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)
Me & Jiggs
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Song from a station wagon laying foundations on the shadows of overpassing planes
I'm feeling good, at seven o'clock we're gonna drive across the county line
And find Saturday night like an orphan child that the good days left behind
And I'm not sure we can make it stay
Sun's going down and its the end of the day
Lying on your back as the sun goes down, you know it's perfect cause you've got to leave
On a Saturday night in a town like this I forget all my songs about trains
A bar with a jukebox and you on my arm heaven and earth are pretty much the same
And I'm not sure i can make you stay
Sun's going down and its the end of the day
Later on sitting on the roof talking like the night could last all night
Like we are all half crazy and all at least half alright
Sitting on the porch playing Townes Van Zandt play guitar to burn off the hours
Till we climb the fences at the edge of town and paint our names on the water towers
And I'm not sure we can make them stay
Sun's going down at the end of the day
The lyrics of Josh Ritter's "Me & Jiggs" talks about the innocence and the care-free nature of youth. The song revolves around the idea of temporary pleasures and the moments that we experience during those innocent times. The first stanza talks about the singer and Jiggs looking at the stars in awe from their car, while they drive by highways and the overpassing planes. They are about to cross the county line, looking for Saturday night like an orphan child left behind. This could mean that they are looking for something that's been forgotten or abandoned, but still exists somewhere out there. The uncertainty of finding it and making it last is evident when he says, "And I'm not sure we can make it stay, the sun's going down and it's the end of the day". The line signifies two things: the end of that day and the innocence associated with it.
The second and third stanzas talk about spending time with friends, drinking beer in the park, and lying on the grass while watching the sunset. The singer admits that he forgets about his songs about trains on a Saturday night like this, giving importance to the moment rather than what he does for a living. He talks about having his loved one with him in a bar with a jukebox, and how everything feels like perfection. The uncertainty of making that moment last is reiterated in the line "And I'm not sure I can make you stay, the sun's going down and it's the end of the day."
The fourth and final stanza talks about spending time with friends, sitting on the rooftop, painting names on water towers, and playing guitar. It's about everything that fades away with time and how we want to hold onto those memories. The idea of making something last is getting stronger now, but he still says, "And I'm not sure we can make them stay, the sun's going down at the end of the day". The song does not provide a resolution, but instead, it offers an insight into our lives and how we can cherish the moments that we have right now.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and Jiggs staring at the ceiling the stars above the radar range
Myself and Jiggs, the dog, are lying on our backs and looking up at the sky full of stars while parked near the radar range.
Song from a station wagon laying foundations on the shadows of overpassing planes
The song I'm listening to is creating a foundation of memories while we are driving underneath the shadows of planes.
I'm feeling good, at seven o'clock we're gonna drive across the county line
I'm in a good mood and excited that we will cross the county line later at 7 pm.
And find Saturday night like an orphan child that the good days left behind
We hope to find a fun Saturday night that nobody else wants, like an orphan child that has been left behind by the good days.
And I'm not sure we can make it stay
Sun's going down and its the end of the day
I have doubts that we can make the fun last forever, and the day is coming to an end with the setting sun.
Me and my friends in the park drinking beer underneath the tree
I am with my friends in the park, drinking beer and relaxing underneath a tree.
Lying on your back as the sun goes down, you know it's perfect cause you've got to leave
Lying on your back with the sun setting creates a perfect moment because it means you have to leave soon, making the moment more memorable.
On a Saturday night in a town like this I forget all my songs about trains
Being in a small town like this on a Saturday night makes me forget all my nostalgic songs about trains.
A bar with a jukebox and you on my arm heaven and earth are pretty much the same
Being at a bar with a jukebox and having you next to me makes everything feel right, as if heaven and earth are one and the same.
Later on sitting on the roof talking like the night could last all night
Later, we sit on the roof talking and enjoying each other's company as if the night could go on forever.
Like we are all half crazy and all at least half alright
We all seem a little crazy, but despite that, we are doing okay and enjoying ourselves.
Sitting on the porch playing Townes Van Zandt play guitar to burn off the hours
We sit on the porch playing guitar and singing Townes Van Zandt's songs to pass the time and make the most of our evening.
Till we climb the fences at the edge of town and paint our names on the water towers
We continue to have fun until we sneak over to the edge of town and paint our names on the water towers.
And I'm not sure we can make them stay
Sun's going down at the end of the day
Again, I have my doubts that we can make the fun last, and the day is coming to an end with the setting sun.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOSH RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Faith Mackey
You can't help but have a huge grin on your face watching him perform.
1oldgoat
He looks like he is having the time of his life and not taking anything to seriously. How can you not smile?
Ace Hall
I just love this song, and seeing the pure joy on Josh's face while he plays it simply lets me know that he does, too. It's also pretty obvious that he loves making people happy...which even makes me feel happy. Keep on rocking, Josh! ...And keep bringing and living the joy! Glorious!
1oldgoat
Josh Ritter Just seems to be having the time of his life when he plays. Just look at that grin. That's the face of a satisfied man. who has found his place in the cosmos's
ILikeFastVroo
I cried when he played this live when I saw him I was so happy
Nicko Rivera
This song takes me back to cruising down the backroads of my friend Andrew
Dan B
This song reminds me of spending time with my friends...most of all my cat Jiggs...