Ritchie Sacramento

Album: As The Love Continues (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Ritchie SacrAmento" is Mogwai's poignant yet anthemic tribute to lost friends, including David Berman of Silver Jews and Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit.
  • Rise crystal spear, fly true over me
    Suddenly gone from here, left alone on the road


    A story Bob Nastanovich of Silver Jews put online on the anniversary of the death of Dave Berman in 2019 inspired the bleak lyrics. Nastanovich recounts how when they were students, Berman threw a shovel at a sports car. Mogwai frontman Stuart Braithwaite explained to NME:

    "Obviously Dave was an amazing poet, songwriter and musician. I took the lead from there. I wouldn't pretend to be able to write songs as good as him, but he's definitely a huge inspiration."

    "It's been a hard few years," Braithwaite continued. "There are a lot of people that we played with and were friends with that just aren't around now. This song is about those people, imagined conversations… and Dave Berman throwing a shovel at a sports car!"
  • Mogwai's song names often come from things people say that are misheard or otherwise memorable. The "Ritchie Sacramento" title came from a misunderstanding a friend of the band's had about how to pronounce "Ryuichi Sakamoto."
  • Mogwai recorded the song for their 10th album, As The Love Continues. The Scots are mostly an instrumental rock band and of the record's 11 tracks, only "Ritchie Sacramento" contains clean vocals.
  • As The Love Continues debuted at #1 on the UK albums chart. Mogwai's first visit to the summit, it came some 25 years after the release of their debut single, "Tuner/Lower."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.