Louie Lawson - Promises On The Ashtray (1974) |

“Promises In The Ashtray” is a late-night confession wrapped in smoke and slow-burning soul. Louie Lawson sounds like he’s alone in a dim bar after closing time, singing to memories that won’t leave. The song drifts on warm electric piano, weary guitar cries, and a heartbeat-slow groove that feels like time itself is tired. Every line aches with the weight of things said and broken, love reduced to ash but still glowing. It’s intimate, raw, and deeply human — heartbreak you can almost smell in the air.

Lyrics:

[Intro]
Glass on the table
Lipstick on the rim
Smoke curling sideways
Old clock ticking dim

[Verse 1]
You said you’d be honest
Then you swore you’d stay
Now your coat’s still hanging
But you’ve gone anyway

Ash burns down
I’m counting
Every “baby” you ever threw
Yeah
You kissed me like a promise
Then you kept it like a bruise
Oh

[Hook]
Promises in the ashtray
All your words burnin’ slow
I been talkin’ to the ceiling
‘Cause you don’t pick up the phone
No
Promises in the ashtray
Little ghosts that don’t let go
I’m surrounded by your silence
But I’m still singing to your shadow

[Break]
Mm
Yeah
(still singing to your shadow, babe)

[Verse 2]
Neighbors laughin’ upstairs
Sounds like another life
I stir this cold black coffee
Like I’m rewinding the night

You said
“I ain’t like the others”
Then you proved ‘em all the same
Left your echo in my hallway
But you didn’t leave your name
No

[Hook]
Promises in the ashtray
All your words burnin’ slow
I been talkin’ to the ceiling
‘Cause you don’t pick up the phone
No
Promises in the ashtray
Little ghosts that don’t let go
I’m surrounded by your silence
But I’m still singing to your shadow

[Bridge]
I’m right here
But I’m miles from the world outside
I’m right here
But I’m locked in the space between your lies
(call me crazy, babe)
I talk to the chair where you used to sit
Ask it why you quit
It just leans
Never answers
Like you did

[Hook]
Promises in the ashtray
All your words burnin’ slow
I been talkin’ to the ceiling
‘Cause you don’t pick up the phone
No
Promises in the ashtray
Little ghosts that don’t let go
(“don’t let go, don’t let go”)
I’m surrounded by your silence
But I’m still singing to your shadow

[Outro]
Still singing
(still singing)
To your shadow
Babe
Till the smoke fades
Till the smoke… fades


Louie Lawson Promises In The Ashtray, 1974 soul funk, late night funk blues, vintage heartbreak song, smoky soul ballad, 70s male soul singer, emotional blues funk, analog soul record, sad funk ballad, deep soul music, classic soul heartbreak, Rhodes organ soul, raw funk blues

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