Honey how you gonna make it on your own?
Honey how you gonna make it on your own?
When you wake up in the night
And see the stars just city lights
And you can't find home?

You act like you don't need nobody else
And you dance like you don't need nobody else
And all the other moths need light
To circle round while you just fly
Around yourself

Oh I stir my sugar with a spoon
And watch your white dress float around the room
I try to see what you're about
But even my candles are down and out

Honey why you gotta hide your face from me?
Honey why you gotta hide your face from me?
Will I starve in this eclipse
While you treat every hungry kiss
Like one more mouth to feed?



Lyrics submitted by EffulgentEnnui, edited by bucketsofrain

Track duration: 03:52

"Idaho" as written by Josh Ritter

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Idaho song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This is the wrong song. The actual lyrics are as follows:

    All that love all those mistakes
    What else can a poor man make?
    But I gave up a life of crime
    I gave it to a friend of mine
    Something else was on my mind
    The only ghost I'm haunted by
    I hear her howling down below
    Idaho, Idaho

    Wolves oh wolves oh can't you see?
    Ain't no wolf can sing like me
    And if it could then I suppose
    That he belongs in Idaho
    Packs of dogs and cigarettes
    For those who ain't done packing yet
    My clothes are packed and I want to go
    Idaho, Idaho

    Well, out at sea for seven years
    I got your letter in Tangier
    I thought that I'd been on a boat
    'Til that single word you wrote
    That single word it landlocked me
    Turned the masts to cedar trees
    And the wind to gravel roads
    Idaho, Idaho
    Flag ACaricatureOfon November 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Being from Idaho, this song is rather poignant. Just like Josh Ritter, I had to leave Idaho to make my way in the world, and this will always be a ghost I'm haunted by- as I'll never be able to live there again due to my career choice.
    Flag flynnisthecooleston July 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is a reference back to Wilco/Billy Bragg's adaptation of Woody Gurthrie's "Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key": "ain't nobody can sing like me."
    Flag goodreverendon December 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the imagery. especially the masts to cedar trees, etc.
    Beautifullllll.
    and the soft music. Very powerful and emotional song.
    Flag ChelseaDawnon March 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the gorgeous imagery of the lyrics made me stop and listen to the rest of this song, and I'm glad I did because it's stunning
    Flag Ekuzaon April 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he leaves the girl he loves, then gets a single word from her (in tangiers) and it reminds him of all he left behind in idaho (replace the masts with cedar trees, winds with gravel roads)
    Flag johnbon November 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song means one of either two things: (i) he left the girl he loves in Idaho and still misses her and her memory; or (ii) he has been away from Idaho for too long and longs to go back to the beauty and simplicity of Idaho.
    Flag MrPotatoHeadon November 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love it. I'm from Idaho. When you hear this song you just have to stop and listen. Its really powerful, especially because it describes Idaho so well. I definately agree with what gabbyownsme said.
    Flag nonnycrieson July 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love it. I'm from Idaho. When you hear this song you just have to stop and listen. Its really powerful, especially because it describes Idaho so well. I definately agree with what gabbyownsme said.
    Flag nonnycrieson July 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I will comment. I love the simplicity in the music of this song. It makes the lyrics stand out and give it even more meaning that they have as a stand-alone poem.
    Flag jlynnsayzon February 26, 2007   Link

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