start fresh.
met you in Ohio sleeping in the rain
I came across you again, surprisingly, while you were resting in the rain in Ohio.
(chorus)
Refrain: Everything is temporary, so let go of attachment and focus on what really matters.
So now we're going back again to start where we began
We've decided to try again and start over from the beginning.
With rules and regulations but no real kind of plan
We have a set of restrictions and guidelines to follow, but no clear course of action.
I've learned my lesson well with no mistakes at all
I'm wiser now, and ready to move forward without repeating the errors of my past.
Once you find yourself true love you just keep holding on
When you find authentic and fulfilling love, treasure it and don't let go.
But now out of the dark, out of the blue,
Suddenly and unexpectedly, things have shifted for the better.
like leaves and kings I've fallen in love with you
I've rediscovered the beauty of love with you, despite the transience of all things, even rulers and leaves.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind