Josh Ritter - Girl In The War Lyrics

It's one thing to have a "dog in the fight," but it's another thing to have a "girl in the war."

No one should go to hell for not helping!

Holy crap, pop music sucks.

I lost my wife to cancer.I am a small time singer song writer and shortly after that a very pretty girl 20 years younger who could sing like an angel atached her self to me for awhile.She was beautifull and confused.If the worst had been the best you would know her name.I couldn't do anything to help her get away from her demons.To this is the story of that short period of my life

Damm so many years

Who directed/filmed this video? Thanks much!

One of the BEST. SONGS. EVER.

Goosebumps!!! Go Idaho!

Gunslinging Poet

This is actually a lyrical masterpiece... I mean his loss is almost tangible and the language is so aesthetically pleasing. You don't hear songs as well written as this too often. I take it he incorporates this talent into his other music?

Absolutely. Find 'The Temptation of Adam'

12 years ago my soulmate, the love of my life was losing her war with cancer. The Dr. said she had 2 maybe 3 days top and I should go home and make arrangements..I walked out of the hospital into the dark don't even remember driving home everything was a blur. Sat down at my desk trying to figure out all that needed to be done. Just out of habit I clicked on the radio and here was Josh Ritter singing about a girl in the war. I found myself singing /screaming at the top of my lungs "if you can't find a way to help here you can go to hell" 8 days later she walked out of that hospital and is still kicking around.
Oh her eyes are the palest blue everyone who has ever met her comments on how beautiful they are
Yeah I love Josh Ritter

you gave me goosebumps. glad to hear everything's good

Really hope your love continues to flourish and live her life well.

Oh yeah.  Love to you and yours.

so sweet

just heard this song for the first time today from a re-broadcast Of A Prairy Home Companion. It brought tears to my eyes. So far I can not sing it without sobbing on the last verse about her eyes. I am a 55 year old unpublished Christian song writer, and how I wish I could right like that! If I can get to the point of singing this son without bawling, I plan to sing it for my friends at a weekly jam session tomorrow> I wish I could meet Josh Ritter in person to thank him for this amazing gift.
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Like Johnny Cash, the man knows how to write strictly two good verses and then he craps out on the third. He hasn't the energy to go against the nothing without relaxing against the music, like against a leather-upholstered recliner. It is comforting, to be sure.

Paul lies. He's good, but lies, from goodness, I suppose. I have sympathy for the apostles, more so than for the angels, who I have no sympathy for. But I have no empathy for Paul, because I don't feel him. He says, "Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire." He switched out a word and an article there. A truer apostle than Paul might have kept to the Word and so at least the article in.

So many read so much into this, but having a girl in the war can simply, mean that he has literally a girl in the war -- women going to war these days too -- and he's worried about her. And then a bit more broadly, what the hell are we doing fighting continuous wars? So, it's a song about war.

I've known the Matt Good cover of this for YEARS, but this is my first time hearing the original. I like this one better.

This song reminds me of the art room. Those were the best of times. Convos that make you grow.

This is the song that got me onto Josh. Beautiful.

And what a door to wonder you have found: Eight full albums, eight EPs, and four live collections since 1999.
Once you experience Josh solo or with his band, you'll return.
Peace.

favorite artist ever...

my girl served

I love this song sooooo much😊

What happened to this video?

Strongest lyrics I heard in a long, long time...
Too bad they're so sadly apt to the times we live in....

24 years for me, music helps.

This is the writers uncertainty about the world in which we live, politics, life, self, all into one and he is trying to find himself. There are a lot of folks that can relate to this, nice ballad. Nice voice, well put together.

last worst thing happen to peter, girl in the war,

thànk you

Can she drink champagne standing upside down?

damn i love this song!

loving this grooooove

I was searching for this song for the last 4 years and finally found it.... what a beautiful song

Bbake06 Baker wow that’s a long time. I’m glad you found it!

Phew. Only a genius can be so expansive and bewitching at the same time.

is Josh Ritter related to John Ritter or Tex Ritter? does any one know?

he related to the T-rex ritter

+The Tree yes, T-Rex Ritter is my most favorite of the Ritter's.

love this song. so wonderful

me- does anyone know what the fuck he is talking about?
you- your an idiot this song is very deep!!
me- well lay it on me man tell me what he is talking about...
you- shutup......

+David Steinke Danke now i know....

