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]
Remember Not
Susan Ashton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clippin' my wings in the middle of flight
My motor is running on the heartaches of life
But it's gettin' me nowhere fast.
I've been relivin' hurts that seemed far away
Siftin' the dirt that covered the grave
Of the petty offenses I never forgave
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will forget.
Well I find that I'm just not agile enough
To balance the weight of all of this stuff
It's a cumbersome task that demands too much
And it's gettin' me nowhere fast.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will forget.
As far as the east is from the west
These are the things that I must forget
I'll lay down my anger before the sun sets
I will forgive
Oh, and I will forget.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart
I will forget.
I will remember not
I will forgive
These things that tear my heart...
The song "Remember Not" by Susan Ashton is all about forgiveness, letting go of negative thoughts and moving forward in life. The opening lines of the song reveal that the singer has been looking at things from a negative perspective and as a result, clipping the wings of her dreams in mid-flight. The singer speaks of how her motor is running on heartaches of life and even though she is trying her best, she is not going anywhere fast. The second verse tells us that she has been reliving past hurts, sifting through the dirt and petty offenses she never forgave. However, this too is taking her nowhere fast.
The chorus serves as a turning point in the song. The singer decides that she will remember not the things that have hurt her in the past, but instead, she will forgive and forget. The weight of all the negative thoughts and past grudges is too much for her to bear, and she realizes that forgiving others and moving on is the only way she can live a happy and fulfilled life. The bridge talks about how the singer needs to forget these negative things as far as the east is from the west, and she lays down her anger before the sun sets.
In essence, the song is a reminder to let go of past hurts and to forgive those who may have wronged us. By doing so, we are able to find peace within ourselves and move on towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been lookin' at things in a negative light
I have been viewing things in a pessimistic manner.
Clippin' my wings in the middle of flight
I am hindering my own progress.
My motor is running on the heartaches of life
My emotions are being fueled by pain and suffering.
But it's gettin' me nowhere fast.
This approach is not productive.
I've been relivin' hurts that seemed far away
I am dwelling on past pain that I thought I had moved on from.
Siftin' the dirt that covered the grave
I am holding onto grudges and offenses that have already passed.
Of the petty offenses I never forgave
I am holding onto insignificant slights that I should have let go of.
I will remember not
I will try to forget.
I will forgive
I will let go of grudges and offenses.
These things that tear my heart
These painful memories and emotions.
I will forget
I will actively work to banish these negative thoughts.
Well I find that I'm just not agile enough
I realize that I am unable to handle the burden of these emotions.
To balance the weight of all of this stuff
To manage the emotional baggage that I have accumulated.
It's a cumbersome task that demands too much
It is too difficult to bear this emotional load.
As far as the east is from the west
Completely and irreversibly.
These are the things that I must forget
I need to consciously work to forget these things.
I'll lay down my anger before the sun sets
I will let go of my anger and resentment.
Oh, and I will forget
I will actively work to banish these negative thoughts.
I will remember not
I will try to forget.
I will forget
I will actively work to banish these negative thoughts.
These things that tear my heart...
These painful memories and emotions.
Contributed by Scarlett J. 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.