Josh Ritter - "Right Moves"

No album I purchased in 2009 had a greater effect on me than The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter. My buddy Michael Costa turned me on to Josh Ritter a few years back with "Girl in the War" and once I bought The Animal Years I got hooked on songs like "Wolves" and "Lillian, Egypt." But no Ritter tune has combined just about everything I love about music into one song more than "Right Moves" from Historical Conquests. The bassline, the rythm groove, the melody, the lilting piano -- it's all pitch-perfect. Not only that, the lyrics are wonderful. When was the last time you heard a line like "The crickets all leapt up and met the moon with a standing ovation?" Too long, for me.

Erin and I had the chance to catch Josh in DC last month and I swear I've never seen a performer smile more than he did. The sheer joy he was taking in his performance fell off him, spilled over the stage, and filled all of us.

Josh Ritter - "Right Moves"



All of a sudden now you're back again
I thought you were happy with whoever
or did you dream about me now and then
Did you look up at the stars and feel something for the constellations?
All those lovers circling round their loves
Slings and arrows, dogs and lions, rivers separating touch from touch
The comedy of distance, the tragedy of separation

Am I making all the right moves
Am I singing you the right blues
Is there a chance that I could call you
Just to see how you are doing?

I said how is it that you come back to me?
You don't need the stories of my scars or in the stars to tell you nothing's free
I traded all the innocence I ever had for hesitation
I said won't you tell me where you been?
You put a finger to my lips and then you kissed me once and once again
The crickets all leapt up and met the moon with a standing ovation

(chorus)

I heard the night birds picking up the song
You threw your hair back and sang along
And I realized that I might lose you you might lose me
Drift apart in the night and never know why and not know how
I said what if we are like the Northern sky?
What if there are things that come between us
that we can't take back and we can't make right?
You said I don't know darlin' but I'm here with you
and we're coming to the chorus now!

(chorus)


Image: darkmavis