i came about 2000 miles to play you this song

So my vivacious friend Heather over at Fuel/Friends wrote about her recent renewed appreciation of the folk genius of Josh Ritter. I had a brief Twilight Zone moment because the songs she wrote about were the ones that I just can not stop listening to recently. Hello Starling has absolutely recaptured me these days, and I have been comfortably resting in its embrace.

But on a walk today through cold air that made my wrists go numb, I realized I had forgotten one Josh Ritter tune that has been ghosting around my mind. It's from Animal Years and it's the very first track, Girl in the War.

For all who have heard this soul splitting, yet gentle tune, you know how it grabs. It's how I imagine an embrace from a long gone lover or best friend would feel; strong, familiar, and also very fragile in its rarity and depth.

Josh Ritter is undoubtedly a folk legend in the making. He caresses songs to mean more than the sum of their parts, and totally invites his audience all the way in. His lyrics are laced with meaning that is fathoms deep and dizzy with unpretentious intelligence and sincerity.

In a discussion with a friend about whether or not really, truly talented artists could be anything but tortured, I thought about seeing Josh Ritter live. The man exudes electricity, bouncing on the balls of his feet, tilting his head back to relish the sound of his band and the sound of his fans colliding. He smiles so genuinely that I smile until my cheeks hurt right back.

Which is why to share Girl in the War, I thought I'd share a performance he did for Center for American Progress in 2006. His introduction to the song puts it in a context that is just as relevant now as it was then.

When he belts it out around the four minute mark, I wish I could transport myself right in front of that stage.



Also, the album version is worth listening to. Over and over. This song (and album) (and artist) heals me even as it's knocking me flat.


Girl in the War- Josh Ritter

Peter said to Paul you know all those words we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go
But now talking to God is Laurel begging Hardy for a gun
I got a girl in the war man I wonder what it is we done

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war Paul the only thing I know to do
Is turn up the music and pray that she makes it through

Because the keys to the Kingdom got lost inside the Kingdom
And the angels fly around in there but we can't see them
I got a girl in the war Paul I know that they can here me yell
If they can't find a way to help her they can go to Hell
If they can't find a way to help her they can go to Hell

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war Paul her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain