It was an encounter at Hawley's Sheffield home that led the longtime collaborator out of the shadows. Impressed by a home demo of his songs, both Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey urged Hawley to head into the studio and begin work on his first solo release. 2000's eponymous mini album encouraged Hawley to return to the studio once more. In 2001 Late Night Final, named after the cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper on the streets of the city, was released to positive reviews from the press, if unspectacular sales. Two years later Hawley released Lowedges, another Sheffield reference, this time to the curiously named suburb of the city that had so entranced the young Hawley when he had seen it on the destination board of a bus. NME called Lowedges the "first great album of 2003" and it topped an end of year poll held by Virgin Radio.
In 2004 Hawley signed to Mute Records, a division of the giant EMI. Legal wrangling delayed Cole's Corner, Hawley's fourth release, until September 2005. Again Hawley mines the theme of his beloved home city, this time referencing the location where courting lovers meet. Cole's Corner eventually gained a nomination for the acclaimed Mercury Prize in 2006.
Hawley's work as a session musician and producer remains in high demand. After contributing towards her eponymous 2004 release, Hawley also supported Nancy Sinatra on her European tour in 2005. In the past, Hawley has also worked with artists as diverse as New York's A Girl Called Eddy, All Saints (he played the guitar solo on their cover of "Under the Bridge"), Nellee Hooper's soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and with Jarvis Cocker's Relaxed Muscle project.
Aside from his solo and session work, Hawley occasionally tours with The Feral Cats, a side project that enables him to explore his interest in rockabilly music.
Possibly due to his aforementioned rockabilly interest, Hawley once auditioned for the role as guitarist in the rockabilly-inclined Morrissey's band.
Fiercely proud of his working class upbringing, Hawley recently described himself as "jurassic labour" in response to a question about the New Labour project. He lives in Sheffield, with his wife and children and is an avid Sheffield Wednesday supporter.
In 2007 Hawley released a new studio album, Lady's Bridge (the title refers to a bridge Hawley regulary crosses in his native Sheffield) again to much critical acclaim.
Hawley's album Truelove's Gutter was released in September 2009 and followed that October by a UK nationwide tour. The album was nominated for, and won the Mojo record of the year.
Following the success of his award-winning, hugely acclaimed 2009 album 'Truelove's Gutter', Richard Hawley will release his sixth studio album, 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' - his first for new label Parlophone - on 7th May.
Recorded at Sheffield's Yellow Arch Studio in 2011, 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' marks a seismic shift in direction for Hawley. The album is a euphoric, sonic assault on the senses, channelling elements of psychedelia, space rock and ragas with heavy riffs and raw, visceral guitar solos - as well as more familiar, tender moments - which will surprise Hawley's fans and peers alike.
www.richardhawley.co.uk
Ashes On The Fire
Richard Hawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Late last night
The words on the paper
My true heart's desire
Now in this bright morning
Oh, what did I find?
No sign of the letter
Ashes on the fire
This morning brought sorrow
This morning brought tears
They bloomed like a flower
From deep-seated fears
My words like an arrow
Aimed so much higher
My bow broke asunder
Ashes on the fire
I know that you weary
Of this life we've made
In silence I sit here
And read the flames
Come sit down beside me
You ghosts of the pyre
And nightly remind me
Ashes on the fire
Ashes on the fire
Ashes on the fire
In Richard Hawley's song Ashes On The Fire, the lyrics evoke a sense of loss and heartbreak. The song is about writing a heartfelt letter to a loved one, only to discover that the letter has been burned and turned to ashes. The singer is left with feelings of sorrow and regret. The opening lines of the song depict the singer writing a letter to their loved one, staying up until late at night to capture their true feelings. However, upon waking up the next morning, they discover that the letter has been reduced to ashes on the fire. This realization brings about feelings of pain and disappointment.
The chorus speaks to the sense of despair that the singer is feeling. They know that their love is weary of the life that they have made together, and they sit in silence as they read the flames. The singer is left with only memories of what could have been, their words like an arrow aimed higher than their reality. The line "Come sit down beside me, you ghosts of the pyre" highlights the idea that the ashes hold the memories of the past and ghosts of the loved one.
Overall, the song is a moving portrayal of heartbreak and regret. It highlights the pain of losing someone and the memories that remain long after they have gone. The lyrics touch on the themes of loss and the power of memory, making for a deeply emotional piece.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote you a letter
I expressed my feelings for you in writing
Late last night
I wrote the letter at a late hour
The words on the paper
The letter contained my thoughts and emotions
My true heart's desire
The letter reflected my deepest desires
Now in this bright morning
After some time has passed
Oh, what did I find?
I discovered something unexpected
No sign of the letter
The letter was not where I left it
Ashes on the fire
The letter had been burned to ashes in the fire
This morning brought sorrow
I felt sad upon realizing what had happened
This morning brought tears
I cried when I saw the ashes
They bloomed like a flower
My tears flowed freely like petals on a flower
From deep-seated fears
My emotions were triggered by my inner anxieties
My words like an arrow
My expression was sharp and direct
Aimed so much higher
I had higher hopes and expectations
My bow broke asunder
My attempt failed spectacularly
Ashes on the fire
The letter was destroyed and my effort was wasted
I know that you weary
I am aware of your weariness
Of this life we've made
Of the life we have built together
In silence I sit here
I am alone with my thoughts
And read the flames
I watch the fire and ponder the situation
Come sit down beside me
I invite ghosts of the past
You ghosts of the pyre
The memories of the burned letter
And nightly remind me
To continually remember and reflect
Ashes on the fire
The symbol of my crushed hopes and dreams
Ashes on the fire
The repetition emphasizes the finality of the loss
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.