Song of the Day #31: “Girl In The War,” by Josh Ritter

                   The jesters have reached 1000 views thanks to your views and support. So, let us pop open the champagne and celebrate. Hmm, champagne that reminds me of a tune (like most things do). No, not Champagne Supernova by Oasis. How about “Girl in the War,” by the talented Josh Ritter, singer-songwriter from Moscow, Idaho. A man who should also pop open the champagne for making the right career move. The son of two neuroscientists, Ritter originally went into school with the major of Neuroscience. But, his drive to revolutionize American narrative folk music caused him to switch his focus onto the performance of beautiful music. Great idea. His exceptionally creative and smart lyric continues to mix with his subtle melodies and guitar licks. “Girl In The War,” only portrays a simple taste of his musical intelligence. It also mentions champagne.

              “Girl in the War,” makes fantastic use of the most simple of verse chord progressions. Two chords that barely vary. The lyric writes of a conversation between Peter and Paul (both saints by the way). Both are talking about a girl in the war (whose eyes are like Champagne) and their conversation culminates into the lines, “Because the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom
And the angels fly around in there, but we can’t see them, And I gotta girl in the war, Paul I know that they can hear me yell
If they can’t find a way to help, they can go to Hell,” which maintains numerous religious undertones. The kingdom is Heaven which St. Peter guards. St Peter holds the “keys to the kingdom.” Yet, Ritter, who is fantastic with clever wordplay, makes mention that the “Keys of the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom.” The angels are in there but we cannot see them. No one can get in and no one can see inside heaven’s grand doors. Instead we get the image of wars, guns, violence, and blood that crowds our eyes and with no way to help ends up looking like hell. Yet, at least we can sees the eyes like Champagne. Interesting imagery and interesting song.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqLssKusGzM