This is an important song. Why did it get 262 listens? Part of it was running on the treadmill.

However, for of those of us familiar with what’s commonly called evangelical Christianity, small towns, and disapprobation from nosy hypocritical neighbors (and yes, I mean Seattle) this song is about liberation.

A young girl gets sent off to what’s probably a non-accredited bible college but because she’s a kick ass girl, she’s only become more empowered by that experience. She shows up back in town and she’s even more of a scandal that she was before.

There are echoes here of Mary Jane’s Last Dance. In fact when I wrote a post about my fictional girl friend, I thought I would reference Ritter’s song. I couldn’t fit it in. But here it is.

That character is right out of Ritter’s song. So is the girl in Mary Jane’s Last Dance.

I’m tired of myself, I’m tired of this town
Oh my my, oh hell yes
Honey put on that party dress
Buy me a drink, sing me a song
Take me as I come ’cause I can’t stay long

And Ritter must have been thinking of this song when he wrote,

Dry as a page of the King James Version
No “ohh la la”s, no “oh, yes”s
No “I can’t wait”s “I gotta see you again”ses
Just turn the other cheek, take no chances
Jesus hates your high school dances

Maybe not. But Ritter understands the small town evangelical thing. And the song highlights that one story. And the line that got me playing it over and over while I was running?

And give your love freely to whoever that you please
Don’t let nobody tell you ’bout who you oughta be
And when you get damned in the popular opinion
It’s just another damn of the damns you’re not giving

And that’s what I’m doing.