The Curse

Josh Ritter's The Curse is one of the best examples of lyrical storytelling. Josh Ritter's ability to tell a heart-wrenching story with an incredibly unique concept while maintaining his signature poeticism throughout is next to none. The story of The Curse follows an archaeologist and a mummy. The mummy is discovered in his tomb and immediately falls in love with the archaeologist, silhouetted at the doorway. Her presence has given him life, but he is far too weak, as his body can barely keep his heart beating. It is on the boat home that he begins to talk, learning her language by listening to her talk. Eventually, he builds the strength to respond and the two are able to converse. Upon the completion of their journey, the mummy is put in a museum in New York City. By day, he pretends to be dead, but at night, he and the archaeologist wander the halls of the museum. However, it takes him a while to gain the strength needed to walk, needing to be supported by the archeologist as they walk, but he adjusts eventually. The mummy and archaeologist talk about his life on their nightly escapades and he learns to read from the papers and books she writes about him. Eventually, the archaeologist comes less and less, then she doesn't come at all. Deciding he didn't want to play dead anymore, the mummy gets up and walks outside, causing absolute chaos. He finds her, and she has grown old. As they walk, he supports her, in the same way she supported him in their early days wandering the museum. They begin to tour the country, talking to large crowds and getting famous. But the archaeologist is getting old. She stops going out and becomes bedridden. Then she dies. The last chorus of the song is retrospective. The mummy recalls a conversation the two had on the boat: "She asked are you cursed / He says "I think that I'm cured" / Then he kissed her and hoped that she'd forget that question." In these lines, the true meaning of the song is found: The mummy can never truly find love because any mortal lover would die. Their lifespan would be a footnote in his near-infinite life. His curse is cursed with immortality and the fact that he can never truly love or be loved. Josh's ability to convey this message so simply is what makes him one of my favorite songwriters. This song is an absolute must for those who enjoy incredible storytelling. The music video for this song is also worth mentioning, it follows the plot, but the archaeologist and mummy are portrayed by puppets. Much like the song itself, the music video is simple, yet heart-wrenching. I also wanted to touch on Josh's live performance of this song at his November 9th, 2025 show in Minneapolis. The stage was dark, with only two spotlights: One was on Josh, and one was on his keyboard player. The music stayed soft throughout, allowing Josh to perform the song to his fullest ability. His sincerity and artistic touch left the theater without a single dry eye. It was an incredible performance by this incredible artist. The Curse is an incredible piece of art.