‘Ashes’ by Bailey Zimmerman & Diplo - Lyrics & Meaning

Bailey Zimmerman hinted at this blockbuster, genre-blurring link-up in the official music video for ‘Comin’ in Cold’, with Diplo making a surprise cameo in the rodeo-inspired visuals.

Soon after, the duo started teasing a brand new collaboration, ‘Ashes’, with Zimmerman and Diplo then confirming the EDM-infused track would be dropping on June 27th.

‘Ashes’ marks Bailey Zimmerman and Diplo's second joint track, after the latter dropped a revamped version of Zimmerman's early hit ‘Religiously’ as part of his country-leaning Thomas Wesley: The Mixtape in 2024. The global chart-topping DJ has been a country aficionado for many years now, with the Missisippi maverick frequently dipping his toes into the genre through his Thomas Wesley alter-ego.

‘Ashes’ appears on Zimmerman's keenly anticipated sophomore album, Different Night, Same Rodeo, alongside stellar previously released singles such as ’Holy Smokes’, ‘New To Country’, ‘Backup Plan’ with Luke Combs, ‘Holding On‘ and more.

‘Ashes’ feels like a perfect blend of Bailey Zimmerman and Diplo's trademark styles, with the former bringing his signature, brooding vibrato to the track, while Diplo cushions Zimmerman's vocals with a warm, piano-driven, House-infused instrumental.

“Ooh, ooh, ooh

You been out in Hollywood tryna make it as an actress
Actin' into him 'til your back is on my mattress
And there ain't nothin' wrong with it, everybody's got a habit
Got both of us to blame, baby, both of us are batshit
Doin' bad shit, the fact is”

In a conversation with Kelleigh Bannen for Apple Music ahead of the arrival of ‘Ashes’, Bailey Zimmerman referenced dating an actress from Los Angeles, before finding out she was cheating. This opening verse feels like it could be a nod to this, with the protagonist describing a romance with a partner who has someone else in their life.

“We're just an old flame, burnin' at both ends
Sour mash barrel baby, when the match hits
Only thing I don't know is how the hell we ain't ashes
You burn me, I burn you
Quicker than the cold liquor we burn through
I bet the damn devil himself is askin'
How the hell we ain't ashes”

The infectious hook is peppered with fire-themed imagery, with Zimmerman lamenting how their just a couple of ‘old flames’ that can't help but give into their passion for one another. He then juxtaposes this steamy ambience with the “cold liquour” they've been drinking, before quipping that even the devil must be questioning how the couple's fling hasn't yet imploded and turned them both to “ashes”.

“Ooh, ooh, ooh

You been out in Hollywood tryna make it as an actress
Actin' into him 'til your back is on my mattress
And there ain't nothin' wrong with it, everybody's got a habit
Got both of us to blame, baby, both of us are batshit
Doin' bad shit, the fact is

-

We're just an old flame, burnin' at both ends
Sour mash barrel baby, when the match hits
Only thing I don't know is how the hell we ain't ashes
You burn me, I burn you
Quicker than the cold liquor we burn through
I bet the damn devil himself is askin'
How the hell we ain't ashes

-

I'm about to touchdown and I heard you're out in Dallas
So tell me where you're at, baby, we don't need no practice
Yeah, we got some baggage but I ain't mad at it
'Cause you ain't staying long enough for us to go back at it again

-

We're just an old flame, burnin' at both ends
Sour mash barrel baby, when the match hits
Only thing I don't know is how the hell we ain't ashes
You burn me, I burn you
Quicker than the cold liquor we burn through
I bet the damn devil himself is askin'
How the hell we ain't ashes

-

No, we ain't, no, we ain't, no, we ain't
We ain't ashes
No, we ain't, no, we ain't, no, we ain't
We ain't ashes

-

You been out in Hollywood tryna make it as an actress
Actin' into him 'til your back is on my mattress

-

We're just an old flame, burnin' at both ends
Sour mash barrel baby, when the match hits
Only thing I don't know is how the hell we ain't ashes
You burn me, I burn you
Quicker than the cold liquor we burn through
I bet the damn devil himself is askin'
How the hell we ain't ashes

-

No, we ain't, no, we ain't, no, we ain't
We ain't ashes
No, we ain't, no, we ain't, no, we ain't
We ain't ashes”

For more on Bailey Zimmerman, see below: