Ashes By Now
Emmylou Harris Lyrics


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(Rodney Crowell)

This morning is Monday where are you now
Teasin' my memory teaching me how to lay low
When I don't want to
Well love is elusive this I know now
It's making me crazy leaving me out
In the open when I don't want to

The moments of pleasures Never do last
Are gone like a suitcase full of your past
Long gone and in a hurry

Baby, I can't go through this again
I don't need to go down more then I've already been
Just like a wild fire you're running all over town
As much as you burn me baby I should be ashes by now

The second street beggars alone in their life
Drunk on a sidewalk to hide from the night
Like I am They're just like I am

Baby, I can't go through this again
I don't need to go down more then I've already been
Just like a wild fire you're running all over town
As much as you burn me baby I should be ashes by now

Just like a wild fire You're running all over town




As much as you burn me, baby I should be ashes by now
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah I should be ashes by now

Overall Meaning

In Emmylou Harris's song Ashes by Now, the singer reflects on the consequences of love and the emotional turmoil that it brings. The lyrics convey a sense of despair and emotional exhaustion, as the singer is left reeling from the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer asks where their lover is now, and how they are constantly reminded of their presence through memories that continue to haunt them. The use of the phrase "teaching me how to lay low" suggests that the singer is attempting to retreat from their emotions, but is unable to escape the pain of their past.


The chorus of the song, "Baby, I can’t go through this again, I don’t need to go down more than I’ve already been, just like a wildfire you’re running all over town", highlights the destructive nature of the relationship and the toll it has taken on the singer. The comparison to a wildfire is a powerful metaphor, suggesting that their lover's actions are causing destruction and chaos wherever they go. The final line of the chorus, "As much as you burn me baby, I should be ashes by now", reinforces the idea that the singer is barely holding on, and could be consumed by their emotions at any moment.


Overall, Ashes by Now is a poignant reflection on the highs and lows of love, and the lasting impact that it can have on a person's life.


Line by Line Meaning

This morning is Monday where are you now
The day has started but you are not here with me, forcing me to reminisce about our memories


Teasin' my memory teaching me how to lay low
Your absence is causing my mind to wander and making me feel low


When I don't want to
I don't want to feel this way, but your absence is making me feel low and laid back


Well love is elusive this I know now
I have come to realize that love is hard to find and maintain


It's making me crazy leaving me out
This lack of love is driving me insane and making me feel excluded


In the open when I don't want to
This loneliness and exclusion is making me feel vulnerable and exposed


The moments of pleasures never do last
The moments of happiness and pleasure are fleeting and short-lived


Are gone like a suitcase full of your past
These moments are gone and forgotten, just like your past memories that you carry with you everywhere


Long gone and in a hurry
These memories have faded away quickly and are now a distant memory


Baby, I can't go through this again
I cannot bear to experience this pain and heartbreak again


I don't need to go down more then I've already been
I do not want to experience more pain and suffering than I already have


Just like a wildfire you're running all over town
You're moving around quickly and spreading your desire and love around, just like a wildfire


As much as you burn me, baby I should be ashes by now
Your actions are hurting me so much that I should be nothing but ashes by now


The second street beggars alone in their life
People who beg on the street are often alone in life, just like me


Drunk on a sidewalk to hide from the night
These beggars often retreat to alcohol and drugs to escape the harsh reality of life


Like I am They're just like I am
I relate to these beggars and their struggles because I am also alone and hurting


Just like a wildfire You're running all over town
You're moving around quickly and spreading your desire and love around, just like a wildfire


As much as you burn me, baby I should be ashes by now
Your actions are hurting me so much that I should be nothing but ashes by now


Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah I should be ashes by now
The pain is unbearable and I should have been consumed by it by now




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, TRAVELLERS HOLLOW MUSIC
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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