The result is a collection that captures a range of moods and emotions, like the spunky first single, "Heart of Gold," which calls out a relationship-phobic guy and lets him know what he's missing out on. "I write about what I know, and what I don't know," Huff says. "Not all of my songs are about things that have happened to me, but they deal with things I've thought about a lot and want to get out of my system."
According to the White Flag Songfacts, the lead single has nothing to do with relinquishing control, but rather trying out something new. Huff told MTV News: "Most people are like, 'Oh, what are you surrendering?' I'm like, 'Nothing, really, besides my heart.' I wrote it about something that actually drew from some life experience," she explained. "Some guy, like, likes you, tries to get your attention, [and] you don't necessarily blow him off, you just don't notice. And finally, you ... take a second and you decide, 'OK, I'm gonna give this one [a] shot. What do I have to lose?' and then it ends up being kind of awesome. The good kind of surrender — it's good for you not to control every moment of your day."
Huff's urge to express herself through songwriting is not surprising given her family background — music is in her blood. Her father, Dann Huff, is an in-demand producer and session guitarist who has produced albums by Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts and performed on hits by Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Faith Hill, while her grandfather, Ronn Huff was a sought-after arranger on Nashville's contemporary Christian music scene. Ashlyne was born in Glendale, CA, where she took naps in the music studios where her father was working. "The noise was soothing to me," she says. "I couldn't sleep in silence. My parents would put me in the car and drive me around with my dad's music on full-blast and I'd fall asleep instantly."
The Huff family moved to Nashville when Ashlyne was five, which was when she got bit by the performing bug. "I was watching Full House and Jodie Sweetin's character danced to the B-52s' ‘Love Shack.' That one episode changed my life. I decided to be a dancer." Huff began dance lessons at the age of seven and took it very seriously. "It was my sport; it was my life," she says. At age 11, she joined the Opryland Kids Club in the final year that the theme park was open, and realized she'd have to be able to sing if she wanted to continue to perform as a dancer. "I was actually afraid to sing because people came in and out of my dad's studio who could sing really well," Huff recalls. "But I did it and wound up singing all through high school."
After graduating, Huff enrolled at Nashville's Belmont University to get a degree in Music Business. "I studied publishing and copyright law and thought maybe I'd go into production," she says. "I used to do my homework in the studio with my dad and I liked the atmosphere and loved being around musicians. I learned how to use all the equipment, like Pro Tools, and started editing my own dance songs at 13. It was like my computer game. While everyone else was playing Nintendo, I was playing Pro Tools."
While attending college, Huff's love for songwriting blossomed. "My dad had told me when I was 12 that I would never be a writer unless I had something to say," she recalls. "At 19, I went through a bad breakup and I decided to write a song about it just to get my feelings out. Then I thought, ‘What if I could help someone going through the same thing? I'd feel better if I knew something I wrote helped someone else.' From then on, I was hooked."
In December 2006, Huff was approached by Anderson Merchandisers — one of the nation's largest distributors of pre-recorded music, movies, and books, which services retail stores throughout the U.S. The company was launching its own record label, Liquid Digital Media, and wanted Huff to be its first signing. Huff agreed if she could begin recording after she graduated from college the following year. Meanwhile, she auditioned for and won a part as a dancer in LeAnn Rimes' video for "Nothin' Better To Do." A year later, she re-enacted the performance along with Rimes and the other dancers at the CMT Awards. "It was a great experience," Huff says. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything." It was also the last time she found herself dancing behind another artist.
In early 2008, a song Huff co-wrote with Tommy Lee James and Stefanie Ridel, entitled "I'm Done," appeared on the Pussycat Dolls' latest album Doll Domination. Also last year, she began collaborating with songwriter/producers Mike Busbee and Mathias Wollo on the tracks that will appear on her debut album, which will be released in early 2010. In the meantime, Huff continues to attract fans with her powerhouse voice, upbeat personality, and relatable songs. "I really think there's something for everyone in my songs, no matter how old you are," Huff says. "I just can't wait for people to hear them."
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Heart of Gold
Ashlyne Huff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To wreck your name or start a fight
There's just a couple things I want to say to you
And I knew you wouldn't sit down just to hear
So let me spell it out for your deaf ears
It's sad to say but the hearsay's more than true
You're everything that everybody warned about
Who am I to tell you what to do
You're not the type to do what you're told
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
You seem to prefer bitter endings
The only type that your hands can hold
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
Can you shut up long enough
To hear what I have to say just once
We're not gonna talk about it later now is the time
There's nothing everywhere you've been
You run from none to none again
I won't be here tomorrow but you just might
You're everything that I can live my life without
Who am I to tell you what to do
You're not the type to do what you're told
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
You seem to prefer bitter endings
The only type that your hands can hold
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
You're gonna miss this
Yeah you're gonna miss this face
Gonna miss these kisses
Who am I to tell you what to do
You're not the type to do what you're told
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
You seem to prefer bitter endings
The only type that your hands can hold
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
The song "Heart of Gold" by Ashlyne Huff tells a story of a person who wants to share their feelings with someone who seems to always choose the wrong path in love. The singer acknowledges that the person they are speaking to is not someone who takes advice easily, but they still feel the need to say their piece. The singer explains that this person has a "heart of gold" but seems to always choose the wrong type of love, preferring bitter endings rather than a fulfilling relationship. The singer warns that this person will regret their choices and miss the chance to have a heart of gold in their life.
The lyrics are a plea to someone who is seemingly resistant to change or advice. The singer acknowledges that this person is not one to do what they are told, but still feels the need to try and make them see reason. The phrase "heart of gold" is used as a symbol for a fulfilling and satisfying love, which the person seems to be missing out on because of their choices. The singer warns that they will eventually regret their actions and long for the chance to have a heart of gold in their life.
Overall, the song is an emotional plea for someone to change their ways and choose love that is fulfilling and satisfying instead of always choosing bitter endings. It is a message that anyone can relate to, as we all have made mistakes in love and sometimes need a reminder that we deserve a heart of gold.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't grab my pen tonight
I didn't write this to hurt you or start a fight.
To wreck your name or start a fight
To ruin your reputation or cause a conflict.
There's just a couple things I want to say to you
I have a few things to tell you.
And I knew you wouldn't sit down just to hear
I know you wouldn't listen even if I asked you to.
So let me spell it out for your deaf ears
Let me explain it to you more clearly.
It's sad to say but the hearsay's more than true
People say bad things about you and it's actually true.
You're everything that everybody warned about
You are exactly what everyone cautioned me about.
Who am I to tell you what to do
I cannot make you do anything.
You're not the type to do what you're told
You are not someone who takes orders easily.
But let me tell you you're gonna miss this heart of gold
You will regret losing this kind and loving person.
You seem to prefer bitter endings
You tend towards unhappy conclusions.
The only type that your hands can hold
You only seem to hold onto bad things.
Can you shut up long enough
Can you stop talking for a moment.
To hear what I have to say just once
Listen to me briefly.
We're not gonna talk about it later now is the time
We need to deal with this matter now, not later.
There's nothing everywhere you've been
You seem to have nothing to show for your actions.
You run from none to none again
You don't seem to be making progress in your life.
I won't be here tomorrow but you just might
I might not be around tomorrow, but you will be.
You're everything that I can live my life without
I can live without your presence in my life.
You're gonna miss this
You will regret losing me.
Yeah you're gonna miss this face
You will miss my presence in your life.
Gonna miss these kisses
You will miss the affection I showed you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ASHLYNE HUFF, MICHAEL BUSBEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind