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)
Snow Is Gone
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
[Chorus]
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
[Chorus]
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
[Chorus]
The opening verse of Josh Ritter's song "Snow Is Gone" paints a picture of birds fluttering about outside his window, busying themselves with preparations for the long flight ahead. The singer muses that these creatures, so consumed with their journey and with the world around them, are never looking around for him. In this moment, he resolves that he would rather be the one doing the loving than to be loved and never fully realize it. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a reflection on the meaning of love and the way it can transform the world around us.
The chorus of "Snow Is Gone" is a simple refrain that evokes rebirth and renewal. The "blackbird" and "starling" are symbols of spring, the birds that emerge when winter is finally over. The chorus is an invitation to someone the singer loves to embrace this new beginning and to be their "darling" after a long winter of darkness and cold. The lyrics suggest that the long-awaited arrival of spring, and the hope it brings, is an opportunity to express love more deeply and meaningfully than ever before.
Overall, "Snow Is Gone" is a meditation on the power of love and the way it can uplift us, even during the darkest times. The singer asks the listener to embrace the beauty of the world around us, to find joy in the little things, and to recognize the transformative power of love. It is a reminder that even when we feel overwhelmed by the world and its many challenges, love can light the way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Birds beneath my window dusting their wings upon the lawn
The birds outside my window are cleaning their wings in the morning light
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
I listen to them giving their final goodbye to a song for their journey
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
The birds aren't concerned with me, their attention is focused on the earth or the sky
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
I choose to love, even if it's unrequited, than to never experience love at all
[Chorus]
Refrain or chorus of the song
Hello blackbird hello starling
Greeting to the birds announcing the end of winter
Winter's over be my darling
Winter has passed, please stay with me
It's been a long time coming
The change of season has been a long time in the making
But now the snow is gone
But now the snow has melted and spring has arrived
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
You looked beautiful when I first saw you, with your feathers and graceful movements
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I tried to impress you with grand gestures, but you were indifferent
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
I sang with great joy and enthusiasm, but you seemed uninterested
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
But I'm singing for the love of music and not for attention
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
I'm under your window, long after the birds have settled for the night
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of music or for love for you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
But I've traveled a long distance, please listen to my confession
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
I choose to love, even if it's unrequited, than to never experience love at all
Hello brown one hello blue one
Greeting to the birds of spring with their new feathers
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
The birds shed their old feathers for new ones, symbolizing change
[Chorus]
Refrain or chorus of the song
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSH RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cadu Pessoa de Brum
Birds beneath my window dusting their wings upon the lawn
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
Bhaskar Ganitgya
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Birds beneath my window dusting their wings upon the lawn
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
Tim Welch
I love this song. Its basically saying if you don't try you'll never know. "I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know".
Jennifer muppetbaby99
LOVE HIM SO MUCH!! I've seen him in concert twice, and met him once as well- he is great!!
Cadu Pessoa de Brum
Birds beneath my window dusting their wings upon the lawn
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
Brett Lustig
I just saw him last week in New York City. I am a huge Bob Dylan fan and this guy really reminds me of him music wise. His performence tho was amazing. He is very outgoing and you can tell he loves what he is doing. He gets the audience really into it. The next Dylan
Maizy Hepner
I will play this song on the first day of Spring :) I love Josh Ritter so much! <3
Bhaskar Ganitgya
OVERVIEW
LYRICS
LISTEN
PEOPLE ALSO SEARCH FOR
Birds beneath my window dusting their wings upon the lawn
I hear them in the morning light giving last amen to a migratory song
They're never looking round for me their eyes are on the sky or the ground below
But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
You were beautiful when I first saw your feathers and confectionery airs
Like the earth it up and promised you the stars but you really didn't care
I sang in exultation pulled the stops you always looked a little bored
But I'm singing for the love of it have mercy on the man who sings to be adored
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones
Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
Paula L
I adore this song! :D
goneatlast
Live this song soars. Josh and the Royal City Band joyously take the house and bring 'em back joyous :)
shezer19
Rock on josh.....you legend you
brokenarmboy123
"im singin for the love of it, have mercy on the man who sings to be adored" mercy on 90% of mainstream artists today