FAWM: "Ash Upon The Ground"

Ash Upon The Ground

Liner Notes

# Liner:

Started to get sick two days before the start of fawm which killed my desire to write. Big bummer, as I was was hoping to post a song on day one. At any rate, feeling much better today so let the posting commence.

This was an interesting song because I wrote it while sitting inside a parked car on a guitalele.

I got the idea for the hook while I was chilling with my daughter by a fire pit and she asked me what happens if the fire gets outside of the pit, and I told her there would be ash on the ground. I liked that phrase and naturally with the world feeling like it is on fire came up with this.

The image on this track is interesting as well. As mentioned I've been dealing with sickness at the house, so I found myself at the local pharmacy late one night. As I stepped out of my car, there in the gutter was this scene. I think it speaks for itself. Image here :

#SongSidekickSongCircle #Hot #songcircle

# Detail:

SSC : Hot
SSC : Jan 31 2025
Written : Feb 5 2025

start 430pm
finished 530pm
first record: 30 minutes

# Notes:

First recording with a new setup I've been working on using four mics, two of which are left / right. Thought it worked out well although need to work on getting a template or something set up in Reaper to quickly setup everything correctly.

Not a perfect take. Rooster in the third line and the fruit all around in particular not quite right.

Not sure what the point of the song is at the point, I guess it's suppose to be a warning? Perhaps sounds more like a retrospective.

Lyrics

Ash Upon The G round

[capo 5 gt]

em
drip drip drip
am
the spigots run dry
em am
the rooster refuses to cry
em am
the darkest hour is before the dawn
em am
we're still waiting for the sun to go down

dm am
there's a fire in the forest
dm am
there's ruin all around
dm am
this village we once built
em am
is just ash upon the ground

[solo over chorus]

em am
suppose to be an example
em am
a light upon the hill
em am
a refuge for the meek or proud
em am
a place i once called home
dm am
a seed of hate left unchecked
em am
spoils fruit all around

[chorus]

Comments

@jgale 2d

Really enjoyed this piece. I like the way you play and sing--really suits your lyrics. Sounds like how people used to play around the fire when I was young. A vibe I love when the lyrics are as earnest as the one singing them. Thank you for sharing.

@jessicagraae 1w

Thank you for letting me know we had written a songs on similar topics. (I think this isthe song you were referring to?)
It’s wonderful how your daughter’s question-and her curiosity-led to a song idea. Maybe one that was already percolating.
Beautiful song! Love the photo, by the way. I am worrying we’ll have to start writing even more cryptically-or risk being detained.

@tcelliott 2w

Well, I can take this lyric a couple of different ways. Maybe it's open to interpretation. The photo helps guide it in one, at least for me. I love the held notes in the melody, it helps bring it all home for me.

@andygetch 2w

Every lyric line is solid and builds on the weight of this song. Minor key and the mode builds even more weight. Sorry to have missed the song circle yesterday, got wrapped up in work. I'm glad to have heard this here.

@hyssop 2w

Beautiful, sad, and way too true. Your playing and vocals are both so emotive & lovely to listen to! Really good work!

@jeff9 2w

Glad you’re feeling better, Lee.

@jeff9 2w

I think it’s kinda cool that it’s a mystery as to exactly what’s being referenced and what might be going on. There’s a hint of dystopia or it could be connected, literally or otherwise, to any of several actual current events. There’s a hint minor chords are just right and you sing it with appropriate emotion.

@billwhite51 2w

love those minor blues. they give you so much room for freedon for emotive vocalizing. whats it about? the pictures could be a literal reaction to the california fire or a metaphorical one to the state of the world.

@matthewsanford 2w

Good bit of strong emotion in those lyrics! I'm just confused cause looking at what you wrote I see SSC, but thanks to my wife that will always mean Strawberry ShortCake to me! So... you may feel that she is ... hot? Berry hot? now I'm off topic! But great song!