At first, I wasn't sure what was meant by "ashes and wine". I read all the posts on this site, and could see most of everyone's interpretations, but none seemed to be quite right. Then it hit me: I think both ashes and wine are both things that are used up. An ash used to be a log, cigarette, etc. Wine used to be a grape. Both of them have lost their ability to ever change or be anything different than simply ashes and wine. The entire song is about whether there is hope or whether fate has already spoken. If they were cigarettes and grapes... they'd still have a chance; if they are ashes and wine, they are done.
At first, I wasn't sure what was meant by "ashes and wine". I read all the posts on this site, and could see most of everyone's interpretations, but none seemed to be quite right. Then it hit me: I think both ashes and wine are both things that are used up. An ash used to be a log, cigarette, etc. Wine used to be a grape. Both of them have lost their ability to ever change or be anything different than simply ashes and wine. The entire song is about whether there is hope or whether fate has already spoken. If they were cigarettes and grapes... they'd still have a chance; if they are ashes and wine, they are done.