While his name may not be widely known, those who listen to his music know Josh Ritter’s talent. With visual lyrics influenced by nature, Josh Ritter creates ambitious folk music that demands attention. “Thin Blue Flame,” from his 2008 release The Animal Years, is a fantastic example of this.

Coming in at close to ten minutes long, “Thin Blue Flame” almost presents itself as a sermon due to the conflicting religious subject matter in the lyrics. Ritter’s vocals in the song border on spoken word with his dialogue intensifying as the song climaxes. There is a certain sense of anxiety as the song builds towards the finale, which eventually fades as Ritter repeats his last line “Only a full house gonna have a prayer.”