Former co-lead singer and songwriter of pre-Americana-explosion Americana/folk/true-country act The Everybodyfields, the beautiful and talented Jill Andrews teams up with former Everybodyfields band member, musician, and talented solo artist in his own right, Josh Oliver, for a no-frills rendition of the song "Ain't No Ash Will Burn." The song, written by Walt Aldridge, has been covered by many artists throughout the years, but Andrews' and Oliver's take is the first one I've come across, and I was immediately struck by it. There is nothing quite so moving to hear as uniquely talented singers harmonizing over the simple melody of chords strummed on an acoustic guitar. Gracefully ignoring the brief mic feedback that occurs around the thirty-five second mark, Andrews and Oliver take this song about love lost and not easily rekindled and turn it into something transcendent and even uplifting. Plus, you can't go wrong with a sad love song that references coal.
I have seen snow that fell in May
And I have seen rain on cloudless days
Some things are always bound to change
There ain't no ash will burn
Love is a precious thing I'm told
It burns just like West Virginia coal
But when the fire dies down it's cold
There ain't no ash will burn
You say this life is not your lot
Well I can't be something that I'm not
We can't stoke a fire that we ain't got
There ain't no ash will burn
In every life there comes a time
Where there are no more tears to cry
We must leave something dear behind
There ain't no ash will burn
There is one lesson I have learned
There ain't no ash will burn
Lyrics courtesy of www.bluegrasslyrics.com.