David Ashley Music - David on Earth

David Ashley Discography

David on Earth

Indie-Music Review, by Dan MacIntosh

David J. Ashley makes Christian music, but he hardly concentrates on heavenly things, such as mansions in glory and golden streets. David On Earth is both an album title and a description of the music contained within. With a foreboding, minor key melody, Ashley advises, "It's time to bow your head down, it's time to get your faith on," during "It's Time." So whereas most worship involves looking up, this approach to meeting one's maker is akin to a guilty child admitting, with head down, some variety of wrongdoing to his parent.

A cover of "Life's Railway To Heaven," which arrives six songs in, couldn't come a moment too soon. With just acoustic guitar accompaniment, Ashley sings this old folk/gospel chestnut with unusual hopefulness in his voice. The CD also closes on a relative upbeat note with one titled "Second Chances." It expresses the beautiful central message of the Gospel; that no matter how much we've messed up our lives, God offers a second chance. Ashley has based his very existence on this new hope, and you can hear it in his voice. "It's the second chance I live for every day now, I'll take it, make it mine."

When Ashley rocks out, he sometimes does so with a slightly industrial edge. He's called Nine Inch Nails an influence, and that inspiration comes through loud and clear during "Want You." This song is sung from God's perspective, as He promises: "I'll make you new, white robe clean, don't you think I want you.” And once again, with the line, "make you new," the whole concept of second chances is reiterated.

Few can appreciate second chances more than recovering addicts. On his website, Ashley speaks openly about his personal battles with substances and addresses those battles with a song called "Again." It's a gutsy and honest lyric, which states, in part:

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See my past
Haunting affliction
Once again the raging storm
How I last through this addiction
Scars the face of my reward ...

Even Ashley's love songs reflect his faith. On the song "It Should," he begins with the phrase, "I'm on my second wind." (Yep, it's another mention of second chances). But even though the ship has been righted, so to speak, that doesn't mean all is suddenly completely well. It's with a desperate wish that Ashley sings, "Take me back one more time to the place where we were fine."

David On Earth contains a lot of darkness, in hopes that this shadow world drives listeners to the light. And those turned off by Christian music's rampant optimism might just find Ashley's guarded hope refreshing.

Lyrics

Sky

c.2008 David Ashley

There's a wind blowing through here
Clouds breaking making it clear
It's bigger than you can see
I'm feeling you feeling me

Sky, Sky

I'm waiting to be your sunrise
Bright mornings burn off black lies
Look up and see who I Am
I know you more than you can

It's time, It's time

It's time
Wipe your eyes dry
It's time
You can't deny
I'm pulling you into my sky

It's Time

c.2008 David Ashley

It's time to bow your head down
It's time to get your faith on
It's time to undo what you've done
It's time

I know you feel this
It's kinda strange
It's not your typical
Loose life play games

But don't you fear it
You're getting near it
Come feel the light of the
One way take flight

You're not a number
I made your soul
Don't you wonder what
I made you for

I hear you breaking
You're coming down
Knees are shaking
It won't be too long

Only One

c.2007 David Ashley and Dusty Hughes

I cry, I bleed
I fall down but you can't carry me
My pain, you win
Seventy times, seven more times forgive

There's love
In awe of the Only One
There's Only One, my love

My tears, your shame
Turn your face, I can take the blame
Unbound, set free
Someday when nothing else will be

Again

c.2008 David Ashley

See my past
Haunting affliction
Once again the raging storm
How I last through this addiction
Scars the face of my reward

All this time I was acquitted
I could barely see your face
Clouded by crimes I committed
Searching for my point of grace

And there you stand
Your waiting hand

Take me over, take me in
Take me back where I began
Take me now before I sin
Again

And there you stand
Your waiting hand

Here I stand facing my freedom
Glaring into the eyes of my soul
Say I can yield for a season
You're the reason I live at all

It Should

c.2008 David Ashley

I'm on my second wind
Wishing you back again
But maybe down deep inside
I know I've had my time with you

Clock ticking on the wall
Ran past your final call
Like nothing's happening
Meanwhile my heart is breaking

Take me back one more time
To the place where we were fine
And tomorrow's looking good
Just like it should

And now I face the day
Not sure I'll find my way
There's hope in everything
That's what they're telling me

It hasn't been that long
My heart is feeling numb
Staring off into space
I know I'll find a better place

When Worlds Collide

c.2008 David Ashley

I took my chances
I paid my dues
I dove in deep
When I knew I would loose
I would loose

Like oil and water
A desert tide
A sure disaster
When two worlds collide
Worlds collide

When worlds collide
Worlds collide
You'll loose your life
When two worlds collide

Shroud of darkness
Meet morning star
Can't avoid it
Doesn't matter who you are
Who you are

It's black and white
Pick your side
You'll see what happens
When two worlds collide
Worlds collide

Want You

c.2008 David Ashley

The time is near
The time is right
Face your fear
You got tonight
I've been waiting
I thought you knew
Don't you think I want you, want you

I want you
I want you

You're feeling empty
Run and Hide
This place of plenty
Won't take your pride
I'll make you new
White robe clean
Don't you think I want you, want you

I Know

c.2008 David Ashley

I was hoping you'd come back
Pull me out of here
Cause I'm falling off this track
And I need to have you near

I should take more time to pray
Oh, I need to hear from you
You can take me out this way
Cause I need a break through

Gonna take it down
Gonna take it down this time

You know me
I know this can't go on forever
I know me
I know I can't hold it together without you

Here I find myself alone
Self inflicted pain
Oh the things that I've been shown
I need to try again

So I'm coming out of this
Move it all away
And I'm not going to miss
The mess I made today

Home

c.2008 David Ashley

Some days I pray a little harder
Than the day before
Some nights I dream about you longer
And I miss you more
I can't escape
No matter how much I try
There's no more answers
If I question why

But I'll take it
I'm going to make it
I'm going to be home someday

This heart is broken but it's mending
Day by day it seems
And time won't treat this like it's ending
Though it ought to be
I won't forget
Look me straight in the eye
Got my hope in the One
And the last arise

Second Chances

c.2008 David Ashley

You ask me how I should know
That there's a way out of this mess
I can tell you it's not an easy road to follow
But it can carry you all the way

A second glance
Second chances
It's all I have for you

I see the pain in your eyes
I feel your burden on your shoulders
I can reach out but it won't heal all your sorrow
Unless you reach out for my Lord

I'm not a stranger to this place
Been down this road a thousand times
It's the second chance I live for every day now
And I'll take it, make it mine

David on Earth David Ashley Music

David Ashley Discography