The music of Anna Ash is like hanging out in a dark dive bar that only serves cotton candy. There is something haunting and angelic about her voice, but something heartbreaking and dark about her songs. She drinks whiskey on stage and belts old fashioned soul sounding tunes about babes and bicycle crashes. She's not old-timey, but she's nowhere near pop. Her voice will remind you of something your grandma once played, but a little more crass, and a little less careful.
Fruits of My Labor
Anna Ash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Velvet curtains on the windows too
Keep the bright and unforgiving
Light from shining through
And baby I remember all the things we did
When we slept together
And the blue behind your eyelids
Baby, sweet baby
Traced your scent through the gloom
'Til I found these purple flowers
I was spent I was soon smelling you for hours
Lavender, lotus blossoms too
Water the dirt flowers last for you
Baby, sweet baby
Tangerines and persimmons
And sugarcane
Grapes and honeydew melon
Enough fit for a queen
Lemon trees don't make a sound
'Til branches bend and fruit falls to the ground
Baby, sweet baby
Come to my world and witness
The way things have changed
'Cause I finally did it baby
I got out of La Grange
Got in my Mercury and drove out west
Pedal to the metal and my luck to the test
Baby, sweet baby
I been tryin' to enjoy all the fruits of my labor
I been cryin' for you boy but truth is my savior
Baby sweet baby if it's all the same
Take the glory any day over the fame
Baby, sweet baby.
In Anna Ash's song Fruits of My Labor, the opening lines delve into the singer's living conditions, specifically the presence of velvet curtains that keep out harsh light. This suggests a desire for seclusion and introspection. The singer then proceeds to recall memories of a past lover, reminiscing on moments of shared intimacy. Lyrical imagery is employed to evoke a sense of sensory experience - tracing the scent of purple flowers in the gloom, smelling the familiar scent of their lover. These memories of physical closeness are then juxtaposed with the mention of fruits, such as tangerines and persimmons, which are associated with abundance and prosperity.
The last verse marks a shift in tone, with the singer declaring that they have left La Grange and have taken control of their life, driving out west to escape the past. The repetition of "Baby, sweet baby" throughout the song could be seen as a bittersweet call to their former lover. Ultimately, the final chorus reveals that the singer has been trying to enjoy the fruits of their labor, or the rewards of their hard work and perseverance. The song ends with the singer proclaiming that they value glory over fame.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby see how I've been living
Come and see my lifestyle and how I have been living.
Velvet curtains on the windows too
I have placed velvet curtains on my windows to prevent the bright and unforgiving light from shining through.
Keep the bright and unforgiving Light from shining through
I intend to hide away from the world and do not wish to expose myself to it.
And baby I remember all the things we did
I reminisce about all the memories we have shared.
When we slept together
I remember the times we spent sleeping in each other's arms.
And the blue behind your eyelids
I recall the visuals of the blue behind your eyelids when we were asleep.
Traced your scent through the gloom
I followed your scent through the darkness.
'Til I found these purple flowers
And I stumbled upon these purple flowers while following your scent.
I was spent I was soon smelling you for hours
I was exhausted but I kept smelling your scent for hours.
Lavender, lotus blossoms too
I found lavender and lotus blossoms while following your scent.
Water the dirt flowers last for you
I water the soil the flowers are planted in to keep them alive for you.
Tangerines and persimmons
I have gathered tangerines and persimmons.
And sugarcane
I have also harvested sugarcane.
Grapes and honeydew melon
I have also enjoyed grapes and honeydew melon.
Enough fit for a queen
All the fruits I have collected are good enough for a queen.
Lemon trees don't make a sound
Lemon trees do not make any noise.
'Til branches bend and fruit falls to the ground
The only sound that comes from a lemon tree is when the branches bend and the fruit falls to the ground.
Come to my world and witness
Come and see the world I live in.
The way things have changed
Notice the changes that have been made since we were last together.
'Cause I finally did it baby
I finally achieved it, my dear.
I got out of La Grange
I escaped from La Grange.
Got in my Mercury and drove out west
I got into my Mercury vehicle and drove towards the West.
Pedal to the metal and my luck to the test
I put the pedal to the metal and put my luck to the test.
I been tryin' to enjoy all the fruits of my labor
I have been trying to enjoy and reap the benefits of my hard work.
I been cryin' for you boy but truth is my savior
Although I have been crying for you, the truth has been my salvation.
Baby sweet baby if it's all the same
My dear, if it does not make much difference.
Take the glory any day over the fame
I would choose to take glory over fame any day.
Baby, sweet baby.
My dear, my sweet love.
Contributed by Jonathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.