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]
Summer Solstice
Susan Ashton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I first gave my heart to You
The first day of a brand new season
In a fevered passion for Your simple truth
It was the longest I'd ever felt for anything
And it gave my soul a song to sing.
It must have been my adolescence
But what I thought to be maturity
Was just neglect that I tried to vindicate
And I went drifting on the wind like the autumn leaves
But when I fell I landed on my knees.
So can You throw Your arms around me and walk me home
I've wandered off way too far for way too long
And standing broken in this wilderness of shame
I have found my only strength is in your name
Oh, Father please can You undo what I've done
And get me back to square one.
I never saw that blizzard coming
Just woke up and ice was on the ground
And there were times this beating heart of pride
Was so stubborn it refused to make a sound
But now I'm feeling so out of my element
Frozen in the winter of my discontent.
So can You throw Your arms around me and walk me home
I've wandered off way too far for way too long
And standing broken in this wilderness of shame
I have found my only strength is in your name
Oh, Father please can You undo what I've done
And get me back to square one.
And with the spring comes the thaw
Melting my heart reviving all
It comes full circle and then
It's summer solstice again.
So can You throw Your arms around me and walk me home
I've wandered off way too far for way too long
And standing broken in this wilderness of shame
I have found my only strength is in your name
Oh, Father please can You undo what I've done
And get me back to square one.
Back to the summer solstice.
Take me back.
I wanna go back...
Susan Ashton's song "Summer Solstice" is a poignant reflection on the singer's spiritual journey. The title is a reference to the longest day of the year, marking the beginning of summer. She begins the song by reminiscing about the day she gave her heart to God - a day that she believes was the exact moment of the summer solstice. She describes her fervent passion for truth and how it filled her soul with a song to sing. However, as she grew older, she drifted away from her faith, mistaking her rebellion for maturity. But her waywardness ultimately led her to a place of brokenness, shame, and despair.
The singer pleads with God to embrace her once again and lead her back home. She admits that she has strayed too far for too long and is now standing broken in a wilderness of shame. She recognizes that her only strength lies in God's name and asks him to undo what she has done and bring her back to square one. The song is a heartfelt cry for reconciliation and a longing to return to the pure, uncomplicated faith of her youth.
One interesting aspect of the song is the use of natural imagery throughout the lyrics. From the summer solstice to the autumn leaves, the winter of discontent, and the thaw of spring, the changing seasons symbolize the ups and downs of the singer's spiritual journey. The song demonstrates how nature can be a powerful metaphor for the human soul's ebbs and flows.
Another interesting fact about "Summer Solstice" is that it was written by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Michael W. Smith. Kirkpatrick is an accomplished songwriter who has worked with numerous gospel and country music artists, while Michael W. Smith is a Grammy-winning Christian singer and songwriter. Ashton's version of the song was released on her 1996 album "A Distant Call" and became a hit on the Christian music charts.
Chords: D, G, Eminor, A, Bminor, F#minor.
Line by Line Meaning
It must have been the summer solstice
The day I gave my heart to You was on the longest day of the year
When I first gave my heart to You
The day I surrendered my heart to You
The first day of a brand new season
The beginning of a new stage in my life
In a fevered passion for Your simple truth
With an intense desire for Your pure and uncomplicated truth
It was the longest I'd ever felt for anything
It seemed to last forever, longer than anything I have experienced
And it gave my soul a song to sing.
It filled my soul with joy and a reason to sing
It must have been my adolescence
My youthful age and lack of understanding led me away from You
That pulled me from my childlike faith
My immaturity and naivete misguided my beliefs
But what I thought to be maturity
What I believed was a sign of growing up and becoming wiser
Was just neglect that I tried to vindicate
Was actually neglecting my relationship with You but justifying it
And I went drifting on the wind like the autumn leaves
I became aimless and lost like the leaves that fall during autumn
But when I fell I landed on my knees.
But I eventually hit rock bottom and humbly came back to You
So can You throw Your arms around me and walk me home
Please embrace and guide me back to where I belong
I've wandered off way too far for way too long
I have strayed too far from Your path for far too long
And standing broken in this wilderness of shame
Feeling defeated and ashamed in this barren and lonely state
I have found my only strength is in your name
My sole source of strength and hope is through You alone
Oh, Father please can You undo what I've done
God, please forgive and turn back what I have done wrong
And get me back to square one.
Help me start over again and go back to where we first began
I never saw that blizzard coming
I did not expect the storm that would come in my life
Just woke up and ice was on the ground
Suddenly and without warning, my heart was frozen and stagnant
And there were times this beating heart of pride
My ego and pride sometimes got in the way
Was so stubborn it refused to make a sound
It was so obstinate that it refused to listen or speak
But now I'm feeling so out of my element
Now I am feeling lost or inadequate in my present surroundings
Frozen in the winter of my discontent.
Stuck in an unhappy state, just like how winter brings feelings of despair
And with the spring comes the thaw
The coming of spring brings the melting of the ice and coldness
Melting my heart reviving all
The warmth of spring rekindles my heart and brings it back to life
It comes full circle and then
It all comes around again to where it all started
It's summer solstice again.
Another season of light and growth is here, the same one when I first gave my heart to You
Take me back.
Bring me back to You
I wanna go back...
I want to return to the time where I first fell in love with You
Contributed by Kaylee R. 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.