Paths Will Cross
Josh Ritter · Josh Ritter [1999]
his is it my dear old friend
Our paths it seems are at an end for now
Though in time we floated free
We're are pulled by separate gravities to ground
But it's clear in the way we part
With our hearts together but our hands apart
And it seems so hard to begin
Best friends we'll always be
Though your road don't follow me
I know our paths will cross again
Time has turned her face from me
And spin spirals fancy free I flew
With nothing but the dawn to see
And now I've got my memories of you
Well the road is windi' and road is hard
And there's no telling just how far
Or how many letters I might send
One day you'll walk with me
Against all probability
I know our paths with cross again
Time is like this fast freight train
You gotta ride, you can't remain behind
And all your friends are on separate tracks
And some of them they won't look back to find
The one place we all have known
The one place we can call a home
The place where each of us began
Sure as that day rolls around
When the road back home is finally found
I know our paths will cross again
Now my home is in a far off land
Where love and time have made their stand against me
And that's probably where I'm gonna stay
It's probably where they'll bury me some day
But after all is come and gone
And after every songs been sung there
Comes a thought I won't defend
Sure stones are left unturned
And on the streets where home fires burn
I know our paths will cross again
Yes I, know our paths will cross again
Our paths it seems are at an end for now
Though in time we floated free
We're are pulled by separate gravities to ground
But it's clear in the way we part
With our hearts together but our hands apart
And it seems so hard to begin
Best friends we'll always be
Though your road don't follow me
I know our paths will cross again
Time has turned her face from me
And spin spirals fancy free I flew
With nothing but the dawn to see
And now I've got my memories of you
Well the road is windi' and road is hard
And there's no telling just how far
Or how many letters I might send
One day you'll walk with me
Against all probability
I know our paths with cross again
Time is like this fast freight train
You gotta ride, you can't remain behind
And all your friends are on separate tracks
And some of them they won't look back to find
The one place we all have known
The one place we can call a home
The place where each of us began
Sure as that day rolls around
When the road back home is finally found
I know our paths will cross again
Now my home is in a far off land
Where love and time have made their stand against me
And that's probably where I'm gonna stay
It's probably where they'll bury me some day
But after all is come and gone
And after every songs been sung there
Comes a thought I won't defend
Sure stones are left unturned
And on the streets where home fires burn
I know our paths will cross again
Yes I, know our paths will cross again
About Paths Will Cross
Josh Ritter's "Paths Will Cross" stands as a defining track from his 1999 debut album, establishing his signature blend of Americana, folk, and country rock. The song captures the melancholic yet hopeful essence of his early work, reflecting on the inevitable convergence of lives and the bittersweet nature of relationships. With its intricate guitar work and Ritter's distinctive vocal delivery, the recording exemplifies the introspective storytelling that would characterize his discography throughout the late nineties and into the new millennium. As a cornerstone of his catalog, the track resonates with listeners seeking the atmospheric depth and narrative clarity found in his best-known compositions.