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."
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: http://ryankantor.com/2013/03/23/chatting-with-the-rocket-summer-and-the-royal-teeth/