In this article, we’ll explore the meaning of Change of Time by Josh Ritter. As of this writing, Change of Time is ranked 177.
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Josh Ritter’s “Change of Time” is about drifting through uncertainty, facing the tides of memory and transformation, and realizing that even overwhelming change is just another part of the journey.
This song feels like floating in a big ocean at night, with stars above and memories swirling around. It’s kind of sad but also hopeful, like when you’re scared but know things will get better.
As we listen, the chorus—“Time, love… it’s only a change of time”—keeps echoing, like waves crashing over and over, reminding us that even when life feels unfamiliar or scary, it’s just moving forward. The verses paint pictures of swimming through darkness, bumping into broken ships and old memories under the water; honestly, it feels a bit like being lost in your own head. Then suddenly, there’s this moment where someone’s shoulder becomes a safe shoreline in moonlight—so close you can almost touch it—and we realize we’re not really alone as long as we keep swimming.
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Ritter wants us to see that even when everything shifts—when memories roar or the future looks rough—it’s just time passing by. Change might look huge from up close, but if we keep going, it becomes something familiar after all.