The Ash & Clay
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics

The swing sets are empty like dirt turned the dark of the night
The playgrounds represent childhood, joy, and innocence; seeing them unoccupied and deserted evokes a sense of sadness and fear, like the night that swallows everything and turns it into nothingness.

The center of this town it used to whirl in the glow of twilight
This line signifies how everything changes over time. What used to be the heart and soul of this town, bustling with activity and life, is now silent and empty. It's a metaphor for how people or things can disappear, leaving no trace of their previous existence.

It might look like god's away with all the trouble these days
This line refers to the idea that the world has become a mess, with poverty, wars, and injustices, and that maybe God has forsaken and abandoned us. This line implies that the suffering that has spread across the world is like a consequence of losing our connection with the divine.

We'll come home before the girls are grown
This line is about the hope to fix the world's problems and safeguard the future generation. The Milk Carton Kids believe it's still possible to make things right and that we should act before it is too late.

We're coming home tonight
The phrase brings an optimistic and confident tone, as it shows a willingness to take action, to come back to where it all started, and to take the first step towards change.

What, oh, have we done to run this country into such a sight
This line is a confession that something has gone terribly wrong with the country. The question itself invites the listener to find answers and explore what led to this sorrow.

Stolen from our brothers like we couldn't find a fair enough fight
In this line, The Milk Carton Kids refer to the systemic oppression that exists in the world, depriving people of their basic rights. The phrase implies that sometimes, the rights of a few individuals are neglected intentionally, resulting in an unequal and unjust society.

You wait on promise you will say
The line speaks of hope, as an appeal to believe in promises and dreams, to anticipate a better future, and act accordingly. It is an encouragement to find strength in ideals, to cling to hope in the face of despair.

Won't forsake the ash and clay
This line might be seen as an appeal to reinforce the bond with the land, to retain a connection with what once existed, with what remains even in ruins. Ash and clay symbolize the ruins of a past that refuses to fade away, a past that needs to be preserved as a reminder of what we have learned from mistakes.

I know we want what's best for us- I know it has to come at a price
This line speaks of the importance of sacrifice, of the price that we need to pay to achieve our goals. The Milk Carton Kids are aware that the process to make things better requires effort, commitment, and sometimes self-sacrifice. It may take time, but it is a necessary investment in the future.

I also know the trouble that you find when you stop being nice
This line reminds us that a good intention does not guarantee a good outcome. We often think that being nice and good to people will bring us what we want, but that's not always the case. Kindness can be seen as a weakness, and there could be people out there who will try to exploit it.

You look around you one day. What you once knew didn't stay
This line is about how we deal with change, how we adapt to a world that's never the same. The world is constantly in flux, and people and things come and go. It's a reminder to be mindful of change, to not take it for granted, and to cherish what we have while we still have it.

Have you ever asked a man to take your place at the head of the table?
This line speaks to the idea of equality, of democracy and plurality. Why should one person have more power than another and be seated at the head of the table? It's a question that challenges authority, hierarchy, and the unfairness that underpins them.

You could shed away your shame if in the end You found you simply weren't able
This line speaks to the idea of owning our shortcomings and failures, of recognizing that we sometimes can't do everything we want or need to do, but we shouldn't feel ashamed of that. It's a reminder that it's okay to ask for help or just admit we're not capable enough. That's part of being human.

You might find out you could stay On the ash and on the clay
This line is about coming to terms with our limits, of finding a purpose even in our failures, of realizing that sometimes we're not meant to be heroes but play a smaller role. Ash and clay represent the end, the final state of things, but they are also the beginning, the foundation for new growth. So even when we feel like we have failed, there's still value in what we have accomplished.

Come on home before the girls are grown
This line is a call to action, a plea to do things now, to not let time run out, to take responsibility and act for the benefit of the future. It's an appeal to come back to the things that matter, the people that we love, to be present and live intentionally.

Come on home to fight
This final line represents the fighting spirit that The Milk Carton Kids want to inspire. They're calling on us to come back home not just to rest, but to take part in the struggle, to fight for what we believe in, and to stand up for what's right. It's a direct call to responsibility, to be the change that we want to see.