All the other girls here are stars - you are the northern lights
They try to shine in through your curtains - you're too close and too bright
They try and they try but everything that they do
Is the ghost of a trace of a pale imitation of you
I'll be the one to drive you back home Kathleen
This party was made with the night air and the chance that a smile
Will wind its way from your face to one of the boys in your line
You act like you're hip to their tricks and you're strong
But a virgin Wurlitzer heart never once had a song
I'll be the one to drive you back home Kathleen
And I'll have you back by break of day
I'm going your way anyway
And if you'd like to come along
I'll be yours for a song
I know you are waiting and I know that it is not for me
But I'm here and I'm ready and I've saved you the passenger seat
I won't be your last dance just your last goodnight
Every heart is a package tangled up in knots someone else tied
I'll be the one to drive you back home Kathleen
So crawl up your trellis and quietly back into your room
And I'll coast down the length of your drive by the light of the moon
And the next time I see you - a new kind of hello
Both our hearts have a secret only both of us know
'Bout the night that I drove you back home Kathleen
| govna (beantown) | Posted: Mar 21, 2013 - 12:43 the ultimate friend-zone theme song. |
| Proclivities (Paris of the Piedmont) | Posted: Jan 02, 2013 - 07:25 More_Cowbell wrote: Which all sound like Dylan Nick Drake's work never sounded very much like Dylan's to my ears. |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Dec 17, 2012 - 10:46 grogg wrote: I know nothing about Ritter, but this song makes me want to hear more of his stuff. Try these: To The Dogs or Whoever. Right Moves (my two personal Ritter favorites, extraordinary lyrics that tell or allude to great stories and are a lot of fun). The Girl in the War. Wolves. Change of Time. "To The Dogs Or Whoever" Deep in the belly of a whale I found her Down with the deep blue jail around her Running her hands through the ribs of the dark Florence and Calamity and Joan of Arc
I love the way she looks in her underwear I lose my page then the book then the plot then I swear She makes the most of her time by loving me plenty She knows there'll come a day when we won't be getting any
The stain of the sepia the butcher Crimea Through the wreck of a brass band I though I could see her In a cakewalk she came through the dead and the lame Just another bird floating on a hurricane
I was flat on my back with my feet in the thorns I was in between the apples and the chloroform She came to me often, I was sure I was dying It was always hard to tell if she was laughing or crying
I thought I heard somebody calling In the dark I thought I heard somebody call
Joan never cared about the in-betweens Combed her hair with a blade did the Maid of Orleans Said Christ walked on water we can wade through the war You don't need to tell me who the fire is for
Oh bring me the love that can sweeten a sword A boat that can love the rocks or the shore The love of the iceberg reaching out for a wreck Can you love me like the crosses love the nape of the neck?
Was it Casey Jones or Casey at the Bat Who died out of pride and got famous for that Killed by a swerve laid low by the curve Do you ever think they ever thought they got what they deserved
Don't pity the bullet, but pity the man Who both find their place in the same sad plan Who both are like the barrel going over the falls Crying all the way down I never asked to be involved
I thought I heard somebody calling In the dark I thought I heard somebody call
General George began the day by taking pink little pills Sent his men to the top of some hell of a hill Through the whisper of trees came artillery breeze He said I love the way the wind comes a'tickling my knees
Jane shot the apple right between the eyes I was thinking of her when you came outside Lemonade on your breath sun in your hair Did I mention how I love you in your underwear?
