In 1991, she released her debut album, Wakened by the Wi… Read Full Bio ↴1991-1993[edit]
In 1991, she released her debut album, Wakened by the Wind, which became the top-selling debut in the history of the Sparrow Records label, with Ashton repeatedly reaching number one in the Christian charts that year. She was nominated for a Dove award for New Artist of the Year and won a CCM readers and reporters poll for Best New Artist. Ashton claimed that her fondest memories with Sparrow Records were during the recording of her first album, "That was so special and since I was so young and green, there was a real innocence in that process that's still beautiful to me. I can listen to anything on that record, and it's all very clear with distinct emotions attached to making it. I love everything about the lyrics, musicianship and instrumentation. There's one song, "No One Knows My Heart," where the drummer played a shoebox. On "Suffer in Silence," one of the instruments credited was a "pencil guitar."[1]
In 1992, her second album, Angels of Mercy, produced four CCM number one singles and was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Gospel Album category.
On her eponymous 1993 release, Ashton was quoted during the recording of the album track "Heart Like a Rock, "I was messing around doing vocals and singing along trying to sound like an electric guitar. We actually recorded it and that sound of me imitating the guitar is still kept in the final record. There was so much fun stuff on all those records and they were all a reflection of growth and maturity and life experience through those years."[1]
Ashton won the 1993 CCM readers award for Favorite Inspirational Album and a reporters poll for Best Female Artist. Later that year, she married John David Cunningham.
1994-1997[edit]
In 1994, Ashton, in collaboration with CCM artists Margaret Becker and Out of the Grey's Christine Denté, released a trio album Along the Road. The title track is a remake of the composition by Dan Fogelberg, while the remaining songs are original to this album. Lead vocals are split evenly among the three singers.
Also in 1994, Garth Brooks approached Ashton to open for him on his European Tour. She stated in 2005,"I did a leg of his '94 European tour, but we weren't playing to his largest crowds. But there was still something very special about his audience. Initially I was a little nerve-wracked, worrying they'd boo me off the stage, but I got a wonderful response. I was also really nervous about meeting him, but he was so nice and supportive. He told me if there was anything I ever needed, just to let him know."
So Far... The Best of Susan Ashton Volume 1, an album of mostly previously released singles, was released in 1995, and featured a newly recorded track entitled "Stand."
A Distant Call was released in 1996. This album included two songs co-written by Sheryl Crow, and one with the late Kevin Gilbert who wrote many hit songs for Crow. Wayne Kirkpatrick once again provided significant songwriting for the album, co-writing several songs with Ashton. Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith also provided co-writing credits on one song each. Alison Krauss provided background vocals for "Love Profound." Garth Brooks would release his own version of Ashton's single "You Move Me" on his own album "Sevens" the following year, which became an international hit.
Ashton provided vocals along with Collin Raye for the 1997 Jim Brickman single "The Gift", from Brickman's album of the same name. That single was number one on the pop charts for three consecutive weeks.
1997-2003[edit]
In 1999, Capital released her first non-CCM album Closer. She reached the country music charts with "You're Lucky I Love You," which peaked at No. 38. Included on this album is Ashton's cover of Can't Cry Hard Enough, a song previously covered by Julie Miller. This album was not a commercial success. When asked about this, Ashton responded in 2005, "My perspective is that it did not turn out what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be a great country record because I'm from Texas and I love that music. But the producers I was working with—who I wholeheartedly believed wanted the best for me—loved my Christian records [with Sparrow], and they were trying to emulate those a little bit. I'm proud of those records, but they aren't country records."[1] Song writing for this album includes Kim Richey, Matraca Berg, Bill Mann and Diane Warren. Ashton only co-wrote one song. Closer was produced by Emory Gordy, Jr., husband and producer to Patty Loveless.
Around this time, Ashton and her husband divorced.[2]
Ashton widened her audience even further when, in 2000, she debuted on the PBS music television program Austin City Limits.
A second album for Capital was recorded, but the album was shelved and has never been released (although the first single "She Is", was released).[3] Ashton has stated, "I spent three years making a follow-up record for Capitol and then early last year they dropped me from the label. So I've spent the last year being a nanny, sitting, waiting and hearing what God wants me to do with my life. It was really difficult, but at the same time I've I needed some healing and clarity. This past year has been really emotional and ultimately turned out really good. I think I was probably aware that I was going to lose my deal, but it's a whole different story knowing you're going to lose it and then actually having it be gone."[1] This interview came after years of silence from Ashton.
2005-2009[edit]
In 2005 Ashton released a second trio album. Originally released only in Australia and Europe as Kisses from Heaven, the album was eventually released in the United States as Lost in Wonder: Voices of Worship. This album was recorded with Michelle Tumes and Christine Denté. The album was conceived in 2003. When asked how the project came about, Ashton replied, "About two years ago I became friends with [the project's producer] John Hartley. Before I lost my record deal, I was asked to sing some demos for what would become a worship project releasing in England. When I lost my deal, John asked if I would still be interested in continuing with the project. God had been healing me, growing me and helping me find my center again, and this seemed to fit as part of his plan."[1] Ashton did not record the vocals in person with Denté and Tumes. The three were only together for the cover's photo shoot.
