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House on Fire Lyrics
[Short Instrumental Intro]
[Verse 1]
I can see the storms, in her eyes now
I'm falling overboard, in the waves
In over my head and she's a high tide
That keeps pushing me away
I thought that we would build this together
But everything I touch just seems to break
Am I your sail or your anchor?
Am I the calm or the hurricane?
I feel the ground start to shake
I hear a voice shouting, "No!"
But there is no fucking way I'd leave you
[Chorus]
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now
Like a house on fire we're wrapped in flames
I'd burn you if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you
[Verse 2]
But is the soundtrack to our lives
The pain of a slamming door?
What happens when we all start to feel like
Nothing matters anymore?
Every day like a chambered round
A trigger pulled, a hammer click
A breath we hold, a world outside I can't control
No matter what I do
[Chorus]
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now
Like a house on fire we're wrapped in flames
I'd burn you if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you
[Verse 3]
And how is it a thing?
That we just wanna hurt each other
I'm waiting on for rain
Feels like is gonna rain forever
Someday you will learn
That all I ever did was for you
And I would do it all again
I would do it all again
[Chorus]
'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now
Like a house on fire we're wrapped in flames
I'd burn you if that's what it takes
To let you know I can't let go of you
Of you, of you, of you, of you
I can see the storms, in her eyes now
I'm falling overboard, in the waves
In over my head and she's a high tide
That keeps pushing me away
I thought that we would build this together
But everything I touch just seems to break
Am I your sail or your anchor?
Am I the calm or the hurricane?
I feel the ground start to shake
I hear a voice shouting, "No!"
But there is no fucking way I'd leave you
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now
Like a house on fire we're wrapped in flames
I'd burn you if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you
But is the soundtrack to our lives
The pain of a slamming door?
What happens when we all start to feel like
Nothing matters anymore?
Every day like a chambered round
A trigger pulled, a hammer click
A breath we hold, a world outside I can't control
No matter what I do
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now
Like a house on fire we're wrapped in flames
I'd burn you if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you
And how is it a thing?
That we just wanna hurt each other
I'm waiting on for rain
Feels like is gonna rain forever
Someday you will learn
That all I ever did was for you
And I would do it all again
I would do it all again
'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now
Like a house on fire we're wrapped in flames
I'd burn you if that's what it takes
To let you know I can't let go of you
Of you, of you, of you, of you
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Actually Tim McIlrath explained that this song is about being a parent. It is about how stressful it can be to raise teenagers because they argue a lot and always want to get their way. And to educate those to reasonable adults can be tough at times.
I think the song is about someone who is in love but can't let go. He is not sure if he is the "sail or the anchor", "calm or the hurricane". But will still not let her go and holds her tight "like a hand grenade". "Someday you will learn, that all I ever did was for you" might say abuse from his part. But "You touch me like a razor blade" makes me feelthis is a toxic relationship from both parts.
I've never done this but it would be nice to know what you guys think.
@Toremate That is an interesting interpretation. At first I thought it was about a bad relationship, too. Turns out it was written about something completely different. I guess this shows how lyrics can express quite different things at once.
@Toremate That is an interesting interpretation. At first I thought it was about a bad relationship, too. Turns out it was written about something completely different. I guess this shows how lyrics can express quite different things at once.