Deep in the belly of a whale I found her Down with the deep blue jail around her Running her hands through the ribs of the dark Florence and Calamity and Joan of Arc
I thought I heard somebody calling In the dark I thought I heard somebody call
|
| grogg | Posted: Dec 20, 2011 - 07:19 I know nothing about Ritter, but this song makes me want to hear more of his stuff. |
| WayUpNorth | Posted: Nov 02, 2011 - 12:43 Ok, so I've commented before ... I know, I know ... but I truly think this song is brilliant. |
| scrubbrush (Sea of Calm) | Posted: Nov 02, 2011 - 12:42 Love this song |
| Stingray (JULIAN'S NWO) | Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 13:42 Oh Josh - such a long road to Dyland! TERRIBLE MUSIC YOU TRY TO PLAY! |
| BerkeleyAlice (Salinas CA) | Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 13:41 I just turned to my co-worker and said sarcastically, "What did this guy do? Take singing lessons from Dylan?" She politely retorted that Dylan has made a lot of money. OK, that stopped me. |
| shomp (Oakland, CA) | Posted: Apr 27, 2011 - 13:10 He puts on a great show. See him live if you can. |
| WayUpNorth (Windswept Exile) | Posted: Mar 11, 2011 - 05:51 This is a modern classic |
| More_Cowbell (Northern IL) | Posted: Mar 11, 2011 - 05:50 danuneken wrote: Nice series of Nick Drake soundalike songs! Which all sound like Dylan |
| danuneken (Oslo, Norway) | Posted: Jan 23, 2011 - 05:38 Nice series of Nick Drake soundalike songs! |
| mem_313 (lerkin) | Posted: Jan 07, 2011 - 14:44 this is the first year I have heard of josh ritter. me likee!!!! |
| raenvald (Coast Salish Territory) | Posted: Dec 07, 2010 - 00:07 What a great "last song of the night" tune. Thanks Josh. Thanks RP. ![]() |
| WayUpNorth (Windswept Exile) | Posted: Nov 05, 2010 - 06:59 I wont be your last dance just your last goodnight every heart is a package tangled up in knots someone else tied |
| More_Cowbell (Northern IL) | Posted: Apr 28, 2010 - 07:04 Remids me of some of the Dylan authored lyrics. In a good way! |
| pjcle (of Columbia) | Posted: Jan 07, 2010 - 19:44 Lovely lyrics, a woman's man. love it. |
| ceviche (Lima, Peru) | Posted: Dec 07, 2009 - 10:59 Nice metaphor; stars and northern lights, the other girls, the girl he's talking to... |
| Darlington (Columbia, South Carolina) | Posted: Oct 21, 2009 - 09:06 sfListener wrote: Saw him open for John Prine a while ago. Great solo act. Saw him open for Gomez this summer. Incredible performer and a really nice guy too. Lots of great interaction with the crowd. |
| avidlistener (Atlanta, GA) | Posted: Oct 21, 2009 - 09:05 Love, love, LOVE Josh Ritter! His lyrics and sound is so captivating! It seems as if every album is better than the last. He my favorite musician to see in concert and such a sweetheart! |
| WayUpNorth (Down on the Farm) | Posted: Aug 03, 2009 - 11:46 Incredible lyrics ... got me started on Josh Ritter and I haven't stopped yet! ![]() |
| sfListener | Posted: Jun 16, 2009 - 21:27 Prine's guitarist, wow! fatcatjb wrote: We caught that tour in Sacramento...Josh was outstanding (and so was John Prine) sfListener wrote: Saw him open for John Prine a while ago. Great solo act. |
| fatcatjb (Sunny Sacramento) | Posted: Jun 16, 2009 - 21:26 We caught that tour in Sacramento...Josh was outstanding (and so was John Prine) sfListener wrote: Saw him open for John Prine a while ago. Great solo act. |
| sfListener | Posted: Jun 16, 2009 - 21:24 Saw him open for John Prine a while ago. Great solo act. |
| peter_james_bond (Lunenburg, NS) | Posted: Apr 30, 2009 - 06:06 Caught my ear, I had to see who it was. I like what I hear. |
| AvoidingWork (Home of Big Boy #4004) | Posted: Feb 10, 2009 - 10:25 Papernapkin wrote: I liked him when he was in Three's Company. Got a chuckle! Nice. |
| stevo_b (Rock Ridge) | Posted: Jun 18, 2008 - 12:12 I have always liked this one. |
| lathyris (Houston, TX) | Posted: Jun 18, 2008 - 12:11 Smoove_D wrote: I'm gonna go ahead and bump this from an 8 to a 9. Love this song.
And I'm going all the way from unrated to 4. Props, Josh! |
| Darlington (Columbia, South Carolina) | Posted: Jun 18, 2008 - 12:09 Smoove_D wrote: I'm gonna go ahead and bump this from an 8 to a 9. Love this song.
