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Josh Ritter — Joy To You Baby
Album: The Beast In Its Tracks
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1251









Released: 2013
Length: 4:32
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I go to the parties
Throw my hands in the air
I drink what they pour me
The cups of who cares
Go up in the night sky
Up in the clouds
Fly over the houses
I'm looking down

Joy to the city
Joy to the streets
And joy to you baby, wherever you sleep
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight

There's no ghosts in the graveyard
That's not where they live
They float in between us
'What is' and 'what if'
And cast our own shadows
Before our own eyes
You don't get them up here though
They don't come up high

Joy to the city
The parking lot lights
The lion of evening
With the rain in its eyes
Joy to the freeway
Joy to the cars
And joy to you baby, wherever you are
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight

There's pain in whatever
We stumble upon
If I never had met you
You couldn't have gone
But then I couldn't have met you
We couldn't have been
I guess it all adds up
To joy to the end

Joy to the city
The heatwave and all
To the lion of evening
With the storm in its paw
Joy to the many
And joy to the few
And joy to you baby
Joy to me too
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Comments (67)add comment
When this came on I thought it was Rodriguez - error - Please RP - why do you not play him!
 musicology wrote:
all break-ups should be this graceful and peaceful
 

Now I understand the difference between should and would. 
 rdo wrote:
I love this.  9
 
I love you.
Also a 9 from yo boy
Edweirdo I’m with ya mate! With a voice like cotton candy to me!! 6
Initial progression reminds me of Billy Joel's "Captain Jack".
Nice song. Musically it reminds me of two songs: 1) "Crocodile cryer" by Martin Stephenson & the Daintees (from excelent album "Boat to Bolivia". 2) Keyboards part is reminiscent of a song from the band Televison ( LP "Adventure").  Both very dear to me.   
A nice easy feeling song
This is one of a horde of artists that I would never have heard of without Radio Paradise. What a transcendent songwriter.
 dareapr wrote:

Blah blah blah...zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 

the only thing  zzzzzzzz ... here:: your lazyness to read a passionte and well done  and articualatet thought on music by your former fellow listener...
 Stickman66 wrote:
Sure, this track might hint at a Smashing Pumpkins or a Cure track or whoever else. The fact is that most pop /alt /rock songs all use some combination of regular intervals or chord combinations. Lots of songs are terribly derivative (that's a topic for another argument), but Joy To You isn't one of the overtly guilty ones. The bulk of this fine little track is built – I believe – around a 1-4 change (as in something like a G to C. Don't quote me on that.). Pretty simple stuff. But the point is, chord changes aren't what makes this song interesting. There's a texture /production that supports the writer's message, lyrics and voice (even if the chords have been used a kazillion times by, like, everybody before him ... Lou Reed did pretty well with 1-4 changes, for example ... and The Blues haven't suffered from lack of chordal variety.). Music can be more than just originality for originality sake. Among texture, feel and other things, music can - and should have a place to be - a continuation of previous stories, where chords are simply a familiar part of a language listeners are fluent in.
 
Blah blah blah...zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sure, this track might hint at a Smashing Pumpkins or a Cure track or whoever else. The fact is that most pop /alt /rock songs all use some combination of regular intervals or chord combinations. Lots of songs are terribly derivative (that's a topic for another argument), but Joy To You isn't one of the overtly guilty ones. The bulk of this fine little track is built – I believe – around a 1-4 change (as in something like a G to C. Don't quote me on that.). Pretty simple stuff. But the point is, chord changes aren't what makes this song interesting. There's a texture /production that supports the writer's message, lyrics and voice (even if the chords have been used a kazillion times by, like, everybody before him ... Lou Reed did pretty well with 1-4 changes, for example ... and The Blues haven't suffered from lack of chordal variety.). Music can be more than just originality for originality sake. Among texture, feel and other things, music can - and should have a place to be - a continuation of previous stories, where chords are simply a familiar part of a language listeners are fluent in.
Don't get the negs......great sound, great song......
 kingart wrote:
Then you're dissing a premier song writer. To the Dogs or Whoever and Right Moves are two very fun and fab songs. Girl in the War is played here often. More Josh Ritter.
 
ellaspace rates everything sucko-barfo.
He/she could easily find another station but would rather stay on RP and bitch and complain.
Please ignore him/her.
 eliaspace wrote:
I really dislike this song, sounds like a bad copy of Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight tonight", gave it a nice 1 and hope not have to listen again

 
Then you're dissing a premier song writer. To the Dogs or Whoever and Right Moves are two very fun and fab songs. Girl in the War is played here often. More Josh Ritter. 
 eliaspace wrote:
I really dislike this song, sounds like a bad copy of Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight tonight", gave it a nice 1 and hope not have to listen again

 
tough luck
I really dislike this song, sounds like a bad copy of Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight tonight", gave it a nice 1 and hope not have to listen again
In the first minute of the Barr Brothers' song before this one, I thought I was listening to Josh Ritter - and then Bill follows it with this one - looks like he sees the similarity too!
There's pain in whatever
We stumble upon
If I never had met you
You couldn't have gone
But then I wouldn't have met you
We couldn't have been
I guess it all adds up
To joy to the end

8 > 9
 RabbitEars wrote:
anybody hear buckley's last goodbye in the guitar intro?

