I Burn

Album: Rubberneck (1994)
Play Video
  • Driftin' upward
    Gently lifting
    Lazy on the wind

    Rollin' over
    Turnin' slowly
    Beginning and the end

    Fire is bright
    Fire is clean
    Never so alive

    Smoke is freedom
    Flame is mercy
    I am free tonight

    And I burn
    I burn

    Stoke the embers
    Cleanse the spirit
    A prayer in every spark

    Feel the lick of
    Bad religion
    The finish and the start

    In the beginning
    We were smarter
    And the flame was heaven-sent

    Through the ages
    We got stupid
    Now we must repent

    And I burn
    I burn

    Sift the ashes
    For reminders
    Stony things remain

    Tooth and bone
    Unimpressive
    I have left these things

    Because fire is bright
    Fire is clean
    Efficient and divine

    Tooth and bone
    Charms and dolls
    I am free tonight

    I'm on
    The air
    You breathe

    I'm on
    The air
    You Breathe

    I'm on
    The air
    You breathe

    I burn
    I burn
    I burn Writer/s: TODD LEWIS
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Violetagogo19 from UsaI’m currently reading Fahrenheit 451 and immediately recognized the line “Fire is bright and fire is clean,” as the song lyrics in I Burn. I was surprised to not find my theory backed up on the internet.
  • Misinterpreted from UsaLmao.. all these years I thought this song was about getting stoned.
  • Charles from Chattanooga, Tnquote| Ryan form Usa: Is there no connection to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451?

    THATS WHAT I THOUGHT, TOO! A couple years ago, Vaden Todd Lewis was very forthcoming about the meanings of I Burn and Possum Kingdom. The mystery is now lifted: I Burn is about a cult who jump into this giant bonfire to achieve the higher plane or whatever. Possum Kingdom is about the ghost of one of the cult members who self immolated, trying to lure others into killing themselves and joining them in their lonely, barren existence. :)
  • Ryan from UsaIs there no connection to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451? The lines

    "In the beginning
    We were smarter
    And the flame was heaven-sent

    Through the ages
    We got stupid
    Now we must repent"

    closely follow themes expressed in the book. The character Beatty more or less explicitly verbalizes those ideas, and indeed at the end of such a rant he utters the line "Fire is bright and fire is clean", which this song seems to quote. Also [[spoiler alert]] the novel does feature self-immolates, which could have been the connection to the dream Vaden Todd Lewis describes.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."