The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Travel the days of freedom
Roads leading everywhere
Come with me now and show how you care
Follow the dying embers
Cross on the paths that they lay
Breath of the past the earths yesterday
Clear your mind maybe you will find
That the past is still turning
Circles sway echo yesterday
Ashes burning ashes burning
Colours are fading starlight
Silver the way to find
Walking the shadows, there in our mind
Changing the order slowly
Leaving the mist of time
Fingers are holding fragments of mine
Clear your mind maybe you will find
That the past is still turning
Circles sway echo yesterday
Ashes burning ashes burning
Imagine the burning embers
They glow below and above
Your sins you won't remember
And all you'll find there is love
Ashes are burning brightly
The smoke can be seen from afar
So now you're seeing how far
Ashes are burning the way
Ashes are burning the way
Roads leading everywhere
Come with me now and show how you care
Follow the dying embers
Cross on the paths that they lay
Breath of the past the earths yesterday
Clear your mind maybe you will find
That the past is still turning
Circles sway echo yesterday
Ashes burning ashes burning
Colours are fading starlight
Silver the way to find
Walking the shadows, there in our mind
Changing the order slowly
Leaving the mist of time
Fingers are holding fragments of mine
Clear your mind maybe you will find
That the past is still turning
Circles sway echo yesterday
Ashes burning ashes burning
Imagine the burning embers
They glow below and above
Your sins you won't remember
And all you'll find there is love
Ashes are burning brightly
The smoke can be seen from afar
So now you're seeing how far
Ashes are burning the way
Ashes are burning the way
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Ashes Are Burning Lyrics as written by Betty Mary Thatcher Michael Dunford
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song is about remembering the past. It's not a past that is recalled in the normal sense, but it is a living past. The ashes (the past) are burning (living). Whether or not this past is in the mind or in the real world is up to the listener to decide.
The song writer appears to believe that remembering the past in this living sense enables the rememberer to, not necessarily rectify the past as it happened, but to reconcile the past with him/herself. A person may improperly remember an event, or feel guilt or shame about something that may have occured, but by properly recalling the event the rememberer in enabled to free oneself from this burdon and find peace. 'Your sins you won't remember, and all you'll find there is love.'
Very good song. I'd recommend it to someone with a tragic, perhaps illusory past.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I just feel so complete after listening to it. Annie Haslam has one of the best voices, period (I’ve heard she had formal opera training). It just commands your attention. Check out that second “ashes are burning away.” Still gives me chills. Anyway, the instruments sound fantastic here, too. Specifically, the organ and piano during that instrumental break. Sheesh! I never thought a prog rock song would evoke so much emotion in me.