Soil and Ashes
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About the song
Jason's single Soil and Ashes was released in August 2023 on all streaming platforms. Produced by Mark Troyer at Evergreen Sound and written by Jason, it features a lineup of Juno, CCMA, and YYCMA award-winning musicians including Matty McKay, Spencer Cheyne, Justin Kudding, and Mitch Jay.
The song uses a strong melody, dynamic soundscape, and vivid wildfire imagery to deliver a heartfelt story about the aftermath of a bad relationship, and a reminder that it can be fertile ground to grow something even better. With references to Alberta locales and geography, Jason has also chosen to put a spotlight on his own roots.
Lyrics
Smoke rising off the ground
Black char all around
She feels just like this mountain side
Burnt down to the core
She can't breath anymore
Looking up at ashen sky
She spent the winter in love
With a boy from Irricana
They liked to walk up to Lake Moraine
But that boy was a toxic man
Who took her love and gave misery back
And he just disappeared one day
Left her dry, deadfall everywhere
This world is full of sparks
So pretty soon she was burning
In smoke she kept turning to the sky
Looking for the rain
She thinks there's nothing left
But sometimes the greenest grasses
Grow from soil and ashes
Fire lines in the dead of the night
She's made her share alright
She never thought she'd need her own
But when the wind was whipping up hell
She just kept telling herself
This fighting fires is what I know
She was dry, deadfall everywhere
This world is full of sparks
So pretty soon she was burning
In smoke she kept turning to the sky
Looking for the rain
She thinks there's nothing left
But sometimes the greenest grasses
Grow from soil and ashes
Hey, she'll catch her breath again
Hey, she'll catch her breath again
Yeah, she'll catch her breath again
She was dry, deadfall everywhere
This world is full of sparks
So pretty soon she was burning
In smoke she kept turning to the sky
Looking for the rain
She thinks there's nothing left
But sometimes the greenest grasses
Grow from soil and ashes
Credits
Music and lyrics by Jason Andrew Griffith
Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mark Troyer @ Evergreen Sound
Acoustic guitar performed by Jason Andrew Griffith and Mark Troyer
Lead vocals performed by Jason Andrew Griffith
Electric guitars performed by Matty McKay
Pedal steel performed by Mitch Jay
Background vocals performed by Pip Hazell
Drums performed by Spencer Cheyne
Bass performed by Justin Kudding
Photos and cover art by Oliver Clarke @ Shutter Release Productions
