Josh Ritter - Torch Committee (Audio)

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Good evening, may we say again
How pleased we are that you’ve come in
The day was long your bed was soft
Still there’s some names we’re crossing off
We see here by your file you
Have been so loyal brave and true
We need not fret you need not fear
And so we come to why you’re here
The Torch Committee now confirms
The truth of rumors lately heard
That there come monsters in our midst
Well disguised and carefully hid
Anywhere and anyone
The root of every evil done
But you will help us root them out
The Torch Committee has no doubt
We see your hands and legs are tied
In clearest breach of Bylaw Five
And left here in this little room
In clearest breach of Bylaw Two
And though you know that we take pains
The process of the law remains
All technicalities aside
You see our hands are also tied
For us the job brings only pain
To see you naked in these chains
To see you naked where you stand
Where so many others have
Imagine how it feels each day
To send so many men away
But see we’ve got a job and we
Must dot each I and cross each T
Something’s horribly amiss
How else could you be on our list
Still we all know Directive Twelve
All those so named must prove themselves
To hungry mob and angry crowd
And young men making families proud
By means not meant for light of day
We wish there was a softer way
But wait suppose that we untie
Your hands to sign upon this line
To pledge that you have always been
A patriot and citizen
Please ignore the legalese
Lawyers (am I right?) now see
Why we’re so happy that you came
Appendix Three, a list of names
Pardon us but we can’t help
But laugh, if you could see yourself
Relax, it’s always strange to see
The names of each Appendix Three
Brothers, fathers, sons and wives
The ones with whom you’ve shared your life
Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends
Patriots and citizens
Children playing in the street
Strangers whom you chance to meet
The God to whom you chance to pray
The girl with whom you chance to stay
We know the monsters, know their names
By which they go and which they’ve changed
And every whisper that we’ve heard
We’ve read their poison every word
How we wish that we could say
That each of them will walk away
But sadly it’s the awful truth
It’s Them or Us, it’s Them or You
So put your finger to the names
The only cure for fear is blame
In doing so you’re doing good
There’s many called who never would
Who stuck by what they thought was right
Who disappeared by the dark of night
Who disappeared into the breeze
And left no family left to grieve
There now see that wasn’t so bad
And as you leave you can be glad
That you have done your little part
To fight the monsters in the dark
But have a care the night is cold
Take a torch before you go
And we will keep you safe and warm
That’s what the Torch Committee’s for
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[@ksims6449]

so, i heard this on local public radio, i actually thought it was really really old dylan before he picked up the electric spent 55 (wow) minutes tracking down the lyrics 'directive twelve' - bingo i said, across the screen the words read fucking worth that 60 min search, cause in the next 8 times over the rest of my year i'll know this song jewels are worth the worth their weight in gold good songs are heard to hold

[@toddgreenwood1458]

So, the two thumbs down are officially on the Committee List.

[@majojok]

Astonishing, increeibly powerful

[@johnt3043]

This is on Liz Cheney's playlist this morning.

[@Dcpghent]

Truth Put poetically Love the arrangement (Oh poop, people actually create art together?) So, do we have something? Is love possible? Bless you.

[@thegirlwiththemouseyhair6486]

You okay?

[@TranceDeuce]

Yes, yes, yes!

[@cenok420]

hot on dylans heels

[@TaxiManSteve1]

Echoes of Leonard Cohen. With his exit, glad you are here with us John.

[@arnobreulmann2621]

There is an early song by Al Stewart that sounds similar

[@burakcelebix]

what did I just listen? what is the torch committee?

[@TheWolfboy180]

Just how Josh’s songs are. You get enough information to form a powerful picture, and not too much to bog it down in detail.

[@thegirlwiththemouseyhair6486]

I believe the song is about how oversight only brings out the worst in the law, and the true solution to liberation is to get rid of the whole system... Though i suppose i'm a bit radical.

[@floriantinschert5542]

It's about persecution under authoritarian regimes. The torch part was inspired by the Charlottesville torch nazis.

[@The_Jovian]

@@thegirlwiththemouseyhair6486 I think you're right but it's more directly about the fascist groups using the guise of "law and order" to commit atrocities. I don't think the iconography of the torch is a coincidence.

[@nicklongbucco3967]

I hear allusions to how the communist authorities used social pressure to get people to inform on each other to the authorities. I see shades of this developing in social media and in the extreme ends of cancel outrage culture

[@Dcpghent]

Well done.

[@jonkiparsky7369]

Probably anyone who comes across this will either already know Richard Shindell's Fishing, or they are heading that way. The two songs seem to be born of the same muse.

[@thecryophile4195]

I used this song as inspiration for a Compact in Hunter: The Vigil

[@fillof5606]

Leonard Is applauding in his grave . This man is prophetic in his songwriting, god bless you and your family🌀✨🙏🏼✨🌀

[@levidotd7649]

It's going to be horrible