Hiram Ring hails from a world as vast as the dusty African back roads he raced on his bike, and as intimate as the dinner table where his family of 12 sings "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

But his world is never larger — or smaller — than when he's writing songs.

Ring, a 24-year-old Lancaster singer-songwriter with a deep faith and quiet charisma, was born in Ghana to missionary parents.

African tribal choirs — and Eric Clapton — shaped his laid-back, straight-from-the-living-room style, all self-taught on his dad's old acoustic guitar.

Ring, who was home-schooled and has shared a bedroom with five brothers, recorded his debut EP in a bathroom, to save the $150-an-hour studio fee.

But a recent construction job layoff and the near-end of his student-loan debt have left Ring with more time to devote to music — and where it could take him.

"I just love to make music," says Ring, who lives in the basement of his parents' Willow Street home.

"I'd like to see where it goes."

Ring, who plays live shows at local coffeehouses and cafes, will release a Christmas album later this month and his first full-length record early next year.

He writes songs about nature, God, love — and the universal questions of a recent college grad facing a world of possibilities, like, Where exactly am I going, anyway?

"I want people to hear this music," Ring says. "I know it's impacted people. I want others to experience it."

Ring's strong vocals and thoughtful, often-autobiographical lyrics have hooked fans like Dave Witmer, who co-owns Lancaster's Prince Street Cafe.

"Among local songwriters, he seems to stand out as a gifted songwriter with real promise," Witmer says.

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In the 1970s, Ring's hippie parents, Andy and Kate, followed fruit-picking jobs west, living in a homemade tepee.

The Rings later embraced Christianity. In 1979, they took jobs with Wycliffe Bible Translators in West Africa.

Hiram, named for his great-grandfather, is the sixth of 10 children. He recalls a childhood filled with riding BMX bikes and climbing trees.

His parents often invited brand-new friends to meals at their home.

"Life was about hospitality and welcoming strangers," Ring says.

The table was also the scene of family sing-alongs, with all 12 Rings harmonizing old gospel tunes.

(The Rings, who sometimes performed for family and friends, still sing the blessing at dinner.)

Ring's mother describes him as a sensitive but feisty child who confronted bullies for picking on others.

"He has strong ideas of right and wrong," she says. " ... He has a heart for other people."

The family lived in Africa on and off until 2001, when they settled in Willow Street. Andy Ring still travels to Africa frequently.

Ring graduated from high school in Huntington Beach, Calif. He attended upstate New York's Houghton College, where he majored in intercultural studies and linguistics.

"I really see myself living overseas," says Ring, who studied in England and Tanzania. "I feel I have a gift for crossing cultures."

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When he was 16, Ring took piano lessons. But he quickly got bored with scales and kids' songs.

So he picked up his dad's acoustic guitar and started strumming.

It came naturally. Ring could listen to songs — especially Simon & Garfunkel — and play them back.

He soon started writing his own.

"After six years, I wrote songs I felt were worth keeping," he says.

Ring, whose diverse influences range from Led Zeppelin to B.B. King, took only one formal class: jazz-improv in college.

He played his first open-mic night about two years ago, at Lancaster's Symposium Restaurant.

The audience's positive response encouraged him to keep playing — and writing songs.

Ring landed his first paid gig last year. Musician friends accompany him on albums and at some live shows.

He was recently laid off from his full-time construction job, which he took to pay off his hefty student loans.

"Anytime you have debt, it's going to weigh you down," says Ring, who plans to move out of his parents' house soon. "It's going to keep you in one place."

That's the last thing he wants.

Ring is looking for a job, probably in a coffee shop or store, something that will pay the bills and leave time for music.

The layoff has given him more time to record — and promote himself, especially on the Internet.

"He is a person who can maintain focus," Mrs. Ring says. "And whatever he decides to do, he tends to be able to follow through on it."

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Ring, who enjoys being outdoors and visiting friends all over the world, released a four-song EP, "Go From Here," in March.

He collaborated on a Christmas album, "Word >>> Flesh," with friends Matthew Monticchio, David Green, Katie Becker and Chaucee Stillman. The album, recorded at a local church, comes out Nov. 23.

Ring wrote one of the record's three original songs, "O Little Child."

He hopes to finish his first full-length album, tentatively titled "Breathe Deep," by February.

Ring aims to write meaningful music, with more weight than often-vapid pop songs. A world of influences, from African rhythms to his Christian faith, comes through in his songs.

Bob Arrell, who owns ITW Entertainment, Quarryville, says Ring's music expresses the wisdom of someone much older.

"His lyrics are geniune," says Arrell, who runs sound equipment at Ring's shows. "They tend to ring true."

Witmer says Ring's audience enjoys his gentle, unpretentious style and strong songwriting.

"There is sort of a global sensitivity to his music," he says. "He can flow easily from a classic cover tune to something fresh that he's written."

Ring knows plenty of independent musicians who make a decent living recording albums and playing shows.

But he certainly wouldn't turn down a record deal.

Where will Ring go from here?

He says: "I hope (music) will take me all over the world."

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Hiram Ring's upcoming local shows include:

5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15: Gold Cafe, 301 Centerville Road, Lancaster (solo show)

11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23: Gold Cafe (Christmas show)

5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23: Borders Bookshop, 940 Plaza Blvd., Lancaster (Christmas)

For more information, call 634-0673, e-mail ringrecords@gmail.com or visit hiramring.com or myspace.com/hiramring.