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.
All my style, all my grace
All I tried to save my face
All my guts, try to spill
All my holes, try to fill
All my money been a long time spent
On my drugs, on my rent
On my saving philosophy
It goes, one in the bank and the rest for me
It goes, all my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I catch fire then I change my aim
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
(Oh-oh-oh)
My mama, lonely maid
Got her buns in the oven and she never got laid
My papa, renaissance man
Sailed away and he never came back again
All my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I catch fire then I change my aim
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
All your woe begones be gone
I said all your troubles, you don't need a thing
All my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I catch fire then I'll change my aim
Throw my troubles at the world again
It goes, all my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I, catch fire then I'll take my turn
To burn and burn and burn
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
All I tried to save my face
All my guts, try to spill
All my holes, try to fill
All my money been a long time spent
On my drugs, on my rent
On my saving philosophy
It goes, one in the bank and the rest for me
It goes, all my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I catch fire then I change my aim
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
(Oh-oh-oh)
My mama, lonely maid
Got her buns in the oven and she never got laid
My papa, renaissance man
Sailed away and he never came back again
All my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I catch fire then I change my aim
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
All your woe begones be gone
I said all your troubles, you don't need a thing
All my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I catch fire then I'll change my aim
Throw my troubles at the world again
It goes, all my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I, catch fire then I'll take my turn
To burn and burn and burn
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba-ba-ba, ba-ba, ba, ba, ba, ba
Lyrics submitted by korq, edited by breeglet, Pap3r, MorganaSama
Burning Pile Lyrics as written by Ryan Guldemond
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song definitely has something to do with loneliness and not being able to overcome change and your problems. When he says 'throw my troubles at the pearly gates', it could mean suicide but it could also mean to let go of your troubles without death, of course. I think when he says 'I'll take my turn to burn and burn,' It could mean they would accept they're the problem, since he says he's tossing his troubles on the pile, he would accept that he is the problem because he knew that he is the reason he can't accept change or negative feelings in general.