I don't want to be the one who rides flame
I don't know her name
I don't want to go where the seekers all go
I don't want to go
[CHORUS
You can feel anything you want to feel (x2)
and call it real
but I don't want to be the one who rides flame (x2)]
I can't complain though I'm wrapped up in chains
I can't complain
everybody's got the right to be free
but that's not me
(Chorus)
Hit the flame, burn a hole in my brain
never be the same
try to take it slow, but she's pushing me to go
where I don't want to go
(Chorus)
I don't want to be the one who rides flame (x6)
I understand why one might think this is about anal sex, but the line "she's pushing me to go where I want to go sort of negates that." More likely it's about submission in general, and having mixed feeling about submitting.
i think it is about drugs.
"I don't want to be the one who rides flame I don't know her name I don't want to go where the seekers all go I don't want to go"
"You can feel anything you want to feel (x2) and call it real but I don't want to be the one who rides flame (x2)]" -whatever he feels while on drugs will just be like artificial to him.
"I can't complain though I'm wrapped up in chains I can't complain everybody's got the right to be free but that's not me"
"Hit the flame, burn a hole in my brain never be the same try to take it slow, but she's pushing me to go where I don't want to go" -and finally he takes the drugs. flame can be referring to the kind of drug. but burn a hole in his brain could be killing of brain cells or any effects drugs have, and now that he has experienced it he will never be the same, the girl (possibly girlfriend) is still pushing him to do more or continue it.
and the end sounds like regret,
GREAT SONGGGGGGGG!
i dont think it has to do with drugs. the line "try to take it slow, but she's pushing me to go where I don't want to go" is almost an obvious reference to a girl forcing a guy to have sex with her but that sounds far fetched so maybe you guys are right.
@doorman666 I read somewhere on YouTube that "Flame" is a nickname for a real-life indie-rock groupie that spent time with several indie bands in the US and Canada in the 90's. Knowing that leads to a pretty straightforward interpretation of not wanting to "ride Flame," like other band mates. It fits with the line you reference above quite well. That being said, it could be (and probably is) dual meaning with drugs also.
@doorman666 I read somewhere on YouTube that "Flame" is a nickname for a real-life indie-rock groupie that spent time with several indie bands in the US and Canada in the 90's. Knowing that leads to a pretty straightforward interpretation of not wanting to "ride Flame," like other band mates. It fits with the line you reference above quite well. That being said, it could be (and probably is) dual meaning with drugs also.
The songs about meth. Promise.
Great song, with a great beat.
I think it's about going very, very fast.
im thinkin the song is about anal sex...just a thought
This song is great. Recently featured in the Toy Machine's skate vid called Good and Evil, on Josh Harmony's part.
The meaning eludes me though.
I mean, This song could be about anything that has to do with rebelling.
It could be about drugs? Who knows.
I think you're right about the drug meaning of this song. "Hitting the flame" in the last verse is a pretty poetic allusion to smoking anything. And the rest of the words support it.
Barlow tends to have a pretty self-referencing bent in his songs -- this track is sort of analogous to the thin resistance and quick giving-in of "Rebound." But he's so aware of the negatives.
Thanks for the post.