Josh Ritter — The Curse
Album: So Runs the World AwayAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 913
Length: 4:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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He opens his eyes
Falls in love at first sight
With the girl in the doorway
What beautiful lines
Heart full of life
After thousands of years, what a face to wake up to
He holds back a sigh
As she touches his arm
She dusts off the bed where til now he's been sleeping
Under mires of stone
The dry fig of his heart
Under scarab and bone
Starts back to its beating
She carries him home
In a beautiful boat
He watches the sea from a porthole in stowage
He can hear all she says
As she sits by his bed
And one day his lips answered her
In her own language
The days quickly pass
He loves making her laugh
The first time he moves it's her hair that he touches
She asks "Are you cursed?"
He says "I think that I'm cured."
Then he talks of the Nile and the girls in ?bull rushes?
In New York he is laid
In a glass covered case
He pretends he is dead
People crowd round to see him
But at night she comes round
And the two wander down the halls of the tomb
That she calls a museum
But he stops to rest
Then less and less
Then it's her that looks tired
Staying up asking questions
He learns how to read
From the papers that she is writing about him
Then he makes corrections
It's his face on her book
More come to look
Families from Iowa
Upper West-Siders
Then one day it's too much
He decides to get up
Then as chaos ensues he walks outside to find her
She is using a cane
And her face looks too pale
But she's happy to see him
As they walk he supports her
She asks "Are you cursed?"
But his answer is obscured
In a sandstorm of flashbulbs
Rowdy reporters
Such reanimation
The two tour the nation
He gets out of limos
Meets other women
He speaks of her fondly
Their nights in the museum
She's just one more rag now he's dragging behind him
She stops going out
She just lies there in bed
In hotels in whatever towns they are speaking
Then her face starts to set
And her hands start to fold
Then one day the dry fig of her heart stops its beating
Long ago on the ship
She asked why pyramids
He said "Think of them as an immense invitation."
She asks "Are you cursed?"
He says "I think that I'm cured."
Then he kissed her and hoped
That she'd forget that question
Falls in love at first sight
With the girl in the doorway
What beautiful lines
Heart full of life
After thousands of years, what a face to wake up to
He holds back a sigh
As she touches his arm
She dusts off the bed where til now he's been sleeping
Under mires of stone
The dry fig of his heart
Under scarab and bone
Starts back to its beating
She carries him home
In a beautiful boat
He watches the sea from a porthole in stowage
He can hear all she says
As she sits by his bed
And one day his lips answered her
In her own language
The days quickly pass
He loves making her laugh
The first time he moves it's her hair that he touches
She asks "Are you cursed?"
He says "I think that I'm cured."
Then he talks of the Nile and the girls in ?bull rushes?
In New York he is laid
In a glass covered case
He pretends he is dead
People crowd round to see him
But at night she comes round
And the two wander down the halls of the tomb
That she calls a museum
But he stops to rest
Then less and less
Then it's her that looks tired
Staying up asking questions
He learns how to read
From the papers that she is writing about him
Then he makes corrections
It's his face on her book
More come to look
Families from Iowa
Upper West-Siders
Then one day it's too much
He decides to get up
Then as chaos ensues he walks outside to find her
She is using a cane
And her face looks too pale
But she's happy to see him
As they walk he supports her
She asks "Are you cursed?"
But his answer is obscured
In a sandstorm of flashbulbs
Rowdy reporters
Such reanimation
The two tour the nation
He gets out of limos
Meets other women
He speaks of her fondly
Their nights in the museum
She's just one more rag now he's dragging behind him
She stops going out
She just lies there in bed
In hotels in whatever towns they are speaking
Then her face starts to set
And her hands start to fold
Then one day the dry fig of her heart stops its beating
Long ago on the ship
She asked why pyramids
He said "Think of them as an immense invitation."
She asks "Are you cursed?"
He says "I think that I'm cured."
Then he kissed her and hoped
That she'd forget that question
Comments (30)add comment
I love story telling songs. How beautiful and wonderfully sad story. I might have to bump this up to 9.
1jerry wrote:
Maybe.
Maybe it is about him, because he falls in love and she asks if he is cursed. His curse might be always "living" while everyone he is connected to ages and dies. And his "cure" is her love. That filter works for me.
I think the rhythm and choice of the words and the movement of the story is very well done. I think it is great poetry.
That is my read as well… His curse is to be immortal
And the dying of a love or someone one loves makes me cry every time… beautiful art right here
Maybe.
Maybe it is about him, because he falls in love and she asks if he is cursed. His curse might be always "living" while everyone he is connected to ages and dies. And his "cure" is her love. That filter works for me.
I think the rhythm and choice of the words and the movement of the story is very well done. I think it is great poetry.
That is my read as well… His curse is to be immortal
And the dying of a love or someone one loves makes me cry every time… beautiful art right here
Reminds me a lot of "String of Pearls" by Soul Asylum. Both great songs.
beautiful lyrically, poetic and heartfelt… lovely song
Talented singer/songwriter.
