After that band's demise in 1999, Ashcroft began his solo career, releasing Alone with Everybody in 2000, Human Conditions in 2002 and Keys to the World in 2006. He performed vocals for the track Lonely Soul on UNKLE's 1998 release Psyence Fiction and his voice can also be heard on the The Chemical Brothers' album Come With Us track The Test.
He is good friends with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and Coldplay's Chris Martin (whom Ashcroft thanks for 'letting me be myself again'), and occasionally plays as support at Oasis and Coldplay concerts, including the European and second UK legs of Coldplay's 'Twisted Logic Tour'. He recently described himself as 'the best support act you'll ever see'. The Oasis track "Cast No Shadow" is dedicated to him. Chris Martin introduced him as "the best singer in the world" when he performed "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (which Martin called "the best song in the world") with Coldplay at the London Live 8 concert in 2005. On his second album Human Conditions The Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson guest stars on the song Nature is the Law.
Ashcroft is married to Kate Radley, ex-Spiritualized keyboard player.
Are You Ready?
Richard Ashcroft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh oh yeah
Ooh oh yeah
Are you ready?
Ooh, are you ready for the day?
He's gonna come back down to earth
I hope you're gonna pray
Mm, as we beam him right up
He's got a little place for me
In his loving cup
Are you ready?
Ooh, ready to see
I'm out here in Babylon
Come out here with me
Are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Please, I'm ready
'Cause I've lived a life of sin
And I heard that us sinners
Have got a chance with Him
Suicidal, ooh yeah
Deep inside my soul
I've been praying there's somewhere else
For me to go
Come on people
Ooh, don't you hear my pain
I'm out here in Babylon
Waiting for the day
Are you ready?
Ah, I'm ready
Ah, I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Ah, I'm ready
Ooh yes, I'm ready
Ooh I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Ah, I'll paint the town with blood
I've been losing so damn much
Since I'm feeling love with people
Ah yeah, the whole damn human race
I wanna put you in my arms
And give you a love embrace
I'm ready
Oh, I ain't no freedom train
Cos where we are heading
Yeah, there is no thing as pain
Yes I'm ready
Ooh I've had a season in hell
I'm getting pretty tired down here
Oh, please break the spell
Ah Jesus, sweet Jesus can't you hear?
Please don't leave us all alone
Living here with fear
I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
The lyrics to Richard Ashcroft's song "Are You Ready?" convey a sense of urgency and a desire for redemption. The repeated question, "Are you ready?" suggests that something significant is about to happen, and the lyrics invite the listener to join in a kind of spiritual journey. The references to Jesus and prayer also suggest a Christian context, although the song is open to interpretation.
The lines "I've lived a life of sin / And I heard that us sinners / Have got a chance with Him" convey a sense of guilt and a longing for forgiveness. The references to Babylon and "paint[ing] the town with blood" suggest a world that is corrupt and in need of redemption. The repeated "ooh yeah" and "ah yeah"s in the second half of the song add a sense of passionate intensity to the lyrics, suggesting that the singer is truly invested in the idea of redemption and spiritual renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh oh yeah
Introductory phrase conveying excitement or anticipation of something.
Are you ready? Ooh, are you ready for the day?
An inquiry if the person is prepared for a specific date or event.
He's gonna come back down to earth I hope you're gonna pray That you're with us Mm, as we beam him right up He's got a little place for me In his loving cup
Expressing the belief that Jesus will come back and ascend selected people; a belief of a place in heaven.
Are you ready? Ooh, ready to see I'm out here in Babylon Come out here with me
Asking if someone is prepared for something; invitation to follow the artist.
Please, I'm ready 'Cause I've lived a life of sin And I heard that us sinners Have got a chance with Him Suicidal, ooh yeah Deep inside my soul I've been praying there's somewhere else For me to go
Expressing the artist's readiness to accept salvation despite living a sinful life; fear of hell; exploring the desire to escape pain caused by his sinful ways.
Come on people Ooh, don't you hear my pain I'm out here in Babylon Waiting for the day Are you ready? Ah, I'm ready Ah, I'm ready Yes I'm ready Yes I'm ready Ah, I'm ready Ooh yes, I'm ready Ooh I'm ready Yes, I'm ready Yes, I'm ready Yes, I'm ready
Calling out to others to join the writer in the quest to avoid hell and accept salvation.
Ah, I'll paint the town with blood I've been losing so damn much Since I'm feeling love with people Ah yeah, the whole damn human race I wanna put you in my arms And give you a love embrace I'm ready
Expressing the willingness to cause chaos to protect the singer's faith; wanting to share love with the human race.
Oh, I ain't no freedom train Cos where we are heading Yeah, there is no thing as pain Yes I'm ready Ooh I've had a season in hell I'm getting pretty tired down here Oh, please break the spell
Rejecting the notion of being free from any disturbance on earth; expressing suffering on earth; asking for salvation.
Ah Jesus, sweet Jesus can't you hear? Please don't leave us all alone Living here with fear I'm ready Yes I'm ready I'm ready Yes I'm ready Yes I'm ready I'm ready Yes I'm ready Yes I'm ready Yes I'm ready Yes I'm ready
Calling out to Jesus to intervene and save the artist from living with fear and anxiety.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD PAUL ASHCROFT, MAURICE ERNEST GIBB, ERNEST DION WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andersonmorales115
Ooh oh yeah
Ooh oh yeah
Ooh oh yeah
Are you ready?
Ooh, are you ready for the day?
He's gonna come back down to earth
I hope you're gonna pray
That you're with us
Mm, as we beam him right up
He's got a little place for me
In his loving cup
Are you ready?
Ooh, ready to see
I'm out here in Babylon
Come out here with me
Are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Ah, are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Please, I'm ready
'Cause I've lived a life of sin
And I heard that us sinners
Have got a chance with Him
Suicidal, ooh yeah
Deep inside my soul
I've been praying there's somewhere else
For me to go
Come on people
Ooh, don't you hear my pain
I'm out here in Babylon
Waiting for the day
Are you ready?
Ah, I'm ready
Ah, I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Ah, I'm ready
Ooh yes, I'm ready
Ooh I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Ah, I'll paint the town with blood
I've been losing so damn much
Since I'm feeling love with people
Ah yeah, the whole damn human race
I wanna put you in my arms
And give you a love embrace
I'm ready
Oh, I ain't no freedom train
Cos where we are heading
Yeah, there is no thing as pain
Yes I'm ready
Ooh I've had a season in hell
I'm getting pretty tired down here
Oh, please break the spell
Ah Jesus, sweet Jesus can't you hear?
Please don't leave us all alone
Living here with fear
I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
Yes I'm ready
@ravegamingchannel6963
I was looking for this song for a decade...
@TameTom
This song is such a hidden gem and I love it
@marthakibler4743
Wow! I've been listening to other Christian Contemporary artists for years, thrilled to see that Richard came out!
@Now7518
Me too never on you!!!❤
@Now7518
me too! I never knew!!!❤
@ashylover69
im Muslim and i love this song and i will always support and love richard ❤️
@akashsingh761
I am Richard Ashcroft and i am not muslin
@ashylover69
@@akashsingh761 ur not him , and I know he’s not Muslim
@ashylover69
And I respect him ❤️
@akashsingh761
@@ashylover69 Allah don't permit muslims to like non muslims