Gorgeous, gilded songwriting, Nick Wilson’s work is worth aligning next to Bon Iver or Ben Howard, with elements of Phoebe Bridgers’ emotional heft in there, too. As Nick puts it, he’s infatuated by the craft of songwriting. “The lovely thing about it,” he insists, “is that you can have these little pockets of space to play around in, but then you can do things really quickly off the back of them because they’re not quite tied in together. They can be separate things.”
Ashes
Nick Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel the earth beneath my feet
But I've not felt like this
Felt the wind
Knocked me down but I got up
And it's building to bliss
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
When you're so far away but so near
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
You dragged me in
And like the raging sea you pulled
Me down
But I don't mind
I hold my breath if it means
I'll be closer to you
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
When you're so far away but so near
It seems we're close but we're (?)
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
But even when the ashes have cleared
You're the one that crushes my fears
I see the light and it's warmer now
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
The lyrics to Nick Wilson's song Ashes talk about the idea of feeling close to someone even when they are physically far away. The song starts by describing a beautiful day with the sun shining and the earth beneath the singer's feet, but something feels off even in the midst of all the beauty. The lyrics then go on to explain how the wind knocked the singer down, but he got up and is feeling a growing sense of happiness, or "bliss." The singer didn't expect the feeling to be so "damned clear" when he and the subject of the song are so far apart but still so connected.
The chorus repeats the idea that they seem close but are still separated by some distance. The next stanza describes how the subject of the song "dragged" the singer in and pulled him down like a "raging sea," but he doesn't mind being pulled down if it means he can be closer to them. The same idea is repeated in the chorus, but with the added idea that even when there are "ashes" left, the person is still there to crush the singer's fears. Lastly, the song ends with a sense of hope and comfort, as the singer sees the light and feels warmth again, realizing that it has all become clear to them.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the listener's own experiences and emotions. However, the song mainly talks about the idea of longing and connection with someone, even when they are physically far away. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is feeling lost and disconnected, but is still drawn towards someone or something that they feel connected to. The song's soothing melody and relatable lyrics make it a great listen for anyone who has gone through similar emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Seeing the sun
I am experiencing sunlight
I feel the earth beneath my feet
I am aware of the ground below me
But I've not felt like this
I have not had this specific feeling before
Felt the wind
I am aware of the sensation of wind on my body
Knocked me down but I got up
I experienced an adverse event, but I overcame it
And it's building to bliss
I am working towards a state of supreme happiness
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
I did not expect my feelings to be so vivid
When you're so far away but so near
Even though you are physically far away, you feel emotionally close
It seems we're close but we're (?)
It feels like we are close, but something is holding us back
You dragged me in
You pulled me into a situation or emotion
And like the raging sea you pulled
You pulled me strongly, like waves in a stormy ocean
Me down
You caused me to feel down or negative
But I don't mind
I am willing to endure negative feelings for the sake of being closer to you
I hold my breath if it means
I am willing to sacrifice personal comfort for emotional closeness
I'll be closer to you
I am focused on maintaining emotional proximity to you
But even when the ashes have cleared
Even after a negative event has ended
You're the one that crushes my fears
You are the source of my courage and comfort
I see the light and it's warmer now
I feel happy and content
I didn't think it'd be so damn clear
I did not expect to feel such vivid emotions
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.