In 2006 Sparrow Records released Susan Ashton: The Ultimate Collection, a two-CD set of previously released material.
Ashton started a myspace.com page in 2006, on which she posted two demo versions of new songs.
In 2009, she appeared on Collin Raye's album Never Going Back, sing a duet with Raye on a cover of "Without You".
2013-present[edit]
On March 5, 2013, Ashton released Thief, a self-distributed six-song EP. This marks her return to the music business.[citation needed]
Innocence Lost
Susan Ashton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far away, like a vision in my mind
The child has grown and left me here alone
Looking back to what was left behind.
Lullabyes and pennies in a wishing well
Sad goodbyes to friends of make believe
A love so pure, a treasure
Refrain:
Milton lost his paradise, Dorothy lost her way
Vincent lost his sanity, Thomas lost his faith
Hoover lost the second time, Sigmund lost his friend
Me, I lost my innocence and I want it back again.
A tug-of-war is going on inside of me
A calloused heart that wants to make a change
While time prevails fighting tooth and nail
Keeping me set in my ways.
Marco found the orient, Gepetto found his boy
Lincoln found a unity that Lee could not destroy
Lindy found the other side, Gershwin found the stage
Me, I found a stubborness that seems to grow with age.
As I dream of where I'll go, may I learn from where I've gone
And take the memories that I hold into tomorrow.
Refrain:
Milton lost his paradise, Dorothy lost her way
Vincent lost his sanity, Thomas lost his faith
Hoover lost the second time, Sigmund lost his friend
Me, I lost my innocence and I want it back again.
...me I lost my innocence, and I want it back again
I had it once before and I want it back again...
The song "Innocence Lost" by Susan Ashton is a reflection on the loss of innocence and the longing to regain it. The lyrics express the singer's yearning for a simpler, more innocent time in the past, and the regret of growing up and leaving it behind. The first verse reminisces about childhood, with "lullabies and pennies in a wishing well" and "sad goodbyes to friends of make-believe." The second verse contrasts this with the present, where the singer feels weighed down by the responsibilities and challenges of adulthood, and struggles with a "calloused heart that wants to make a change." However, in the final verse, the singer resolves to learn from their past experiences and hold onto their memories as they move forward.
The refrain of the song lists several historical figures who have also faced loss or hardship. This serves to show that the loss of innocence is a universal experience, affecting people from all walks of life. The list includes Milton, who lost his paradise (a reference to John Milton's poem "Paradise Lost"), Dorothy (presumably referring to Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz") who lost her way, Vincent Van Gogh who lost his sanity, Thomas (likely a reference to Doubting Thomas from the Bible) who lost his faith, Hoover (likely referring to President Herbert Hoover) who lost the second time (he lost the 1932 presidential election), and Sigmund (likely referring to Sigmund Freud) who lost his friend.
Overall, "Innocence Lost" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the universal experience of growing up and losing the simple joys of childhood.
Line by Line Meaning
Gone away, the days of wish and wondering
The days of naivete and daydreaming are long gone.
Far away, like a vision in my mind
Those days seem like a distant memory that just exist in the imagination.
The child has grown and left me here alone
The singer has matured and is now isolated from their past.
Looking back to what was left behind.
Reflecting on the remnants of what once was.
Lullabyes and pennies in a wishing well
Childhood rhymes and naive desires that are now meaningless.
Sad goodbyes to friends of make believe
Saying goodbye to imaginary friends and the world of make believe.
A love so pure, a treasure
The people and experiences of the past were once invaluable.
Now buried in the sea of me.
Now lost within the depths of the artist's memories.
A tug-of-war is going on inside of me
The artist feels trapped between their present and past selves.
A calloused heart that wants to make a change
Despite being emotionally detached, the artist desires to grow.
While time prevails fighting tooth and nail
Despite the struggle to move forward, time always wins.
Keeping me set in my ways.
Preventing the artist from truly moving on.
Me, I found a stubborness that seems to grow with age.
The singer's unyielding nature has intensified as they've grown older.
As I dream of where I'll go, may I learn from where I've gone
The singer hopes to use their past experiences to guide their future.
And take the memories that I hold into tomorrow.
Carrying their memories with them into the future.
...me I lost my innocence, and I want it back again
The artist laments the loss of their innocence and yearns to reclaim it.
Contributed by Jordyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jean Marivel
on All Kinds Of People (Distand Call Album Version)
"ALL KINDS OF EOPLE" Great lyrics, awesome voice & style. I love this song and the lady who sings it. We're of "all kinds" and all in one likeness; JESUS-CHRIST OUR GRACIOUS CREATOR.