As a founding member of the ground breaking Bauhaus, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Ash has distinguished himself in the world of contemporary music. He later went on to form Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets with members of Bauhaus.
After attending gigs in his teenage years, he made a promise to himself that no matter in what capacity; he would get up on that stage, even if he was only banging a tambourine. He started playing guitar at age 15, but later he confessed that he didnβt give it much effort, only learning three chords during his first three years. Driven by a love of Rock 'n Roll, Ash began playing in cover bands. The first gig he played was in the Glasgow Rangers Workman's Club. During this time, Ash started playing music with his Kindergarten mates David J and Kevin Haskins. With the addition of Peter Murphy, this lineup became Bauhaus.
Ash became friends with Peter Murphy during his teenage years. Ash went to art school and Murphy to work in a printing factory. They met up five years later and Daniel suggested forming a band. After rigging up a makeshift rehearsal space, Ash played an echo-laden 12-bar blues while Murphy sang a series of newspaper articles. Four weeks later they formed Bauhaus and recorded "Bela Lugosi's Dead".
That song, released in 1979, became the cornerstone of the gothic rock movement. From early on, Ash was intent on sounding original and often tried to βmake the guitar not sound like a guitar.β His style is simplistic and visceral, frequently using an EBow or a guitar with a sustainer circuit.
Four years and as many albums later, Bauhaus broke up. Soon after, Ash put together Tones on Tail with Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins. In 1984, Tones on Tail was disbanded, and Ash founded the influential Love and Rockets in 1985 with Kevin Haskins and David J, also of Bauhaus.
Despite creating a unique guitar style seminal to several genres, he's often said that he's really not that interested in guitars. During the last ten years, he has been experimenting with electronic music, limiting the use of guitar as an extra element as opposed to the main focus. Since the last reformation of Bauhaus however, he's been returning to a more guitar based rock sound.
Coming Down
Daniel Ash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're coming down
Like A Rocket To The Moon
When you're coming down
I want your spirit
When you hit the ground
Well, It's six in the morning
Ain't got no clever words No More
So I won't be missunderstood
You Look So Good
When you're coming down
Sometime I got the blackest Spirit
Wants to hold you down
But the diamonds in your heart
Don't worry won't let you down
You Look So Good
When you're coming down
When you're coming down
When you're coming down
The song Coming Down by Daniel Ash is a beautifully crafted song that speaks to the darker themes of love, addiction, and the self-destructive tendencies that come with these experiences. The song is lyrically rich and imbued with metaphorical meaning, making it stand out as a truly poetic and insightful work of art.
The songβs opening lines, βYou look so good when youβre coming down,β speak to the addictive and transformative nature of love and the process of falling out of it. The singer seems to be suggesting that they prefer their love interest when theyβre in the midst of the emotional fallout that comes with the end of a relationship. This is reinforced in the following lines βLike a rocket to the moon when youβre coming down, I want your spirit when you hit the ground.β Here, the singer is expressing an intense desire for the raw, unfiltered expression of emotion that comes with heartbreak and the subsequent release of pent up feelings.
The second stanza continues to unpack the themes of addiction, with the singer acknowledging the destructive tendencies that live within them, as they say, βSometimes I got the blackest spirit wants to hold you down.β However, the singer also recognizes the strength and the beauty in the person theyβre singing to, as they refer to the diamonds in their heart that wonβt let them down. Overall, Coming Down is a haunting and beautiful exploration of the complex nature of love and addiction, told through powerful and poetic lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
You Look So Good
Acknowledging the appearance of the person who is coming down
When you're coming down
Emphasizing the act of coming down from a high or euphoric state
Like A Rocket To The Moon
Comparing the high experienced to reaching the moon on a rocket
I want your spirit
Expressing a desire for the energy and enthusiasm of the person coming down
When you hit the ground
Referring to the eventual comedown or crash after reaching a high state
Well, It's six in the morning
Setting the scene and indicating the early hour of the day
And I'm feeling so good
Acknowledging the singer's own good feelings and positivity
Ain't got no clever words No More
Admitting a lack of cleverness or creativity in expressing oneself
So I won't be mis(un)derstood
Clarifying the intention behind the song's lyrics and message
Sometime I got the blackest Spirit
Admitting to having a negative or dark attitude at times
Wants to hold you down
Expressing a desire to keep the person coming down from reaching a high state
But the diamonds in your heart
Recognizing the good qualities and inner strengths of the person coming down
Don't worry won't let you down
Assuring the person coming down that they won't be disappointed or let down
When you're coming down
Repeating the central focus of the song
When you're coming down
Emphasizing the act of coming down once more
When you're coming down
Closing the song with the same repeated phrase
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aalihte
Daniel Ash is such a smooth operator. 20+ years ago someone accidentally left this CD at my flat...Every time I play it I'm so glad they did.
CHEFCIA85 Grad
Now...I can get through the day...ROCK OUT THIS BS LIFE OF PAIN....πππππππππ
naradain
Ash, too cool for this world!
Night Mike
Hip-heavy fast track, have to say it has that L&R vibe, not surprising but good as always.
Whitney Boersma
It's 6am and feel so good π
Rhosshani
This song is so amazing to ....dance to....yah, that's it. ;)
ErideApophis
omg this is too good !!!!!!! *_*
Natalie Rozean
God Iβm old. How does HighSchool even exist with out Mr. Ash
RaphaelDemers
Sounds like Should I Stay or Should I go from The Clash, Am I alone ?
Carl Horowitz
Yes, but it SOUNDS like Love & Rockets' "No Big Deal."