“My mom says when I was about five I told her that I was going to be a priest and a part time veterinarian, but that lasted about five minutes. Music has always been such a huge part of my life that I couldn't escape from it even if I wanted to. I set my mind a long time ago to achieving this, and that's where it's been ever since.
The chestnut-haired singer/songwriter left Lawrence, KS, after high school to pursue her musical dreams and hone her songwriting skills in the Music City. Just four years later, she has landed a songwriting deal with Sony ATV Tree, earned a BBA from music school heavyweight Belmont University, and built a loyal following for her cool brand of country music.
But it is to her Midwestern roots and solid family values that Ashley credits a great deal of her work ethic and determination.
“My mom has worked for United Parcel Service (UPS) for over 20 years. She's done everything from working the counter to driving those big ‘ol brown trucks. She's about 5'5 and 115 lbs soak n' wet, yet she's the strongest woman that I'll ever know. My Dad worked most of his life as a construction worker. He built everything he had from the ground up - from houses and car engines, to what he wanted most in life, a beautiful and very loving family.”
With mental strength and focused ambition, Ashley continues to win fans over with her yearning voice and heartfelt lyrics. Whether rockin’ out with her band to a rowdy, beer-soaked crowd, or sitting in pin-drop silence at a writers’ round with just her acoustic guitar and captivating voice, Ashley’s performance assaults the senses while her lyrics serenade the soul.
Performing live has become second nature to Ashley, having shared the stage with some of country music’s hottest stars including Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, and Cross Canadian Ragweed to name a few. “Performing live is the real deal. You've got the band, the crowd, your best songs – it’s the reason why we do what we do.”
While nothing gets her blood pumping like playing for a live crowd of “crazy people, beer drinkers, partiers who love country music and love to have a good time,” she also needs alone time to think, reflect and focus on songwriting. The self-proclaimed
perfectionist is constantly on the look out for inspiration and always striving for accomplishment. “If I'm inspired while I'm writing, chances are that others will be inspired when they hear it. I don't care if it’s a love song, a getting over love song, or a making love song...if it makes me and/or anyone else feel something then it was worth writing. Hit or no hit.”
While her resume already reads thick with some of country music’s biggest names, that doesn’t stop her for reaching for the stars. “In my wildest dreams I would write one with Kasey Chambers, jam with the Dixie Chicks, sing one with Kelly Willis, drink one with Bob Seger, and roll one with Willie”, says Ashley.
From a grade school dreamer with nothing but a pawn shop guitar, to a focused young woman on the verge of stardom, Ashley Ray just wants to be remembered for making REAL music.
“In a perfect world I want my style of real country music to be heard everywhere…all around the world.”
At this rate, it will be.
This Time Around
Ashley Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah they called me a fool
Guess I wasn't myself
Back when I wanted you
See you come around again,
That same look in your eye
Well I had to be crazy
To fall again for your lies
Yeah I'm gonna break these chains around my broken heart
You coulda had me once but you tore it all apart
Yeah I'm gonna throw your cryin eyes over my left shoulder
I'm not gonna let you wear your crown
This time around
Love can't save it any longer
Gotta be on my way
I heard it a thousand times
Anything you gotta say
So I show myself to the door
And I'll turn out your light
Yeah I'm gonna get in my car
And you'll be alone again tonight
Yeah I'm gonna break these chains around my broken heart
You coulda had me once but you tore it all apart
Yeah I'm gonna throw your lyin' eyes over my left shoulder
I'm not gonna let you wear your crown
This time around
And you never thought I'd be so crude
Tell me what you think I'd do
You can't put it all on hold
Yeah I learned it all from you
Yeah I'm gonna break these chains around my broken heart
You coulda had me once but you tore it all apart
Yeah I'm gonna throw your cryin' eyes over my left shoulder
I'm not gonna let you wear your crown
This time around
I'm not gonna let you wear your crown
This time around
Ashley Ray's song "This Time Around" is a powerful country-rock breakup anthem about moving on from a toxic relationship. The opening lines, "Well I used to be crazy, yeah they called me a fool," suggest that the singer was once deeply infatuated with their ex-partner and maybe even lost their sense of self in the process. But now, with a healthy perspective gained from the failed relationship, the singer is able to distance themselves emotionally from their former lover, no longer believing their lies and manipulation.
The chorus, "Yeah I'm gonna break these chains around my broken heart, you coulda had me once but you tore it all apart, yeah I'm gonna throw your crying eyes over my left shoulder, I'm not gonna let you wear your crown this time around," sums up the essence of the song's message. The singer is determined to move on from the past, no longer willing to be a victim of emotional abuse, and regain control over their own life.
The final verse, "And you never thought I'd be so crude, tell me what you think I'd do, you can't put it all on hold, yeah I learned it all from you," turns the tables on the ex-partner. Instead of being helpless and vulnerable, the singer has learned to stand up for themselves and reject the manipulative tactics that were once used against them. By taking control and practicing self-empowerment, the singer is able to overcome the pain of heartbreak and emerge stronger than ever.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I used to be crazy
I used to act irrationally and imprudently
Yeah they called me a fool
Others judged my actions as foolish
Guess I wasn't myself
I wasn't my usual self
Back when I wanted you
When I was interested in you romantically
See you come around again,
You have returned once more
That same look in your eye
You have the same expression on your face
Well I had to be crazy
I must have been crazy
To fall again for your lies
To believe your deceit once more
Yeah I'm gonna break these chains around my broken heart
I will break free from heartache and move on
You coulda had me once but you tore it all apart
You lost your chance with me because of your actions
Yeah I'm gonna throw your cryin eyes over my left shoulder
I won't pay attention to your emotional pleas
I'm not gonna let you wear your crown
You won't be in control or call the shots
This time around
Not this time, in this situation
Love can't save it any longer
Love is no longer able to salvage the situation
Gotta be on my way
I have to move on
I heard it a thousand times
I've heard your words before, they are nothing new
Anything you gotta say
Whatever you have to say
So I show myself to the door
I am leaving
And I'll turn out your light
I will leave you in the dark, both literally and metaphorically
Yeah I'm gonna get in my car
I will leave in my vehicle
And you'll be alone again tonight
You will be by yourself once more
And you never thought I'd be so crude
You did not expect me to be so blunt
Tell me what you think I'd do
What did you expect me to do?
You can't put it all on hold
You cannot postpone dealing with the issue
Yeah I learned it all from you
I learned my behavior from observing and experiencing yours
I'm not gonna let you wear your crown
You won't be in control or call the shots
This time around
Not this time, in this situation
Contributed by Isabelle H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.