Ashes The Rain And I
Joe Walsh & the James Gang Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes I sit and I stare at the rain
Isn't rain filled with sorrow?
Wonder if I'll see my home again
Will it be dry tomorrow?
Time passes softly and I'm a day older
But still I m living days gone by
Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder
Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I




Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ashes The Rain And I" are about the passage of time and the uncertainty that comes with it. The opening lines of "Sometimes I sit and I stare at the rain, Isn't rain filled with sorrow?" create a sense of melancholy and contemplation. The rain is often used to represent sadness, and the singer is reflecting on the nature of sorrow and how it affects his life. The next line, "Wonder if I'll see my home again, Will it be dry tomorrow?" indicates that the singer is away from his home and uncertain about his future. There is a sense of longing and unease, as he is unsure if he'll ever return to the familiar comforts of his home.


As the song continues, the singer reflects on the passage of time, saying "Time passes softly and I'm a day older, But still I'm living days gone by." He is aware that time is moving forward, and that he is growing older, but he still feels connected to the past. The lines "Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder, Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I" suggest that the singer is trying to come to terms with the passing of time, and that he is searching for a way to move forward. The ashes represent the past, while the rain represents the present, and the singer is trying to find a way to reconcile these two periods of his life and find meaning in the present.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I sit and I stare at the rain
Occasionally, I sit and ponder the rain


Isn't rain filled with sorrow?
Can one not associate rain with sadness?


Wonder if I'll see my home again
I am curious if I will ever return to my dwelling


Will it be dry tomorrow?
I wonder if the weather will be more pleasant the next day


Time passes softly and I'm a day older
The flow of time is gentle and I have become older in the process


But still I m living days gone by
Even though time goes on, I am still holding onto memories of the past


Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder
Everything eventually turns to dust and the rain is becoming colder


Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I
On the quest for the future, I am accompanied by memories of the past and the chilly precipitation




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DALE PETERS, JOSEPH FIDLER WALSH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@phils7410

This is a song from my childhood, growing up in rural southwest Iowa. I listened to it again today for the first time in years, and the lyrics are much more profound for me now since I haven't been home since 1997. I think it's the most thoughtful song that the James Gang made. When I was a kid, I thought the orchestral arrangements in the second part of the song were exquisite, and they still sound pretty good today.

Ashes the Rain and I

Sometimes I sit and I stare at the rain
Isn't rain filled with sorrow?
Wonder if I'll see my home again
Will it be dry tomorrow?
Time passes softly and I'm a day older
But still I'm living days gone by
Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder
Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I



@npr7073

"Ashes The Rain And I"

Sometimes I sit and I stare at the rain 
Isn't rain filled with sorrow? 
Wonder if I'll see my home again 
Will it be dry tomorrow? 
Time passes softly and I'm a day older 
But still I m living days gone by 
Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder 
Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I



All comments from YouTube:

@roberthall6876

When I was 16, I stared at the rain out of the window of my mom’s kitchen as I listened to this song. I am now almost 63 and I sat in my garage and watched the rain (it rains very little where I am now) as I listened to this song. I have listened to this song off and on my whole life. I have lost my mom, my dad, my granddaughter and many others. The cycle of this life. But, this song has stayed with me.

@Levienci

Empowering comment. I am sorry for your losses and I am so glad when I see music like this having this sort of effect. I hope to live my vast future and beyond while listening to this song. Amen, sir.

@TJamesBell

@Robert Hall
Sorry for your losses.

@j.letner183

ditto, except I have no grandchildren. Thanks and be awesome Robert

@Udontknow

thx for sharing, we are with u in this amazing circle♥

@TJamesBell

@Robert Hall
In which case, I would highly recommend you purchasing the Hybrid SACD of 'The Best of James Gang', remastered from the original masters by Kevin Gray over at Cohearant Studios and Analogue Production. They're known as the VERY best in the business for remastering classic albums from the original analog master tape source. Both vinyl and Hybrid SACD, depending on your preference. People sometimes say this about SACD's and SHM-CD's, but if it came from Cohearant Studios and Kevin Gray was involved, it WILL be like hearing it for the first time. Trust me. I've been playing it non-stop in my car, and am stunned, and I've been a James Gang fan for decades. (High end car or home stereo helps). Your song is on there.
So sorry for your losses.
Here's a link for you:
https://elusivedisc.com/the-james-gang-the-best-of-the-james-gang-featuring-joe-walsh-hybrid-stereo-sacd/

25 More Replies...

@davidrule385

3:33 and 4:09, two sample melodies in the song that helped Fatboy Slim create one of his most popular songs!

@johnbland3642

right here right now. fbs.

@martinreid2352

Pretty interesting hearing the context for those samples after hearing Fatboy Slim’s song for years and years!

@Nashadelicable

These samples are so easy to miss. Fat boy did a great job finding these and sampling them

More Comments

More Versions