In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Shook up and beat down.
Hallelujah.
From bad cards that I was dealt.
Hallelujah.
So I spoke a match that burned them down.
Hallelujah.
So light it up.
Ashes made of spades are going through the air.
The embers and the flames are going through the cares.
The sickness of the past, let it burn back there.
The ashes made of spades are going through the air.
Dodging rocks. You're a street light.
Hallelujah.
London fog on a dreary night
You took a hit, they could not take your light.
Hallelujah.
So light it up.
Ashes made of spades are going through the air.
The embers and the flames are going through the cares.
The sickness of the past, let it burn back there.
The ashes made of spades are going through the air.
Stranded in the streams without a branch to rescue me and pull me from the tormenting.
Will I die here in the water?
I closed my eyes so I could see then there grew a tree from my belief.
Now here I stand with two dry feet, and there my past dies in the water.
Oh My Light.
All My Life.
Hallelujah.
From bad cards that I was dealt.
Hallelujah.
So I spoke a match that burned them down.
Hallelujah.
So light it up.
Ashes made of spades are going through the air.
The embers and the flames are going through the cares.
The sickness of the past, let it burn back there.
The ashes made of spades are going through the air.
Dodging rocks. You're a street light.
Hallelujah.
London fog on a dreary night
You took a hit, they could not take your light.
Hallelujah.
So light it up.
Ashes made of spades are going through the air.
The embers and the flames are going through the cares.
The sickness of the past, let it burn back there.
The ashes made of spades are going through the air.
Stranded in the streams without a branch to rescue me and pull me from the tormenting.
Will I die here in the water?
I closed my eyes so I could see then there grew a tree from my belief.
Now here I stand with two dry feet, and there my past dies in the water.
Oh My Light.
All My Life.
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I asked Bryce Avary about this song after a concert in Charlotte.
"'Ashes Made of Spades' (Life Will Write the Words) — Finally, although the meaning is a little more obvious, I had to ask him about my favorite Rocket Summer song. He said “Ashes Made of Spades” is about the “power of the Holy Spirit” (which is fairly clear in the lyrics) and that the “ashes made of spades” are a metaphor for the cards your dealt in life being set aflame and overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit."
Full discussion here: ryankantor.com/2013/03/23/chatting-with-the-rocket-summer-and-the-royal-teeth/