 
More of Al Stewart for me. 70's touch definitevely. Deserved 7.
 
Great song, surprised more folks haven't commented on it.  
Never heard this before, but I like it.  Solid 8
Lovely attitude.  Like it a lot.
Kind of empty, but can't fight loving this. Simple, nostalgic melancholia.
anybody hear buckley's last goodbye in the guitar intro?
Ahhh, very nice.
An unexpected, melancholy treat.
Solid 7 for the song but terrible album cover.
Flat voice, boring song.
Joy to anyone lucky enough to hear this...
 Antigone wrote:


 
Great follow-up to Colin Hay {#Cool}

I love this.  9
X will do that...

 
(Banned) wrote:
Joy to the freeway.  Joy to the cars.

 


all break-ups should be this graceful and peaceful
Josh's songs are very similar. But when they are so good, why change?
I rocked my little baby boy to sleep that last time Bill played this song.  Good memory there.
 MsJudi wrote:
Does anyone else see that album cover thumbnail and think, "Bobby Flay has an album?"

 
Lol yes
This song always paints such a clear picture in my head.  I adore it.
Nice, I never cared much for Josh Ritter in the past but I do like this, 7.
 Segue wrote:
Dumb lyrics. Dull, repetitive, annoying. More dumb lyrics. Had to turn it off. Sorry.

 
C'mon, you can try harder than that.  Cheap shot.  
they remind me of the National and your comment could definitely fit into a the National song comments.

 
Segue wrote:
Dumb lyrics. Dull, repetitive, annoying. More dumb lyrics. Had to turn it off. Sorry.

 


Dumb lyrics. Dull, repetitive, annoying. More dumb lyrics. Had to turn it off. Sorry.
Joy to the freeway.  Joy to the cars.
 fiorello wrote:
One of the Best albums of the year . Track for Track , Lyric for Lyric... it tells as great a Tale and it's an album to listen to over and over . Quite a great singer and songwriter. 

 
yep

nice little slice of americana
 fiorello wrote:
One of the Best albums of the year . Track for Track , Lyric for Lyric... it tells as great a Tale and it's an album to listen to over and over . Quite a great singer and songwriter. 

 
Dang. This whole album is solid. Thanks for the heads up.
Aaaaaaaaahhhhhahahaa! Damn near spat out my coffee! (I do indeed dig this song.)


    
MsJudi wrote:
Does anyone else see that album cover thumbnail and think, "Bobby Flay has an album?"

 


One of the Best albums of the year . Track for Track , Lyric for Lyric... it tells as great a Tale and it's an album to listen to over and over . Quite a great singer and songwriter. 
The guitar hook sounds like New Order to me (reinforced by the synth sound). Like it. 
Does anyone else see that album cover thumbnail and think, "Bobby Flay has an album?"
Joy To You Baby, tonight, tonight! {#Hug}
 mdc wrote:
Josh Ritter sounds like Tim Freeman from 'The Whitlams', a Sydney rock band.

 
You're right. He kinda does sound like Tim.
Josh Ritter sounds like Tim Freeman from 'The Whitlams', a Sydney rock band.
 ottovonb wrote:
Is it my imagination or is that pretty guitar hook straight out of The Cure's "Pictures of You"?

 
There's definitely a similar guitar sound in the production, but also, it's just two arpeggiated chords: a I - IV progression, different key (though the Cure song goes to the V chord in the bridge and takes on some minor chords later).  I agree that it's probably safe to assume that Mr. Ritter and/or his producer were somewhat influenced by "Pictures Of You".
not only the cure, but the stereophonics pick a part as well.  this is good 
Champion voice
{#Sunny}
Don't much care for this, but it's now Cinco de Mayo and three shots of tequila make it listenable.

No.  I take it back; they don't.

"Joy to the freeways, and joy to the cars" ... ?  
Woe to this milli-mouthed nonsense.  
I'll have to hear this one again. Will start it at a 6.  I've been enthralled by Ritter since my very first listen -- Man Burning -- he's a terrific writer and story teller. To the Dogs or Whoever and Right Moves are classic, but track to track, album to album he seems to waver between wistful and exuberant and you can never be sure what's in his proverbial box of chocolates. 
 ottovonb wrote:
Is it my imagination or is that pretty guitar hook straight out of The Cure's "Pictures of You"?

 
sure sounds like it . . . but it sounds good.
Is it my imagination or is that pretty guitar hook straight out of The Cure's "Pictures of You"?
 Steve wrote:
I uploaded this from the free NPR download of 100 songs from SXSW artists for this year.

Still available thru April 4th...
 
A very catchy song. Love the guitar!
I really need to read through all these comments before I blow my cash! Thanks anyway, Steve!
I uploaded this from the free NPR download of 100 songs from SXSW artists for this year.

Still available thru April 4th...
I'm really enjoying the new album, but I'm sorry to hear that Josh had to go through a painful divorce to produce more good music.
and it's free: https://www.noisetrade.com/joshritter/live-at-the-iveagh-gardens
Always enjoy Josh Ritter.  This CD will be arriving at my house today.  Thanks for the preview RP!
I am liking that Guitar....