This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
How are things in your little world?
I hope they're going well, and you are too
Do you still see the same old crowd?
The ones who used to meet every Friday
I'm really sorry that I can't be there
But work comes first, I'm sure you'll understand
Things are really taking off for me
Business is thriving, and I'm showing a profit
And in any case it wouldn't be the same
'Cause we've all grown up, and we've got our lives
And the values that we had once upon a time
Seem stupid now, 'cause the rent must be paid
And some bonds severed, and others made
Now I don't want you to get me wrong
Ideals are fine when you are young
And I must admit we had a laugh
But that's all it was and ever will be
'Cause the burning sky keeps burning bright
And as long as it does (and it always will)
There's no time for dreams when commerce calls
And the taxman's shouting, 'cause he wants his dough
And the wheels of finance won't begin to slow
And it's only us realists who are gonna come through
'Cause there's only one power higher than that of truth
And that's the burning sky
Oh and by the way I must tell you
Before I sign off, that I've got a meeting next week
With the head of a big corporate
I can't disclose who, but I'm sure you'll know it
And the burning sky keeps burning bright
And it won't turn off till it's had enough
It's the greedy bastard who won't give up
And you're just a dreamer if you don't realize
And the sooner you do will be the better for you
Then we'll all be happy, and we'll all be wise
And all bow down to the burning sky
Then we'll all be happy, and we'll all be wise
And together we will live beneath the burning sky
I hope they're going well, and you are too
Do you still see the same old crowd?
The ones who used to meet every Friday
I'm really sorry that I can't be there
But work comes first, I'm sure you'll understand
Things are really taking off for me
Business is thriving, and I'm showing a profit
And in any case it wouldn't be the same
'Cause we've all grown up, and we've got our lives
And the values that we had once upon a time
Seem stupid now, 'cause the rent must be paid
And some bonds severed, and others made
Now I don't want you to get me wrong
Ideals are fine when you are young
And I must admit we had a laugh
But that's all it was and ever will be
'Cause the burning sky keeps burning bright
And as long as it does (and it always will)
There's no time for dreams when commerce calls
And the taxman's shouting, 'cause he wants his dough
And the wheels of finance won't begin to slow
And it's only us realists who are gonna come through
'Cause there's only one power higher than that of truth
And that's the burning sky
Oh and by the way I must tell you
Before I sign off, that I've got a meeting next week
With the head of a big corporate
I can't disclose who, but I'm sure you'll know it
And the burning sky keeps burning bright
And it won't turn off till it's had enough
It's the greedy bastard who won't give up
And you're just a dreamer if you don't realize
And the sooner you do will be the better for you
Then we'll all be happy, and we'll all be wise
And all bow down to the burning sky
Then we'll all be happy, and we'll all be wise
And together we will live beneath the burning sky
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Burning Sky Lyrics as written by Paul John Weller
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Obviously a letter from a man now sucessful in business written to his old 'idealist' mate, only too happy to dismiss the past, which i'm sure is a common thing really.
It reminds me of a few old friends actually, and in a small dose, maybe even myself. The line "'it wouldn't be teh same'cause we've all grown up and got our own lives..." is pretty spot on, and "there's no time for dreams when commerce calls" sums up the idea of losing your ideals once the utility bills begin to hit the doormat.