This song is not my favourite, but I'm glad RP gives him some well-deserved airplay.
This song is not my favourite, but I'm glad RP gives him some well-deserved airplay.
Nice trumpeting going in there.
kazoo wrote:
Yes. She finds a mummy, falls in love with it. She is cursed by the mummy and it slowly takes her life. In the end she fades away and he is alive. I think that he took advantage of her so he could live again.
Worth a 9, extra points for the literature of those lyrics ...
Yes. She finds a mummy, falls in love with it. She is cursed by the mummy and it slowly takes her life. In the end she fades away and he is alive. I think that he took advantage of her so he could live again.
Worth a 9, extra points for the literature of those lyrics ...
kazoo wrote:
Maybe it is about him, because he falls in love and she asks if he is cursed. His curse might be always "living" while everyone he is connected to ages and dies. And his "cure" is her love. That filter works for me.
I think the rhythm and choice of the words and the movement of the story is very well done. I think it is great poetry.
Yes. She finds a mummy, falls in love with it. She is cursed by the mummy and it slowly takes her life. In the end she fades away and he is alive. I think that he took advantage of her so he could live again.
Maybe.Maybe it is about him, because he falls in love and she asks if he is cursed. His curse might be always "living" while everyone he is connected to ages and dies. And his "cure" is her love. That filter works for me.
I think the rhythm and choice of the words and the movement of the story is very well done. I think it is great poetry.
From Little Things, Big Things Grow. Storytelling in the peculiarly similar style of Paul Kelly.
Wow. Just wow.
Sounds to me like a mixture of The Housemartins - Build and The Antlers - Intruders, but not anywhere as good as either 
Always loved his writing. A great storyteller for this generation of musicians.
The standard progressions never get old when a well crafted narrative is spun.
The standard progressions never get old when a well crafted narrative is spun.
h8rhater wrote:
Uh yes, he's talking about a mummy. This song is nothing but literal, so there really is nothing to fear. The lyrics are conveniently printed to the left. Try reading them.
Yikes, for one tagged as "h8rhater" that was pretty rude. With so much musical poetry being obscure or otherwise non-literal, is it so odd that I was looking for meaning beyond the literal lyrics?
Uh yes, he's talking about a mummy. This song is nothing but literal, so there really is nothing to fear. The lyrics are conveniently printed to the left. Try reading them.
Yikes, for one tagged as "h8rhater" that was pretty rude. With so much musical poetry being obscure or otherwise non-literal, is it so odd that I was looking for meaning beyond the literal lyrics?
kazoo wrote:
The heart wants what the heart wants...
Yes. She finds a mummy, falls in love with it. She is cursed by the mummy and it slowly takes her life. In the end she fades away and he is alive. I think that he took advantage of her so he could live again.
The heart wants what the heart wants...
cc_rider wrote:
Yep, mummies. Thousands of years, scarab reference. She's the curator of a traveling exhibit. Pretty straightforward, considering how weird it is.
c.
Exactly. Simple story, directly told.
Yep, mummies. Thousands of years, scarab reference. She's the curator of a traveling exhibit. Pretty straightforward, considering how weird it is.
c.
Exactly. Simple story, directly told.
rhlrstn wrote:
Uh yes, he's talking about a mummy. This song is nothing but literal, so there really is nothing to fear. The lyrics are conveniently printed to the left. Try reading them.
I'm afraid I'm too literal for this song. Is he talking about mummies? What does it mean?
Uh yes, he's talking about a mummy. This song is nothing but literal, so there really is nothing to fear. The lyrics are conveniently printed to the left. Try reading them.
rhlrstn wrote:
Yes. She finds a mummy, falls in love with it. She is cursed by the mummy and it slowly takes her life. In the end she fades away and he is alive. I think that he took advantage of her so he could live again.
I'm afraid I'm too literal for this song. Is he talking about mummies? What does it mean?
Yes. She finds a mummy, falls in love with it. She is cursed by the mummy and it slowly takes her life. In the end she fades away and he is alive. I think that he took advantage of her so he could live again.
Josh Ritter: Rock 'n' roll with lots & lots of words.
rhlrstn wrote:
c.
I'm afraid I'm too literal for this song. Is he talking about mummies? What does it mean?
Yep, mummies. Thousands of years, scarab reference. She's the curator of a traveling exhibit. Pretty straightforward, considering how weird it is.c.
I like it, the lyrics reminiscent of the truly excellent Leonard C, but in a good way.
Shades of "A Day in the Life"
Come on
I'm afraid I'm too literal for this song. Is he talking about mummies? What does it mean?
Sweet Tune. I like Josh Rittter.
One of my favorite Josh Ritter tracks, and that's saying something. So poignant. It's poetry set to music.
Nice and soft song
Oh dear this poor little song. Maybe if sung by Mike Scott. Or Neil Halstead. Kanye.
Melancholy story. Made me stop working for a minute. Not sure my opinion.
Wow, first comment! Sweet song. Go see him live if you have a chance - he puts on a good show.