Josh Ritter (born in Moscow, Idaho on October 21, 1976) is an American sing… Read Full Bio ↴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. 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)

Moon River
Josh Ritter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're both lookin' for the rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend

My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see

We're both lookin' for the rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

Overall Meaning

Josh Ritter's "Moon River" is a cover of the classic Henry Mancini song from the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The opening lyrics "Moon river, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day" create a visual of a vast and expansive river that seems impossible to cross. However, the singer of the song dreams of crossing the river in style someday, possibly referencing a desire for a better life. The second line begins with "Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker," suggesting that the singer sees the river as a dream maker that, while capable of creating wonderful things, can also be a heartbreaker. The line "wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way" speaks to the singer's desire to follow their dreams, even if they lead them down a difficult path.

The second verse introduces the idea of two drifters who are off to see the world, searching for "the rainbow's end." The line "my huckleberry friend, moon river, and me" is a reference to Huckleberry Finn, a character known for his free spirit and desire for adventure. This line suggests that the singer sees the moon river as a companion on their journey and perhaps even a symbol for the adventures they will have. Overall, the song speaks to the universal desire for adventure and the pursuit of one's dreams, even if it means crossing wide and daunting rivers.

Line by Line Meaning

Moon river, wider than a mile
The river 'moon river' is more than a mile wide

I'm crossing you in style some day
Someday, I'd like to cross the river in style

Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
I address the person who can make dreams come true but can also break hearts

Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
I'm willing to go wherever you go if you let me

Two drifters, off to see the world
Two people who aim to travel the world aimlessly

There's such a lot of world to see
The world is vast and there are many things to see

We're both lookin' for the rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
We both are hopeful and waiting for a happy ending to our journey

My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
I consider the river my best friend and I hope to travel with it

Contributed by Tristan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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