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.
She burns friends like a piece of wood
And she's jealous of me because she never could
Hold herself up without a spine
And she'll look me up when she's doing fine
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favorite daughter
Spoilt and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies they're all the same
They'll burn her name
And crush her fame
She'll break a promise as a matter of course
Because she thinks it's fun to have no remorse
She gets what she wants and then walks away
And she doesn't give a fuck what you might say
Because it cuts her up like Irish mortar
Mother's pride is what we taught her
Soiled and petty as we happily taunt her
Friend or enemy we're all to blame
{She'll burn us bad
She'll flaunt her flame
She'll make us remember, remember her name}
If she sits still like she knows she could
She could win this game and be the queen for good
Save herself up for the cream of the crop
Then she'll look us up when she's ready to stop
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favorite daughter
Spoilt and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies are all that came
To burn her name
Crush her flame
We're all to blame
And she's jealous of me because she never could
Hold herself up without a spine
And she'll look me up when she's doing fine
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favorite daughter
Spoilt and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies they're all the same
They'll burn her name
And crush her fame
She'll break a promise as a matter of course
Because she thinks it's fun to have no remorse
She gets what she wants and then walks away
And she doesn't give a fuck what you might say
Because it cuts her up like Irish mortar
Mother's pride is what we taught her
Soiled and petty as we happily taunt her
Friend or enemy we're all to blame
{She'll burn us bad
She'll flaunt her flame
She'll make us remember, remember her name}
If she sits still like she knows she could
She could win this game and be the queen for good
Save herself up for the cream of the crop
Then she'll look us up when she's ready to stop
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favorite daughter
Spoilt and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies are all that came
To burn her name
Crush her flame
We're all to blame
Lyrics submitted by Gwen Stefani
Chinese Burn [Flood Mix] Lyrics as written by Toni Halliday Dean Garcia
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's something along the lines of battling with one's inner self. I think. The woman Toni is talking about in the song is meant to be inside her own mind, or something. I just remember reading something along those lines once upon a time.
It's about a typical, trifling, girl who thinks she's posh but has as much substance or nerve as a wet tissue. Friends are only friends when it's convenient. She's petty and a backstabber but ultimately will pay the price. And from the sound of it, probably at the hands of Toni.
What's weird is the video for this song. It's her and Dean waiting to make an ersatz drug deal with shady characters. Except the deal isn't over drugs, they're scoring a synthesizer. The deal goes bad and they are killed presumably shot and left for dead in the sewer tunnel..
I love this song. It was in Buffy and is great.
a Chinese Burn in the UK = an Indian Burn in the US
I remember this song first appearing in a Sony minidisc advert. I rushed out and bought it as soon it was released (the song not the minidisc player).
The irony of someone calling themselves Gwen Stefani adding these lyrics is too much... Ha ha ha...
Definitely get the internal struggle vibe.
i think i read an interview with toni that indicated this song is about herself from a third-person point of view.
It sounds more like someone who was tortured as a child (you know, someone who was taunted and teased... everyone's experienced it) and she's ready to prove that she's better than everyone. "She could win this game and be the queen for good."
Probably not right, but that's what I picture it as.
Although, an internal struggle... well, that takes some wild swings of the imagination, but I guess that could work, too.
The title is chinese buring people... -sigh- Well, I doubt anyone needs help to figure out the meaning.
Wait.... or maybe it's not. Maybe I'm insane.
it's Chinese Burn... and i doubt your insanity.