His latest CD, which came out last year, is excellent. Haven't heard much off of this one... |
| garthwb (Emerald Isle) | Posted: Apr 16, 2008 - 13:43 This entire album was recorded using Curtis Mayfield's old equipment. R.I.P. Brother Curtis. |
| Smoove_D (Milwaukee) | Posted: Apr 16, 2008 - 13:40 I'm gonna go ahead and bump this from an 8 to a 9. Love this song. |
| Papernapkin (Mountain View, CA) | Posted: Mar 31, 2008 - 19:03 I liked him when he was in Three's Company. |
| Zweiblumen (Boston, MA [2,606 miles ENE of Paradise, CA]) | Posted: Feb 29, 2008 - 06:40 rtkmusic wrote: Might be a good deal if that 10 bucks includes parking, dinner, an open bar and a headliner. Oh SNAP |
| TheFriendlyCat (Five Miles South of Nowhere) | Posted: Feb 13, 2008 - 14:28 Smooth. I like all of it, except how he says kathleen, but thats okay, not his fault. all in all, a lovely, romantic song. |
| Dragonfly_Launch (Conway, Ar) | Posted: Feb 13, 2008 - 14:28 jstevep00 wrote: Nov, 2006, someone posts about Josh Ritter followed by Nina Simone
Dec, 2007, another post about Ritter followed by Simone right now, I'm listening to Nina Simone following Josh Ritter What's going on here, Bill? You really love these two paired together or are you recycling playlists? Okay, I am tired of this repeated thread. Of course once he designs a fine little cluster of songs he uses it more than once and in a given calendar period you may hear it several times. Frankly, if you notice this you are likely listening to RP enough to buy a sweatshirt or some discs through amazon via Bill. Or hell, just give him some money for work well done. |
| Smoove_D (Milwaukee) | Posted: Feb 13, 2008 - 14:26 jstevep00 wrote: Nov, 2006, someone posts about Josh Ritter followed by Nina Simone
Dec, 2007, another post about Ritter followed by Simone right now, I'm listening to Nina Simone following Josh Ritter What's going on here, Bill? You really love these two paired together or are you recycling playlists? Bill's not there 24/7. Yes, he recycles playlists. |
| jstevep00 (left of center) | Posted: Jan 28, 2008 - 20:21 Nov, 2006, someone posts about Josh Ritter followed by Nina Simone Dec, 2007, another post about Ritter followed by Simone right now, I'm listening to Nina Simone following Josh Ritter What's going on here, Bill? You really love these two paired together or are you recycling playlists? |
| joeychick (San Diego) | Posted: Dec 12, 2007 - 17:23 Zigi wrote: It's probably you... Oh look here comes Nina Simone. If that doesn't change your opinion then it's DEFINITELY you. Gee... Josh Ritter ... followed by Nina Simone. Again. Hmm. |
| redeyespy (Clandestined in the bamboo thicket.) | Posted: Dec 12, 2007 - 17:21 A firm 5. |
| rtkmusic (SoCal) | Posted: Oct 26, 2007 - 14:38 Jacksonstat wrote: Going to see Josh Ritter next month! Don't know his music very well, but the tickets were only $10... can't pass that up.
Might be a good deal if that 10 bucks includes parking, dinner, an open bar and a headliner. |
| pannaramma (not from around here) | Posted: Sep 25, 2007 - 05:52 Very romantic. A new kind of hello. nice. |
| ploba (the other coast and hang a left) | Posted: Jun 07, 2007 - 04:04 saw Josh open for Sara Harmer a couple of year ago...he sang this song and blew us all away. |
| Jacksonstat (Columbus OH) | Posted: Feb 17, 2007 - 07:50 Just saw Josh Ritter last Friday night and he was great! Came home after the show and bought all of his CDs. |
| gernick (Groningen (in the cold northern Netherlands)) | Posted: Feb 02, 2007 - 07:49 been hearing some good songs, but this just made my day!!! josh ritter is fantastic! this album is unbelievably good! muchas muchas gracias señor Bill |
| pret-a-porter (Kanadia) | Posted: Feb 02, 2007 - 07:49 gorgeous b3 |
| araujokrl (the county) | Posted: Feb 02, 2007 - 07:47 eskles wrote: This guy belongs on commercial radio, because this is just as boring and generic as every other song played these days.
not everyone can be (nor should they be) the talking heads |
| Jacksonstat (Columbus OH) | Posted: Jan 18, 2007 - 16:56 Going to see Josh Ritter next month! Don't know his music very well, but the tickets were only $10... can't pass that up. |
| eskles | Posted: Jan 18, 2007 - 16:54 This guy belongs on commercial radio, because this is just as boring and generic as every other song played these days. |
| stinkycheese (Boston!) | Posted: Dec 20, 2006 - 14:14 mrrmt wrote: i like it alot. does anyone else notice a really strong tom petty sound ?
for me, it sounded at times like John Prine, with 4x his usual range. |
| strick (Syracuse- your sympathy accepted...) | Posted: Nov 21, 2006 - 10:36 weena wrote: This reminds me of the Nick Drake tune "Northern Sky". It'd be interesting to hear them back-to-back...I know; I'm not the d.j.~
Except without the talent & great voice of Nick Drake... |


