The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
If I die tomorrow
Don't read too much into this song
I'll be as surprised as you are
I always get predictions wrong
If I die tomorrow
Break out and play my best guitars
Don't put this one in the Hard Rock Cafe
In a case above the bar
I'd like to take this chance to say good-bye
You want the answers, don't look in my eyes
You're asking me my opinion
Well, baby, we're all gonna burn
So light up and wait your turn in the fire
I'm telling you my decision
Baby we're all gonna burn
There will be no return
'cause baby we're all gonna burn
If I die tomorrow
There's one thing I'd ask of you
A favour for your favourite friend
When his living days are through
Make sure it's me up on the funeral pyre
Make sure the house band's playing Light My Fire
You're asking me my opinion
Well, baby, we're all gonna burn
So light up and wait your turn in the fire
I'm telling you my decision
Baby we're all gonna burn
There will be no return
'cause baby we're all gonna burn
Don't read too much into this song
I'll be as surprised as you are
I always get predictions wrong
If I die tomorrow
Break out and play my best guitars
Don't put this one in the Hard Rock Cafe
In a case above the bar
I'd like to take this chance to say good-bye
You want the answers, don't look in my eyes
You're asking me my opinion
Well, baby, we're all gonna burn
So light up and wait your turn in the fire
I'm telling you my decision
Baby we're all gonna burn
There will be no return
'cause baby we're all gonna burn
If I die tomorrow
There's one thing I'd ask of you
A favour for your favourite friend
When his living days are through
Make sure it's me up on the funeral pyre
Make sure the house band's playing Light My Fire
You're asking me my opinion
Well, baby, we're all gonna burn
So light up and wait your turn in the fire
I'm telling you my decision
Baby we're all gonna burn
There will be no return
'cause baby we're all gonna burn
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Burn Lyrics as written by John Wesley Harding
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,