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)
Paths Will Cross
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our paths it seems are at an end for now
Though in time we floated free
We're are pulled by separate gravities to ground
But it's clear in the way we part
With our hearts together but our hands apart
And it seems so hard to begin
Though your road don't follow me
I know our paths will cross again
Time has turned her face from me
And spin spirals fancy free I flew
With nothing but the dawn to see
And now I've got my memories of you
Well the road is windi' and road is hard
And there's no telling just how far
Or how many letters I might send
One day you'll walk with me
Against all probability
I know our paths with cross again
Time is like this fast freight train
You gotta ride, you can't remain behind
And all your friends are on separate tracks
And some of them and some of them they won't look back to find
The one place we all have known
The one place we can call a home
The place where each of us began
Sure as that day rolls around
When the road back home is finally found
I know our paths will cross again
Now my home is in a far off land
Where love and time have made their stand against me
And that's probably where I'm gonna stay
It's probably where they'll marry me some day
But after all is come and gone
And after every songs been sung there
Comes a thought I won't defend
Sure stones are left unturned
And on the streets where home fires burn
I know our paths will cross again
Yes I, know our paths will cross again
The lyrics of Josh Ritter’s song Paths Will Cross offer a poignant reflection on the nature of friendship and the various twists and turns that life can take. The singer is bidding farewell to an old friend, acknowledging that their paths are diverging for the time being. Although they may be pulled in different directions by the forces of life, the singer is confident that their friendship will endure and that they will meet again in the future.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer recognizing the inevitable ebb and flow of relationships and the need to navigate changes in direction. The second verse speaks to the power of memory to sustain us through difficult times, as the singer reflects on the road they have traveled and the people who have walked with them along the way. The chorus repeats the title phrase, emphasizing the theme of connection and the belief that even when we are apart, our paths will eventually intersect once again.
The final verse introduces a note of melancholy, with the singer acknowledging that their current circumstances may keep them physically distant from their friend for some time. However, the closing lines offer a glimmer of hope, as the singer imagines a future where they will be reunited and all the loose threads of their lives will be tied up.
Overall, Paths Will Cross is a poignant meditation on the nature of friendship and the ways in which our lives intersect and diverge over time. The song’s evocative lyrics and understated melody make it a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever had to say goodbye to a cherished friend.
Line by Line Meaning
This is it my dear old friend
The end has come, my friend
Our paths it seems are at an end for now
We are going separate ways for now
Though in time we floated free
We enjoyed our time together
We're are pulled by separate gravities to ground
Our individual lives are taking us in different directions
But it's clear in the way we part
We are parting ways in good terms
With our hearts together but our hands apart
Though we are physically separating, our friendship remains strong
And it seems so hard to begin
It will be tough to start a new chapter in our lives without each other
Best friends we'll always be
Regardless of our current situation, we will always be best friends
Though your road don't follow me
Although our paths diverge, we will remain close
I know our paths will cross again
I am confident that our lives will intersect again in the future
Time has turned her face from me
Time is moving forward and I cannot control it
And spin spirals fancy free I flew
I flew through life without a care, but now I am more reflective
With nothing but the dawn to see
As I move forward, I have only the future to look forward to
And now I've got my memories of you
Though we are apart, I still have our shared memories
Well the road is windi' and road is hard
Life is tough and unpredictable
And there's no telling just how far
I cannot predict how far my life will take me
Or how many letters I might send
I might try to keep in touch
One day you'll walk with me
I hope we will cross paths again
Against all probability
Even if it seems unlikely
I know our paths with cross again
I am confident that we will meet again someday
Time is like this fast freight train
Time moves quickly and relentlessly
You gotta ride, you can't remain behind
I must keep moving forward
And all your friends are on separate tracks
All my friends are leading their own lives
And some of them and some of them they won't look back to find
Some friends might not be interested in staying connected
The one place we all have known
Our shared history will always define our friendship
The one place we can call a home
Our memories together can be considered our emotional home
The place where each of us began
We all started somewhere, and that is an important part of who we are
Sure as that day rolls around
I am confident that we will meet again
When the road back home is finally found
When we return to our shared history, we will reconnect
I know our paths will cross again
Our paths will certainly cross at some point in the future
Now my home is in a far off land
I have moved far away, physically and emotionally
Where love and time have made their stand against me
My life has changed in ways beyond my control
And that's probably where I'm gonna stay
I might never return to my previous home
It's probably where they'll marry me some day
I might start a family where I currently reside
But after all is come and gone
After everything is said and done
And after every songs been sung there
After I have experienced everything that life has to offer
Comes a thought I won't defend
I know that we will meet again in the future
Sure stones are left unturned
There are still things in life I have yet to explore
And on the streets where home fires burn
In the places where memories are formed
I know our paths will cross again
I am confident that we will meet again in the future
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind