Jenny Hval's song "Ashes To Ashes" explores themes of death and burial through vivid dream sequences. The first verse describes a dream where the narrator hears a song about a burial, filled with sadness and moving chord changes. The lyrics seem to reference the phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust," but the narrator is unsure if this is the true meaning. In the second verse, the narrator has their own dream about a song they have not yet written. They play an instrument that is just a shape in the earth, digging their own grave. They scoop dirt with two fingers and place it in their mouth, continuing the theme of decay and death. Throughout the song, there is a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding the meaning of these dreams. However, they all share a common thread of confronting mortality and the inevitability of death. The repeated phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" reinforces this idea, while also acknowledging the cyclical nature of life and death. Overall, "Ashes To Ashes" is a haunting and introspective exploration of mortality and the human experience.
