Asher in the Rye, the nom de plume of singer-songwriter Ashlee House, simultaneously validates and reinvigorates her genre, reminding us of the simple power of an acoustic guitar and a hushed, lovely melody. “Hi Dreamer” is filled with House’s moving, emotional songs of heartbreak and longing, songs where regret is waiting around every corner but nobody can communicate effectively enough to prevent it. These often-haunting songs deal with the struggles of living with past mistakes and the messy feelings that come with modern relationships. This weighty material is sung in House’s exceptionally unique voice, a beautiful timbre that at times evokes Sarah Assbring and Chan Marshall while remaining her own singular instrument.
The music and production on “Hi Dreamer” is also top-notch, with some interesting choices that challenge the listener, bringing them furthur into House’s world. The alt-country sound on many of the tracks is loyal to House’s Texas roots, but the production takes some compelling chances which help accentuate the music. The crushing, car-careening-down-a-cliff chorus in “Will Not” is beatifully executed, and the toy xylophone used in stand-out track “Always Will Be” (remeniscent of the toy horn in the Vaseline’s “Molly’s Lips”) punches up the song without getting in the way of House’s powerful voice.
With “Hi Dreamer”, Asher in the Rye have made a fully-realized debut album which illustrates the pains of being impure at heart. There is a lot of promise in House’s exceptional songwriting talent, and I believe that we’ll be seeing her and her band grow a lot in their future releases.
Autumn
Asher in the Rye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and all bets are off
Winter went without a beat as we held hands and watched our feet
and I was buried in the snow and begged of you to let me go
you know you were wrong
Now the sun is fading fast
I couldnt tell it wouldnt last
Dismayed I lay as this is passes
the straw was drawn the fate was cast
and
trouble is
I dont mind
I dont mind
I dont mind mind mind
I dont mind
The song, "Autumn" by Asher in the Rye, explores the changing seasons as a metaphor for a relationship that has ended. The lyrics describe how the singer fell in love during the autumn season and how things were never the same after that. However, the relationship continued into winter, which was characterized as being cold and bleak. During this time, the singer begged their partner to let them go, but they refused. Finally, as spring arrives and the sun begins to fade, the singer reflects on the fate of their relationship, accepting it with resignation: "trouble is, I don't mind."
The lyrics in this song are filled with metaphorical language that adds depth and meaning to the message of the song. The singer uses the changing seasons as a way to describe the stages of the relationship, which is a creative way to communicate complex emotions. The metaphor of being buried in snow is a powerful image that conveys the sense of feeling trapped and unable to escape. Additionally, the repetition of "I don't mind" at the end of the song creates a sense of acceptance and resignation, but it's also somewhat ambiguous, leaving listeners to wonder if the singer has truly let go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Autumn came and went for me it started just as soon as he began to dance and sing my name now things will never be the same
The fall season arrived and passed by quickly for me, it all began with him showing affection towards me and calling me by name. This experience has changed things for me permanently.
and all bets are off
All previous expectations are now irrelevant or dismissed.
Winter went without a beat as we held hands and watched our feet
The winter season passed by smoothly as we walked together, focused on our footing.
and I was buried in the snow and begged of you to let me go
I became trapped in the snow and pleaded with you to release me.
you know you were wrong
You are aware that your actions were incorrect or unjust.
Now the sun is fading fast
The sun is setting quickly, indicating the end of the day or the end of an era.
I couldnt tell it wouldnt last
I was unable to foresee that this experience would be temporary.
Dismayed I lay as this is passes
Feeling unhappy and discouraged, I remain still as this experience fades away.
the straw was drawn the fate was cast
The decision or outcome was determined; it cannot be changed.
and trouble is
The issue is, the problem is...
I dont mind I dont mind I dont mind mind mind I dont mind
I am not concerned about the situation or its consequences.
Contributed by Lila N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pascal Fauzan
You know Poe is one hell of a writer when his work could still give you chills when summarized in thug talk
Juan Ríos
An argument can be made that there's also symbolism with the narrator himself, we never know his name, and despite all the shit that happens in the house he sticks by the Ushers, because it's their story, and like the reader, he'll stick by in order to see this story through, in the second that both of them die, the story of the Ushers is over, their house fell and he has no more reason to stick by, just like the reader has no more reason to stick by in the house
Macaroni and Cliches
I fucking love postmodern prose
Sharon Spears-mandeville
You must be the most classiest and well read thug, dude...
Mikizi
@Macaroni and Cliches normalise keepin' it one hundred.
Macaroni and Cliches
@Mikizi normalize emotion
The Random Chicken
Mik heeel yeah
Mikizi
Sharon Spears-mandeville The title of thug isn't just for someone with an urban accent and apperence. It's for any mother fucker out there keepin' it one hundred.
Mike Jones
I always saw this story as an alagory for the atrophy and decay of nobility. Something that was once the pinnacle of status and wealth, collapsing on itself because of its inherently unsustainable nature.
Also, I agree with someone else that I saw in the comments, you should do American Gods.
Macaroni and Cliches
something similar to Shirley Jackson?