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)
Rainslicker
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your face was turned up into rain as you watched me
And I was crossing I was crossing
The street like my own Rubicon
Coming back home to ya coming back Rome
And your eyes were so patient and calm
And green as the grass that might grow on the 23rd Psalm
The sun is a prodigal one that seems bent upon
Giving itself a bad name
And leaving us deep in the lurch as we walked down the lane
It's a long time oh such a long time
And I hope for your sake I've changed
And I hope for my sake you managed to remain the same
Is it raining for you raining for you now
Like it's raining for me raining for me now
You tied your old bike to a tree
Came in from the weather though not yet together
I felt your hand light on my sleeve
As light as a bird that might offer a sinner reprieve
We don't know too much I know we don't know too much
But love rains mysteriously
And behind every cloud is a purpose only now we can see
That it's raining for us raining for us now
Raining for us raining for us now [Repeat: x3]
In Josh Ritter's song Rainslicker, the lyrics talk about a person wearing a red rain slicker while watching someone else cross the street towards them, with eyes that are described as “patient and calm and green as the grass that might grow on the 23rd Psalm”. The song then goes on to talk about forty days of rain, with the sun seemingly not wanting to come out, leaving the singer feeling like they are walking in a lurch. They then express hope that they have changed for the better, and that the person wearing the rain slicker has stayed the same.
The chorus then speaks about how it is raining for both of them, and how love is mysterious and has a purpose behind every cloud. The person wearing the rain slicker ties their bike to a tree and comes inside, though the two of them are not yet together. As the singer feels a hand lightly touch their sleeve, they believe that there might be hope for forgiveness or a second chance at love. The song speaks to the idea that love, like rain, can come unexpectedly and without warning, bringing with it the hope of a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
You had your red rain slicker on
You were wearing your red raincoat
Your face was turned up into rain as you watched me
You had your head tilted back, watching the rain and looking at me
And I was crossing I was crossing
I was crossing the street
The street like my own Rubicon
Crossing the street was like a metaphorical Rubicon, a point of no return
Coming back home to ya coming back Rome
I was coming back home to you, like returning to Rome
And your eyes were so patient and calm
Your eyes were calm and patient, like you were waiting for me
And green as the grass that might grow on the 23rd Psalm
Your eyes were green, like the grass that grows in the 23rd Psalm of the Bible
The last forty days have been rain
It has been raining for the last forty days
The sun is a prodigal one that seems bent upon
The sun is like a prodigal son, who seems to want to give itself a bad reputation
Giving itself a bad name
The sun is making itself look bad
And leaving us deep in the lurch as we walked down the lane
The sun is leaving us stranded as we walk down the street
It's a long time oh such a long time
It has been a long time
And I hope for your sake I've changed
I hope that I have changed, for your sake
And I hope for my sake you managed to remain the same
I hope that you have remained the same, for my sake
Is it raining for you raining for you now
Is it currently raining where you are?
Like it's raining for me raining for me now
It is raining right now where I am
You tied your old bike to a tree
You tied your old bicycle to a tree
Came in from the weather though not yet together
You came inside from the rain, though we are not yet together
I felt your hand light on my sleeve
I felt your hand gently touch my sleeve
As light as a bird that might offer a sinner reprieve
Your touch was light, like a bird that might forgive a sinner
We don't know too much I know we don't know too much
We don't know a lot, but we know enough
But love rains mysteriously
Love is mysterious, like the rain
And behind every cloud is a purpose only now we can see
There is a reason for everything, and sometimes we can only see it later
That it's raining for us raining for us now
It is raining for both of us right now
Raining for us raining for us now [Repeat: x3]
It is still raining for both of us, repeating three times
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@moneyasusual
My dad bought me this CD when I was 14 or something. We have a really bad relationship, but he also inspired and encouraged music listening. Music is everything to me. So thanks dad. And thanks josh.
@thearrowsoferos
This song is like someone reaching inside my chest and massaging my heart 'til it falls asleep.
@MardyAss
My first Josh Ritter song and my favourite too. A lot of memories here.
@louiselane4444
I love this song.
@GuytRene
beautiful song...
@edweglein7924
I always feel my wife's head on my chest when I hear this song, a gentle kiss ....
@rmtzone
Great song
@JoeChrisMorris
rainslicker..