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)
Young Moses
Josh Ritter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your wandering star a while
Hang your heart on a quiet soul and
Stay a while in the house of gold
Each room has many mansions
Each mansion, many rooms
You'll sleep on sheets of silver
You'll eat on plates of moon
I will take up, white linen
I will a rove and go
I do not need your mansions
I'll live in a house of soul
Bring me my Florida water
Set me my serpent free
Hang ye no stars above me
I am bound for Expidite
All the love they're gonna give me
All the love, all the love, all the love
They're gonna be my family now
And y'all can keep your thrones
I've been upon the mountain
I've been to the end of the line
I've pierced the fiery curtain
The only face that I touched was mine
I'll burned me through Ohio
I'll find the Appleseed
That lives on lightning bugs
His mouth a-glow when he begins to preach, and
I'll burn me through the handle
I'll drink the cactus truths
I'll sleep with peyoteros
Hills the color of conqueror root
I got my heavy work in
I hung your capstone, too
I'm the king of the milk maids, honey
Say my name, you know it's true
I got my heavy work in
I take my lightning sweet
I've been a beast of burden
That is to say I am a beast
The opening lines of this Josh Ritter song, "Lay down young Moses, child, your wandering star a while," are a reference to the story of Moses in the Bible. Moses was a wandering soul who was called upon by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. In this song, Ritter is telling the listener to stop searching and wandering for a moment, and to rest their heart and soul in a place of peace.
Ritter refers to the "house of gold" where one can find this peace. Each room in this house has "many mansions," each with its own unique beauty and comforts. The imagery of silver sheets and moon plates creates a dreamlike atmosphere, where everything is perfect and luxurious. However, the next stanza takes a different turn. Ritter says that he doesn't need these mansions, but will instead "live in a house of soul." He asks for his "Florida water," a reference to a type of cologne used in spiritual practices, and requests that his "serpent" be set free. This likely refers to the biblical story of the serpent tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden, suggesting that Ritter wants to release himself from temptation and find pure spirituality.
The next lines talk about love and family, suggesting that Ritter has found a sense of belonging and love from a different source than material possessions. He sings that he has been to the top of the mountain and seen the end of the line, suggesting that he has experienced all the world has to offer and found it lacking. The final lines talk about being a "beast of burden," implying that Ritter has been through struggles and hardships, but has persevered.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay down, young Moses, child
Rest, young Moses, for a while
Your wandering star a while
Take a break from your journey for a bit
Hang your heart on a quiet soul and
Find solace in the company of a peaceful person
Stay a while in the house of gold
Take refuge in a place where you will be treated well
Each room has many mansions
Every space has abundant possibilities
Each mansion, many rooms
Every option has multiple facets
You'll sleep on sheets of silver
You'll rest in luxury
You'll eat on plates of moon
You'll dine on celestial goods
I will take up, white linen
I'll dress in pure cloth
I will a rove and go
I'll wander freely
I do not need your mansions
I don't require your luxuries
I'll live in a house of soul
I'll reside in a place of spiritual richness
Bring me my Florida water
Give me my elixir
Set me my serpent free
Release my symbol of rebirth
Hang ye no stars above me
Don't honor me excessively
I am bound for Expidite
I'm headed towards moving faster
All the love they're gonna give me
The care they'll provide me
All the love, all the love, all the love
The care, the care, the care
They're gonna be my family now
These people will be my kin
And y'all can keep your thrones
You can keep your positions of power
I've been upon the mountain
I've experienced the peak of my journey
I've been to the end of the line
I've gone to the edge of my limits
I've pierced the fiery curtain
I've gone through the obstacle bravely
The only face that I touched was mine
The only person I interacted with was myself
I'll burned me through Ohio
I'll traverse through the difficult Ohio state
I'll find the Appleseed
I'll meet the famous Appleseed
That lives on lightning bugs
Who thrives on insects that emit light
His mouth a-glow when he begins to preach, and
His face radiates when he starts talking
I'll burn me through the handle
I'll go through the tough times
I'll drink the cactus truths
I'll intake the sincere experiences
I'll sleep with peyoteros
I'll spend the night with wise and experienced people
Hills the color of conqueror root
Slopes that have the shade of red roots used in medicine
I got my heavy work in
I have accomplished tough tasks
I hung your capstone, too
I completed your difficult job as well
I'm the king of the milk maids, honey
I'm the ruler of the women who milk the cows
Say my name, you know it's true
Acknowledge my authority, because it's accurate
I take my lightning sweet
I receive the electrifying experiences with pleasure
I've been a beast of burden
I've been carrying heavy weight
That is to say I am a beast
That's because I'm like an animal
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind