Lyrics for Girl In The War as interpreted by angryostrich

Girl In The War Lyrics
Peter said to Paul
"All those words that we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go"
But now talkin' to God is Laurel beggin' Hardy for a gun
I gotta girl in the war, man I wonder what it is we done

Paul said to Petey
"You gotta rock yourself a little harder;
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
And 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
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
If they can't find a way to help her, they can go to Hell

Paul to Petey "you gotta rock yourself a little harder;
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
But I gotta girl in the war, Paul her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain
Sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain



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ckad79
04-16-2006

Rated 0 
Can't believe nobody has commented on this one... GREAT GREAT song.

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napasah
04-17-2006

Rated 0 
I love the last stanza, and yea, GREAT song

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ckad79
05-05-2006

Rated 0 
Pretty simple, it's about bending the rules when love is involved.

I really like the part, "her eyes are like champagne".

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Milkman82
05-11-2006

Rated 0 
Not sure he is talking about bending the rules. I believe he is alluding to the old expression "The first casualty of war is truth."

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thatbeccagirl
05-19-2006

Rated 0 
wow such an amazing song! it gives me chills when i listen to it. the melody is SO pretty and the lyrics are loaded, although im not fabulous at interpretting them, so i wont try because i would probably end up confusing everyone.

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emer327
05-25-2006

Rated 0 
I think it's a combination of both-- he's using the illustration of war to talk about being ripped apart from someone. He's holding on, completely intoxicated by his memories (ala the champagne) but there is some part of his who knows it's a very bleak situation.

I adore extended metaphors, don't you?

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gossy
05-28-2006

Rated +1 
I interpret the song as a clear anti-war statement.

The reference to breaking the rules of the game and the “girl in the war” suggests a breaking of a “no women, no children” type of statute. In our current wars, we see our international rules of conduct being broken and civilian casualties often outnumber those of military forces.

A second reference to Laurel and Hardy (Thin Blue Line – “…even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance”) links the two songs which support each other in their anti-war sentiment.

The need to “rock yourself a little harder” and the reference to a dove suggests to me the need to actively protest and not just believe blindly in peace (e.g. the [peace] dove). Paul suggests that you must do whatever you have to in order to get fired up and move (“pretend your feet are on fire”). Peter has not been able to find a way to do this, and has been effectively sticking his head in the sand as he turns up the music and hopes for the best (e.g. that the war will end, that she will be okay, that peace will come).

As a side-note, a confrontation between the apostles has ‘historic’ reference as Paul confronted Peter in Galatians 2:11-18 when Peter was accused of Judaizing due to his reluctance to share a meal with gentile Christians.

“I know that they can hear me yell” (i.e., I know that they can hear my protests) and if they [powers that be] can’t find a way to stop what we are opposed to then they can go to hell. To fail to do so will result in great loss.

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sweaterking bleh
08-04-2006

Rated 0 
great song!

first off i think every lyric has a different meaning to each individual that being said here is how i interpet this song

obviously it is protesting the war and telling you to get active ("if they cant find a way to help they can go to hell")

"Paul said to Petey
"You gotta rock yourself a little harder;
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire""

i see it as paul talking to peter as in the bible,
i think its saying get active about your faith in christ and start doing what you were meant to do instead of screwing around

thats my 2 cents

great song though

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tbsbrandnewdcjew
09-10-2006

Rated 0 
god i love this song.

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DCraig2000
11-06-2006

Rated 0 
I love this tune.....

I think the song is anti-war and a slap at the Bush administration..


These are my guesses
The Girl is the United States
The Laurel (Bush) and Hardy (Cheney) or reversed since Cheney is the puppeteer and Bush is the puppet.

"I got a girl in the war, I wonder what it is we done" - I think is he saying How the hell did we get this country into this war

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iamrandom
01-02-2007

Rated 0 
Personally, I don't think it's as blunt as "this represents Bush" and "this represents the USA". But I think the lyric "girl in the war" represents truth (like Milkman said), innocence, and faith.

I love Josh's song writing. Take the lyric "Paul Said to Peter you gotta rock yourself a little harder". The allusion is perfect; even down to the detail (Peter means rock; ...on this rock I will build my Church).