+Richard Inman the references are mostly biblical. it's possible he's talking about the church itself, which is often referred to as a woman in the biblical texts. whatever the case, he's pissed that the scriptures were given as a solution to our problems and you basically have to throw them out to get anywhere, at least in view of this song.

It's about the church, and how Ritter thinks it's strayed from the true meaning of life and faith.

In the song, Peter is doubting the direction of the church and its message in general. Jesus' main idea was to love life and all of the people in it, yet Peter sees all of the violence and dogmatism that his religion is promoting and doesn't agree with it.

When Paul tells him you have to "rock yourself a little harder, pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire." He's essentially saying that Peter needs to turn off all of his doubt about faith and plunge deeper into its dogmatism.

The "Girl in The War" is a metaphor for Peter's stake in the game. Even though he's not a Christian, he still cares deeply about spirituality and the meaning of life. He's a human.

It's about the war in heaven, the kingdom of heaven is inside "the keys to kingdom got locked inside the kingdom the Angels fly around in there but we're can't see them" the war is the war in heaven. We're all just vessels, I guess Peter got a girl. Peter and Paul are from the Bible.

He's the anti-Drake.

will you come over and see me I like your music

her eyes are like champagne... they sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you've got is rain

S. Rainey im pretty sure he says ring not rain

It’s definitely “rain”.

Some of the greatest lyrics ever written right there

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 locked 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 hear 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

last worst thing happen to peter, girl in the war,

thanks for lyrics, so not understand the whole, but this is helpful

a seeking Christian!

Amit Dwivedi Peter and Paul from the Bible, the war is the war in heaven, the kingdom of heaven is inside that's why he says " the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom, the Angels fly around in there but we're can't see them." We're all vessels, I guess Peter got a girl.

Be clear I am waiting for you're shit

I love this song , you ARSEHOLES , will not ever SMOOTH IT OVER, military training only takes you SO far

Oh by the way , we can discuss this ANYWAY YOU WANT

And that would be you too, and perhaps you,re Mother

Awesome ! Gods gift .

Paul and Peter are two of Christ's disciples from the Bible Nabilah Alom.

Who the hell are Peter and Paul!!

+Nabilah Alom Republicans (Paul) and Democrats (Peter), the "Girl" is America

Names in The Holy Bible <3

Nabilah Alom Paul and peter were disciples of Jesus

🎼🎶Peter Paul's Almond Joy's got nuts.
Peter Paul's Mounds don't. 🎵

Pedro le dijo a Pablo, que conoce todas esas palabras que escribimos 
Son sólo las reglas del juego y las reglas son los primeros en desaparecer. 
Pero ahora hablando con Dios, está pidiendo, Laurel, para una pistola. 
Tengo una chica en el hombre. La guerra me preguntó ¿qué es lo que hace? 

Pablo le dijo a Pedro ¿qué tienes para el rock?  
A ti mismo, un poco más difícil. 
Imagina la paloma de lo alto, es un dragón y sus pies están en llamas. 
Pero creo que tengo una niña en la guerra, Paul. Lo único que sé hacer.
Es el turno de la música y rezar, para que ella, lo haga a través de la misma.
Debido a que las llaves del reino quedaron encerradas en el interior del reino. 
Y los ángeles vuelan por ahí pero no podemos verlos.
Tengo una chica en la guerra de Paul. Sé que pueden oírme gritar.
Si no pueden encontrar una manera de ayudarla a que puedan ir al infierno 
Si no pueden encontrar una manera de ayudarla a que puedan ir al infierno 

Pablo le dijo a Pedro ¿qué tienes para el rock?
A ti mismo, un poco más difícil.
Imagina la paloma de lo alto es un dragón y sus pies están en llamas 
Pero creo que tengo una niña en la guerra, Paul. Sus ojos son como el champán 
Brillan burbujas dentro y por la mañana todo lo que tienes es la lluvia…

All is wonderful from Josh Ritter...

i bought them all my friend John Ritter http://youtu.be/kqLssKusGzM thank you your my song in me thats all you and us "A MAN" "NEVER ALL MEN" "BEFORE GOD FUCK YOU" THATS WHAT GOD MENT . ONLY ONE HOLY LORD HOW DARE YOUY SAY HIS NAME . JOHN

This is the song in Mourning Dove

I know I heard it in mourning dove because we watched it in school did you?

