In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I watch the city burn
These dreams like ashes float away
Your voice I never heard
Only silence
Where were you when our hearts were bleeding
Where were you when it all crashed down
Never thought that you'd deceive me
Where are you now
How long can you stand the pain
How long will you hide your face
How long will you be afraid
Are you afraid
How long will you play this game
Will you fight or will you walk away
How long will you let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
I watch the city burn
These passions slowly smoldering
A lesson never learned
Only violence
Is your world just a broken promise
Is your love just a drop of rain
Will we all just burn our fire
Are you still there
How long can you stand the pain
How long will you hide your face
How long will you be afraid
Are you afraid
How long will you play this game
Will you fight or will you walk away
How long will you let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Will you wait until it all burns down
Will you hide until it all burns down
Will it hurt when it all burns down
Will you fight when it all burns down
Will you stand when it all burns down
Will you love when it all burns down
Will it end when it all burns down
Will you just let it all burns down
How long can you stand the pain
How long will you hide your face
How long will you be afraid
Are you afraid
How long will you play this game
Will you fight or will you walk away
How long will you let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
These dreams like ashes float away
Your voice I never heard
Only silence
Where were you when our hearts were bleeding
Where were you when it all crashed down
Never thought that you'd deceive me
Where are you now
How long can you stand the pain
How long will you hide your face
How long will you be afraid
Are you afraid
How long will you play this game
Will you fight or will you walk away
How long will you let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
I watch the city burn
These passions slowly smoldering
A lesson never learned
Only violence
Is your world just a broken promise
Is your love just a drop of rain
Will we all just burn our fire
Are you still there
How long can you stand the pain
How long will you hide your face
How long will you be afraid
Are you afraid
How long will you play this game
Will you fight or will you walk away
How long will you let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Will you wait until it all burns down
Will you hide until it all burns down
Will it hurt when it all burns down
Will you fight when it all burns down
Will you stand when it all burns down
Will you love when it all burns down
Will it end when it all burns down
Will you just let it all burns down
How long can you stand the pain
How long will you hide your face
How long will you be afraid
Are you afraid
How long will you play this game
Will you fight or will you walk away
How long will you let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Lyrics submitted by MusicFREAK20, edited by MyAllusion, Redfan467
Let It Burn Lyrics as written by Jason Mcarthur Jasen Rauch
Lyrics © ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's obvious that the metaphor for what's burning down is the relationship.
The song starts out with someone saying that they've seen everything slowly crash. It then asks if that other person ever cared, and states that they've been deceived (possibly lies, cheating, disloyalty etc.) and even asks "where are you now" as posing to either say "look where you're at" or "where are you even at?"
Then the chorus is asking the other person how long they're going to endure the pain of the relationship, how they run and hide from the problem, and essentially saying that all they're doing is burning down the relationship.
It continues to show how it's just going nowhere but down, asking if the best thing to do is burn it all down and asking if that other person is still there or alive(?)
The bridge I think is finally asking if they're going to wait until it's all burned down, if they are going to say or do something until it's all burned down.
Then, my favorite part, it asks if they will love again, will they be strong, when the relationship has crashed. Also asking if once it's over, will it really be over or will they continue to come back.
In the end I feel like it's asking the other person how long will they hold on to it, and telling them to just let it go and let it burn.
That's what's been going on in my head since i've listened to it. Though I still feel like I need to listen to it more to get a clear picture of the different meanings and viewpoints.
I think you nailed it man. I've been thinking the same thing and my friendship is like this and she is letting it burn but it can friendship or a relationship.