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wookie007
01-09-2007

Rated 0 
okay: i think this is about loosing your faith. 'all those words we wrote' = new testament--and he's chucked out he rules because something in his life is haywire ('a girl in the war') and god doesn't seem to be helping.

the keys to the kingdom--come ON, saint peter guards the pearly gates & holds the keys to the KINGDOM of heaven--and he's lost the keys, ie his faith. faith isn't easy for him anymore. 'angels fly around inside but we can't seem them'.

i do like the anti-war reading too but i think the faith metaphor can be applied to that too, and i also think that the biblical allusions are too strong to be ignored. peter (the rock on which the chruch was founded) is starting to doubt and paul says, come on man, just trust, believe that it will be okay.

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shanak
01-20-2007

Rated 0 
It's not a direct slap a Bush, but rather a general disgust at religious war. Peter and Paul's words (the Bible) are the rules, but the Bible's teachings are the first things lost in war.

I see the "rocking harder" as a reference to how when someone is very, very upset, they'll curl into a ball and rock back and forth. All he can do is sit and wait and hope she makes it home.

He loves her, and he thinks she's being unjustly sacrificed for nothing, and there isn't a damn thing he can do about it. Not even prayer can help.

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jpw1019
01-24-2007

Rated 0 
Peter said to Paul
"All those words that we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go"

Peter is the Rock of the Church, a disciple of Christ, and the author of a book in the Bible. St. Paul is the author of many books in the Bible. The rules Ritter talks about is the Bible. Ritter says the Bible's rules are easily ignored.


But now talkin' to God is Laurel beggin' Hardy for a gun-- Laurel and Hardy were a old-time, silent comedy team. Laurel would always end up hurting Hardy and be unaware of the mistakes. Ritter means we pray for God to grant us gifts such as wisdom, (think Adam eating from the tree of knowledge) but really when end up destroying ourselves and our relationship with God.

I gotta girl in the war, man I wonder what it is we done- I think the war is the moral struggle existing in life. We are all responsible for the war. I think the girl represents innocence and the everyman.

Paul said to Petey
"You gotta rock yourself a little harder;
--Jesus proclaimed Peter to be the Rock or foundation of the Catholic Church. Ritter may be saying we need more of a foundation.

Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire" --the Dove is the Holy Spirit as we find in the baptism of Christ. So, pretend the Holy Spirit is demanding you to act.


And 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-- God gave Peter the keys to the heaven. Apparently the way to heaven is known now only in heaven. (Possibly it is that) We have forgotten how to live righteously.

And the angels fly around in there, but we can't see them-- we on Earth no longer know the holiness and beauty which exist in heaven


And I gotta girl in the war, Paul I know that they can hear me yell---- He's preaching to the one's causing the strife and hardships on Earth. They should help this girl.


If they can't find a way to help, they can go to Hell
--- Ritter does not think those who hear the call of righteousness yet refuse should find salvation.

If they can't find a way to help her, they can go to Hell
same


Paul to Petey "you gotta rock yourself a little harder;
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
But I gotta girl in the war, Paul her eyes are like champagne--not only is she innocent but filled with wonder


They sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain---the wonder eventually leads to apathy or despression because the world or "war"

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

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1 Reply
weakmorals
01-29-2007

Rated 0 
Josh was just on NPR. The song is about what it say's. Peter and Paul are Republicans and Dem's bickering while a war is going on.

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Kol
04-02-2007

Rated 0 
Matthew Good did a cover of this, check it out:
http://www.matthewgood.org/2007/04/a-little-experiment/

Great song, great cover.

jpw1019 did a great job of explaining it.

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lmaye83
04-14-2007

Rated 0 
I have a different interpretation of this song. While I do believe Josh Ritter is singing about the current war in Iraq, I also think this song may be about his girlfriend battling an illness. The line "If they can't find a way to help her they can go to hell" means, if the Dr's can't find a way to help her they can do just that, go to hell. Girl in the war means the girl is at war with an illness...."Her eyes are like chapagne, they sparkle bubble over, in the morning all you've got is rain..." means to me that her eyes are so crisp and clear and bubbly...but due to her sickness, they've lost their luster like a clear glass of champagne and now are like rain and cloudy. If you've ever seen a person's eyes when they're sick, they look like that.
Just my 2 cents.

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dmbislove41
05-21-2007

Rated 0 
whatever this song is about, it makes me a better person.

