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)
My Man On a Horse
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been waitin'
For the day, the hour, the moment you'd appear
And now just look at you
My man on a horse is here
Prayin'
I been prayin'
I never doubted you
My man on a horse is here
Hidee hidee hidee hey
Hidee hidee hidee hee
Hidee hidee hidee doo
Come on, come on, come on
Makin'
The best of a bad time
I'm thinkin'
Of you all the damn time
I must love the pain
I keep it all to myself
Sometimes I'm in heaven, sometimes somewhere else
Honey, please
Come take it away
I can't sleep
It keeps me awake
I can't keep it together
I can't close my eyes
Still I'm breakin' the record
For dreams in one night
And I'm wasted
Wastin'
My bestest love, my Beaujolais, my tears
You come to save me
My man on a horse is here
You come to save me
My man on a horse is here
The lyrics of "My Man on a Horse" by Josh Ritter depict a sense of longing and anticipation. The singer has been waiting for a significant person or event to arrive in their life, and when it finally does, they are overjoyed. The imagery of "my man on a horse" can be interpreted as a symbol of strength, reliability, and a savior figure.
The opening lines express the singer's patience and anticipation for this specific moment to arrive. They have been eagerly waiting for the day, hour, and moment when this person or event would come into their life. The arrival of "my man on a horse" represents a long-awaited answer to their hopes and prayers.
The chorus, with its upbeat and repetitive melody, adds to the excitement and jubilation felt by the singer. The use of playful words like "hidee hidee hidee hey" and "hidee hidee hidee hee" suggests a childlike enthusiasm and joy. It seems as though the singer's prayers have finally been answered, and they have unwavering faith in the arrival of this significant figure. The repetition of "come on, come on, come on" reinforces their eagerness for the arrival.
The second verse explores the singer's emotional state in the midst of this waiting. They find themselves making the best of a difficult time, seemingly finding solace in the thought of this significant person or event. The intense longing is evident as they admit to thinking about them constantly and even willing to endure the pain of the situation. The singer describes a conflicting experience of sometimes feeling in heaven and sometimes being somewhere else entirely, suggesting that their emotional state is closely tied to the arrival of "my man on a horse".
In the final chorus, the singer pleads for this person to take away their pain and bring them peace. They confess their inability to sleep and the incessant thoughts that keep them awake. Despite the emotional turmoil, the arrival of "my man on a horse" is seen as the ultimate salvation and source of rescue for the singer. It signifies the end of their suffering and the beginning of a better, happier existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Waitin'
I have been patiently anticipating your arrival
I've been waitin'
I have been eagerly waiting for this moment to come
For the day, the hour, the moment you'd appear
For the specific time when you would finally show up
And now just look at you
And now, behold, you are here
My man on a horse is here
The one I have been waiting for has arrived, symbolized by you being on a horse
Prayin'
I have been earnestly praying
I been prayin'
I have been continuously praying
Though will some say my prayers fall on deaf ears
Although some may believe my prayers are unheard by a higher power
I never doubted you
I have always had faith in you
My man on a horse is here
The one I have been praying for has arrived, symbolized by you being on a horse
Hidee hidee hidee hey
Expressing joy, excitement, or encouragement
Hidee hidee hidee hee
Expressing joy, excitement, or encouragement
Hidee hidee hidee doo
Expressing joy, excitement, or encouragement
Come on, come on, come on
An enthusiastic invitation to approach or engage further
Makin'
I am making the best out of a challenging situation
The best of a bad time
Turning the difficult circumstances into something worthwhile
I'm thinkin'
I constantly have you in my thoughts
Of you all the damn time
You occupy my mind incessantly
I must love the pain
Despite the pain it may bring, I must have deep affection for it
I keep it all to myself
I internalize and don't share my true feelings
Sometimes I'm in heaven, sometimes somewhere else
At times, I experience immense happiness, while other times, I'm in a different emotional state
Honey, please
Affectionate plea for your presence or assistance
Come take it away
Come and relieve me of this burden or distress
I can't sleep
I am unable to find rest or tranquility
It keeps me awake
It prevents me from falling asleep
I can't keep it together
I am struggling to maintain composure or control
I can't close my eyes
I am unable to shut my eyes in peace
Still I'm breakin' the record
Nevertheless, I keep surpassing my own record
For dreams in one night
In terms of experiencing numerous dreams within a single night
And I'm wasted
I am emotionally and/or physically exhausted
Wastin'
I am sacrificing or squandering
My bestest love, my Beaujolais, my tears
The deepest, most cherished form of love, along with a metaphorical reference to wine and tears
You come to save me
Your arrival is a source of rescue or salvation for me
My man on a horse is here
The one who will rescue me, symbolized by you being on a horse, is finally present
You come to save me
Your arrival is a source of rescue or salvation for me
My man on a horse is here
The one who will rescue me, symbolized by you being on a horse, is finally present
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOSH RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FieryFrog
Josh, you're one of the rare artists whose every single album is a brilliant and origninal composition. Keep on the good work! Can't wait for a new album and a tour that's at least a bit closer to my country :)
J Morrow
josh kaufman is a beast.
goneatlast
Josh, Cleveland welcomes you and the Royal City Band back to the Beachland on May 26. "Sermon on the Rocks" does indeed.
Peace.