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)
The Appleblossom Rag
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She ain't coming back.
The only thing she left me is
This apple blossom rag
Oh, the apple blossom rag
Oh, such sweet refrain
Hid underneath the chords, the thorns
This new gang's the gang for me
Always on the town
Oh, the stories I could tell
If I felt like it now.
This new gang's the gang for me
I know all of their names
And they know mine and them that don't
All love me just the same.
Oh, the apple blossom rag
Oh, for such a knife
That from my blood could love unbraid
Without taking my life.
This new girl's the girl for me
Best girl that I know.
Never asks me where I've been
Or when I'm coming home.
This new girl's got a real fork-tongue
I love the way she lies.
A false young painted devil
But, I know so it's alright.
Oh, that apple blossom rag
Lord, I'm such a fool
For things that sing so sweet and sad
And are so goddamn cruel.
Oh, the apple blossom rag
Lord, I'm such a fool
For things that sing so sweet and sad
And are so goddamn cruel.
The Appleblossom Rag by Josh Ritter is a song about the painful end of a relationship and the singer's attempts to move on. He sings about the loss of the woman who was once the queen of his parade, stating that she's not coming back. The only thing she left him with is the apple blossom rag, which serves as a reminder of the bittersweet memories that they shared. The apple blossom rag is a metaphor for the happy moments that were once hidden under the chords of the relationship but eventually ended up causing so much pain.
The singer finds a new gang, and they seem to be the gang for him, always on the town and ready to go. He knows everyone's name and they know his, and even those who don't know him yet love him just the same. He then talks about a new girl who is the best girl he knows. She doesn't ask him where he's been or when he's coming home, which is a refreshing change. At the same time, he acknowledges that she has a real fork-tongue and lies, but he still loves her anyway. In the end, he realizes that he's a fool for things that sing so sweet and sad but are so cruel, just like the apple blossom rag.
Overall, The Appleblossom Rag describes the painful end of a relationship and the singer's journey to move on. The apple blossom rag serves as a metaphor for the happy moments in the relationship that eventually turned into painful memories. The new gang, new girl, and the apple blossom rag all represent the singer's attempts to find happiness in the midst of the pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Where's the queen of my parade?
I am missing my significant other who used to be the center of my world.
She ain't coming back.
I have lost her and she is not returning, which makes me feel helpless.
The only thing she left me is
This apple blossom rag
All that is left of my past relationship is this sentimental and painful song.
Oh, the apple blossom rag
Oh, such sweet refrain
Hid underneath the chords, the thorns
That cause such awful pain.
The song reminds me of the bittersweet memories I shared with my significant other, but they are now tainted with regret and pain.
This new gang's the gang for me
Always on the town
Oh, the stories I could tell
If I felt like it now.
I have found a new group of friends who keep me distracted and entertain me, but I am not willing to share the details of my past relationship with them.
This new gang's the gang for me
I know all of their names
And they know mine and them that don't
All love me just the same.
I have formed a close bond with my new friends quickly, and they accept me for who I am without prying into my personal life.
Oh, the apple blossom rag
Oh, for such a knife
That from my blood could love unbraid
Without taking my life.
The pain of my past relationship is so intense that I wish it could be cut out of me like a knife, without hurting myself or affecting my ability to love.
This new girl's the girl for me
Best girl that I know.
Never asks me where I've been
Or when I'm coming home.
I have found a new romantic interest who is easygoing and doesn't ask too many questions about my past or my whereabouts.
This new girl's got a real fork-tongue
I love the way she lies.
A false young painted devil
But, I know so it's alright.
Although I am aware that my new girlfriend may not be truthful with me, I find her charming and enjoy the deception.
Oh, that apple blossom rag
Lord, I'm such a fool
For things that sing so sweet and sad
And are so goddamn cruel.
The song serves as a painful reminder that I am foolish for falling in love with things that initially seem beautiful and sweet, but ultimately cause me emotional harm.
Oh, the apple blossom rag
Lord, I'm such a fool
For things that sing so sweet and sad
And are so goddamn cruel.
The repetition of the last stanza emphasizes my feelings of regret and foolishness for continuing to fall for things that are beautiful but ultimately cause me pain.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind