“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.
Warm Body
Ashley Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I switch from wine to whiskey and I need someone to kiss me like a hole in the brain
We just started lying all a sudden we were flying like a moth to a flame
Now all the Christmas trees are burnin'
And February's learning we got nothin' to say
He was nobody, somebody, a warm body when the winter came
I shoulda bought a coat instead
But I was too lonely, to be lonely
I shoulda known, I shoulda run away
But something always makes me stay
So baby won't ya make me stay
A fatal attraction, a knee jerk reaction, a shot from the hip
I guess I keep forgettin' you can polish off a bottle just by takin' a sip
He was just in misery, and I was just some company,
it didn't mean shit
He was a loaded gun, I coulda been anyone
But I was nobody, somebody, a warm body when the winter came
Ya coulda bought a coat instead a blanket for the foot a' ya bed
But you were too lonely, to be lonely
You shoulda known, you shoulda run away
But something always makes ya stay
So ain't ya gonna make me stay
He was nobody, somebody, a warm body when the winter came
I shoulda bought a coat instead a blanket for the foot a' my bed
But I was too lonely, to be lonely
I shoulda known, I shoulda run away
But something always makes me stay
So baby won't ya make me stay
In Ashley Ray's song "Warm Body," she sings about the pitfalls of seeking companionship in the wrong places during the winter months. The song starts by acknowledging her tendency to forget her past mistakes until winter arrives and the sun disappears. She drinks more heavily and seeks out someone to fill the void, regardless of whether or not they are a good match for her. The lyrics suggest that this habit has led her down a dangerous path, as even the Christmas trees are burning and she has nothing to say come February.
Ray's lyrics are filled with bleak imagery, which further emphasizes the theme of loneliness during the winter months. She compares the need for someone to kiss her to a "hole in the brain," suggesting a destructive urge. The second verse describes the relationship in more detail, suggesting that it was more one-sided than anything. While Ray was seeking warmth, her partner was "just in misery" and needed company.
Overall, "Warm Body" is a powerful commentary on the isolating effects of winter and the lengths we go to in order to find comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
I never remember 'til we get back to December and the sun goes away
I only recall my past romances during the winter when the days are shorter
I switch from wine to whiskey and I need someone to kiss me like a hole in the brain
I turn to hard liquor and seek out passionate affection to numb my emotional pain
We just started lying all a sudden we were flying like a moth to a flame
Our relationship started with deception but quickly became intense and risky
Now all the Christmas trees are burnin' And February's learning we got nothin' to say
Our passionate affair has fizzled out and we have nothing left to talk about
He was nobody, somebody, a warm body when the winter came
He was just a physical presence for me to cling to during the cold months
I shoulda bought a coat instead A blanket for the foot a' my bed But I was too lonely, to be lonely
Instead of investing in warmth and comfort, I went for temporary companionship to avoid feeling lonely
I shoulda known, I shoulda run away But something always makes me stay So baby won't ya make me stay
I recognize that I should have left, but I am consistently drawn back to unhealthy relationships
A fatal attraction, a knee jerk reaction, a shot from the hip
Our connection was dangerous, impulsive, and risky
I guess I keep forgettin' you can polish off a bottle just by takin' a sip
I am unaware of the insidious nature of addiction and how easily I can become dependent on alcohol
He was just in misery, and I was just some company, it didn't mean shit
Our relationship was a meaningless distraction from our individual struggles and pain
He was a loaded gun, I coulda been anyone
He was emotionally unstable and could have replaced me with anyone else
You shoulda known, you shoulda run away But something always makes ya stay So ain't ya gonna make me stay
I recognize that you too should have left, but I am selfishly hoping that you will enable my attachment to you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Sean McConnell, Ashley Ray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind