Hello!  Welcome.

What happens when a history, literature, and curiosity buff digs deep into the extraordinary musical mysteries sung by a songwriting genius?

This. This is what happens.

This site is for fans of the musician Josh Ritter. Around here we listen and look around to seek out the meaning of, and in, Josh’s songs, be that meaning public or personal. Incontrovertible or incidental. Conclusive, you could say, or excursive.

Come along on the journey? It starts wherever you click next.

Top Posts

• A Time to Wait . . . Pondering two very different versions of the song “Wait for Love” off the Historical Conquests album. Dedicated to all of us still waiting.
• Reading the Mississippi . . . Following Mark Twain down the Mississippi River in search of Josh Ritter . . . and a Dr. Seuss mash-up.
• Bob Dylan at the Pines Theater . . . Just Dylan, no Josh. The Girl goes to a special concert and pens a love letter to a hero.
• Say goodnight gloaming . . . Some autumnal angst while pondering some phrases from Josh Ritter’s song “Thin Blue Flame.”
• Turning up the music . . . Possible sighting(s) of Josh’s “Girl in the War” in Copley Square, Boston. (And an NBA championship!)

Close readings of incredible songs

• Girl meets Mark Twain . . . My discovery of the album The Animal Years leads to a rediscovery of Mark Twain.
• Desert radio . . . Line by line through the enigmatic song “Monster Ballads.” My best impression of Sherlock Holmes. Awaiting my Pulitzer.
• My own private Idaho . . . Excavating those haunting Idaho lyrics.  Guest starring Woody Guthrie and The White Stripes.
• Again from his brumal sleep . . . A “Wolves” love story. Jack London and Rick Bass.  Some kvetching about winter.
• To the blog or whoever . . . Initial impressions of Historical Conquests.  Plus a rewrite of “To the Dogs or Whoever,” of which I’m still pretty proud.

The Girl’s early writings and reflections

• River days . . . Using the final verse of “Monster Ballads” to work through my move across town.  More nostalgia.
• The past an address . . . Ode to my old apartment using one tiny phrase from “Thin Blue Frame.”
• It could be best . . . on the very first Josh Ritter song I ever heard, “Best for the Best.”
• Last week’s feathers . . . Magnolia trees, an imminent move, some heartbreak.  And the song “Snow is Gone.”
• Flight . . . More discussion of the song “Snow is Gone,” and a trip cross country.

Musings on albums and concerts

• So ran the night away . . . My experience from the seats at Josh’s concert on May 21, 2010 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Homecoming . . . About the time I road tripped to Michigan and back in four days for the 3.3.2008 show at the Ladies’ Literary Club in Grand Rapids.
• Blowin’ up . . . A congratulatory post to honor the release of Historical Conquests. Includes the poem I wrote to ensure Josh assumed his proper place in history.
• From protozoan to Ponce de León . . . Announcement of a new album and discussion of The Animal Years. Unabashed nostalgia.

Contact Me

Twitter: @girlgloaming
Email: Lynne.Blaszak@gmail.com

It means so much to hear from you, even if you stomp your feet and carry on and harangue, You’ve got it all wrong! If you’re awe-struck or intrigued or aggravated by a post, please send a note or leave a comment. This is my public promise that you cannot hurt my feelings.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Josh’s work is that it leaves so much room. He takes exceptional care of and with everything: he’s the most hospitable songwriter I know. One gets the feeling he likes company.

I do, too. So thanks for stopping by.