Plastic Madness I just watched this in English today and it was so deeep😭

Privileged to have seen this guy play twice. The first time in Cork Opera House many years ago where he put the microphone aside, silenced the band and just sang alone, filling the entire place....!     Much respect!!!    The second time in Edinburgh where he brought on members of Frightened Rabbit for one song. Live music is my church!!!

Really happy to have stumbled across Josh Ritter, lyrically love it. 

Ma chi è quel mona che sbatte la porta e che esce urlando.

Sparkle bubble over and in the the morning all you got is rain....nice line. great song!!

one of the best

PERFECT VOICE ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Why don't you go pull yourself again boy

Hey all. I'm a big Josh Ritter fan, he's one of my biggest influences. If you like Josh's music, you might enjoy mine as well! I'm an up and coming songwriter from Wisconsin.
I would love it if you checked out a tune I wrote entitled "Collecting Heratbeats."
Here's the link if you have the time: /watch?v=QxcalP5zMn4
Have a great day!

Amen. The man's talent amazes. Catch him live with The Royal City Band and you'll not forget that evening's music.

Laurel loves to beg Hardy in Josh's songs. Vengance please, a gun, etc.

lelelele so funny and random xD

piss on you url fggt.

Matthew Williams you look like my local goth cutter

Just came across Steve katz in the video responses.He's good

Calm down. :/

They sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is the rain

Thank you!

Eargasm

Why are you?

Rather than fire back at Eliot, why not remove the comment. Consider this: there was a Louie CK episode where someone said F-gg-t trying to be funny, and another comedian who was actually gay said "Use the word to be funny if you want but remember someone who hears that may have been beaten or picked on mercilessly while they were called that word. Surely you got something else to say that's funny without using a comment that could potentially remind someone of something so horrible."

I'm with Eliot Brookes (earlier comment), PetriSoul's comment about suicide just isn't funny and should "disliked" until it's gone. Suicide, Rape, Domestic Violence, etc. are not funny EVER to anyone who's had a brush with them directly or indirectly. Call me uptight if you want, but some people will never understand. Maybe I'm uptight about these things, or maybe some people just have no soul, because once you've dealt with some issues yourself or with loved ones, they're not funny EVER.

Came here because of Mourning Dove.

SOUND GREAT

He sings a lot about wolves in many of his songs, and towards the end of this one he howls almost just like one, and in a good way. Hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable. Magic from Josh, as always.

why is this only in 240p

Great christian artist

liek dis if u crie everytiem ;-;

Honestly I heard about this guy because I was looking for lake street dive and they are opening for him on March 18th at Solano beach. Name of this song capture my attenton cause I was a girl in the war that I didn't want to live in. What bothers me about this song is mentioning god and power above too many times but the whole song makes no sense. If they can't find the way to help they can go to hell.... Seriously?

no, you made that comment 'cause you hoped you would make a laugh the 47 people who liked had that laugh, suicide isn't a funny thing you sick twisted idiot and you know when you dislike something you can like it after !

The guy doing the walls in my room told me to check him out. I don't regret it :)

If I were to buy only two of his albums, which two would you recommend?

You don't hear songs like this everyday....

Oh good good no! A brilliant observation.

P.s. I come in peace. That wasn't sarcastic. I'd trying to believe in humanity and uplift and prefer exuberance to brevity in the absence of an auditory medium(unless you count the song.)

same here

why Matt Good?

love way he says fire

adding this to TFTV thisflighttonight(dot)com(slash)discover

haha its ok if you confess your sin to youtube

34 dislikes...
Men.. Prepare your ammo.

Mourning Dove

Hide away your self, dear girl. Shame is just a shameful thing.

..ah those melancholy Irish poets - how sweetly they know how 2 lament...AFTER putting A Girl in The War (= 0:37); what's a Girl 2 do?! Especially when he writes such a beautiful song about it...well, since he seems 2 have 0 solution, let's hope those angels WON'T go 2 hell (?) !!
Here's 2 ALL those trapped in wars - of ALL sorts...may angels be seen (because they're surely always there?)
:)

Got the EP of this on vinyl some years ago. Love this song. But to call the video powerful - as it says in the description - is misleading. Very boring video if you ask me.

It's a beautiful song!! I like it a lot.

This makes my mind...sway.

If they don't wanna help her they can go tto hell

My mind is full of melody and it plays this song sometimes

how could you dislike this

@AshnaxXx looks like Joshua Tree NP in SoCal.

Cant keep it out of my head...