This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Have you heard how Sonny's burning
Like some bright erotic star?
And He lights up the proceedings
And raises the temperature.
Flame on! Flame on!
Now I've seen to Sonny's burning
Someday I think I'll cut him down
But it can get so cold in here
And he gives off such an evil heat.
Flame on! Flame on!
Hail my incubatic incubator.
Now pay witness to Sonny's burning
Warming the damp and rotten seed
Warming the damp and rotten seed
That blooms into the demon
Now both fire and flowers consume me.
Flame on! Flame on!
Evil heat is running through me
Flame on! Flame on!
Sonny's burning pits into me
Flame on! Flame on!
Sonny's burning holes into me
Don't interrupt! Don't interrupt!
Flame on! Flame on!
Like some bright erotic star?
And He lights up the proceedings
And raises the temperature.
Flame on! Flame on!
Now I've seen to Sonny's burning
Someday I think I'll cut him down
But it can get so cold in here
And he gives off such an evil heat.
Flame on! Flame on!
Hail my incubatic incubator.
Now pay witness to Sonny's burning
Warming the damp and rotten seed
Warming the damp and rotten seed
That blooms into the demon
Now both fire and flowers consume me.
Flame on! Flame on!
Evil heat is running through me
Flame on! Flame on!
Sonny's burning pits into me
Flame on! Flame on!
Sonny's burning holes into me
Don't interrupt! Don't interrupt!
Flame on! Flame on!
Lyrics submitted by Girgo, edited by pierocampa
Sonny's Burning Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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This song definately has sexual undertones. I think that the main subject of this song is repression. I think the the character in this song feels guilty not only about sex in general ("evil heat"), but also about his sexual identity.
and of course let's not forget "HANDS UP, WHO WANTS TO DIE?"
@pumkinhed I added it (you can edit the lyrics if you want!). I read that in any case that sentence is really not related to the lyrics: it was just a funny thing to say that (I think) Rowland convinced Nick to say, just for fun!
I just thought it was about a guy who's setenced to death by electric chair. I may not be searching deep enough, I guess. Perhaps he committed a sex crime?
I deffinetely agree about the sexual undertones. Reading it with that idea in mind I thought of sexual frustration, particularly concerning wanting to repress sexual desires, with "evil heat" being it's symbol. These lines: "Someday I think I'll cut him down But it can get so cold in here And he gives off such an evil heat." Makes me think hes saying he wants to stop having these desires but they're still wanted like heat is wanted when it's cold. And the last stanza i find the most powerful, like hes giving into these desires and it's hurting him (hence "burning holes into me") but it's wanted ( EX: "Don't interrupt! Don't interrupt! Flame on! Flame on!") Which would be an example of self destruction, which may come from self loathing, etc. All the usual topics of Nicks lyrics. =]
Yeah. This is song is VERY SEXUAL. But, I don't feel the narrator feels guilty. I think they're celebrating Evil. Generally, being very Baudelaire-esque.
I think it's about some sort of gay peepshow/whatever-they-do-at-strip-clubs-thingy with Sonny as the headlining act.
Oh yeah! I forgot! If it helps out with meaning in anyway, "burning" is archaic Cuban slang for sex.
And I thought it was about a lynching, like 'Swampland' - it's just that line "Someday I think I'll cut him down", as if he was literally hanging.
This is probably about heroin. demon flower=poppy seeds:opiates:heroin. Burnin them up... cooking the heroin before you shoot it up. Drugs are burnin him up. Sleaze and drugs go hand in hand a lot... especially with Nick Cave. I think it's about a dude that's been completely consumed by sex and smack.