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Melxar
06-28-2007

Rated 0 
My interpretation is slightly different than the lengthy one provided by jpw1019. I agree with those who say it's about losing faith. To me, Ritter is talking about losing faith not only in this administration, but in God and christianity on earth as well.

Peter is the rock of the church, yet here he is the one questioning things throughout the whole song. When Peter says, "All those words that we..." he's referring to the new testament. Christ's message in the new testament is not one of vengence, or war... it's just the opposite. Despite being the book that many swear by, no one is following its dictates.

Paul tries to get Peter to keep the faith and to increase his efforts... "You've got to rock yourself a little harder, pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire." = do more praying and works

But Peter no longer seems to believe as he is seeing the effects of the war and fears it's consequences. He wants action now, but feels helpless to act: "the only thing I know to do is turn up the music, and pray that she makes it through."

Peter rants at those above for help, but noone is listening, thus the "keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom,
And the angels fly around in there but we can't see them." Peter thinks it's futile because the host has left us.

It seems to me that the lines, "I know that they can hear me yell..." and "If they can't find a way to help her.." are directed not at this administration or even at anyone on earth. Instead, they're meant for god himself, and all of the heavenly host.

Paul immidiately tries to keep Peter on track, but
Peter keeps coming back to the fact that his girl is in the war, and there's nothing he can do to save her. Additionally, he knows that noone above is going to do anything either. Peter, the Rock of the Church, has lost his faith.

It seems to me that "Girl" has a more expansive meaning then any single person.

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kbriggs2
10-02-2007

Rated 0 
1. Assuming weakmorals is not a dirty liar, the Iraq war two has something to do with this- but there's a lot more.

2. Regardless of what Ritter's religious beliefs are, i think the realigious references are symbolic, but mostly a way to tell the story

3. I think the story is about a messed up world that has forgotten "the rules." and I think the "girl" is possibly a daughter. There isn't enough about romantic love. "eyes like champagne" are in reference to crying, not merely beauty.

4. Basically he is sacared about a daughter he brought into a world that seems to be falling apart- i hope she makes it through.

he probably doesn't even have a daughter... anyway, this is what i think, and i'm right because i know everything

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ckad79
10-12-2007

Rated 0 
Simply put, I think it's a conversation of two faithful people looking towards God to solve their problems when they really ought to be realistic - for one their life - and actually fight for change rather than pray for it. To me, they both know a girl in the middle of a war and they hope and pray for GOD to protect her and argue if he doesn't to screw God, screw angels, screw all of it. Her life is in God's hand. I think both people get nowhere, but at the same time they are cried out not to risk everything on faith alone and to fight for what's right.

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KingBillyScotland
10-26-2007

Rated 0 
Sorry guys....this song is obviously not a war song or any sort of political reference. Its simply a beautifully poignant lyric about a woman fighting cancer and her loved one questioning his faith while watching her suffer. He is looking for some divine intervention to save her and 'if they can't find a way to help her they can go to Hell'.

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ejedmond
11-28-2007

Rated 0 
I won't try to compete with everyone else's interpretations here, suffice it to say that I find this song not only touching but also catchy-to be pedestrian about it.

But I would like to add that if I had a loved one in the war, or suffering from a disease or hardship, I think that all I'd want to do/be able to do is turn on some music and think "please God, just come back alive" (I'm not religious so I wouldn't probably won't pray, nor do I necessarily appreciate this song for it's religious overtones).

And I think this song captures that feeling of hopelessness perfectly.

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smollett
01-02-2008

Rated 0 
I think religious torment is at the heart of this song. He may be a believer but she is at war with the devil (ie. a non believer) and he is losing faith because of it.

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doodle_snot87
04-28-2008

Rated 0 
i agree that this song has biblical meaning but the meaning that i interpreted from the song was that though the "rules of the game" were created by men in the biblical ages/ old politicians, time calls for a change in rules do to women proving themselves. and the whole love story in the song really has to do with the fact that there is a gender role switch. usually it is the women waiting for the men to come home or for the two uniforms to come to the door. in this "rock yourself a little harder" means that men are going to have to get used to it, no matter whether they are in love or not.
i am not trying to be a womens activist, although i am a woman, i am simply trying to derive the meaning that i got from this song. i think there are many stories within this song; love, courage, biblical, political, and so on.
also i am completely in love with this song. i listen to it over and over again. it is one of those songs that can apply to anyone, which makes it great.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG!!

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