I Will Light You on Fire
Golden Shoulders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"My fleet is sinking,
Make room at the bottom of the sea"
Or, "Don't upset the wealthy,
It's unhealthy,"
Everyone has a price, Sometimes I have two
And if I lack point or purpose
On the surface
It's only 'cause I was trying to fit in
And some years are uneventful
Inconsequential
And some years I don't show up at all
And I will build a wall to watch it tilting
Knock it over, start rebuilding
Just to keep from wasting time
Salute the march of the newly peaceful
From the mine shaft to the steeple
To the courthouse and back again
Why don't you don't I join the protest
I'm still asleep, you're not impressed
And we'd be better off uninvolved
Oh come on, come on tell me something
Sell me something or I'm jumping
And I cannot live that way for long
And you know this requires discussion
Or preferably, a concussion
Why can't we talk about something good?
The lyrics to Golden Shoulders’s song “I Will Light You on Fire” present a commentary on society and the singer’s relationship with it. The first lines “And I can’t just sit here thinking/’My fleet is sinking/make room at the bottom of the sea,’” suggest that the singer feels overwhelmed by their problems and their lack of control over the situation. The following line, “Don’t upset the wealthy/It’s unhealthy,” indicates the singer is aware that the powerful hold a certain amount of control and fear that they will retaliate if pushed too far. The line “everyone has a price, sometimes I have two” seems to suggest that the singer is not immune to this influence and has given in to the temptation of money or power.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their struggles to fit in and the uneventful years they’ve had. They also reflect on their tendency to create something just to be doing something, even if it’s a waste of time. The line “And we’d be better off uninvolved” is significant, as it suggests that the singer feels that sometimes it’s best to not get involved and to stay away from the chaos. However, the song concludes with a sense of hope and a call to action as the singer asks for something good to talk about.
Overall, “I Will Light You on Fire,” reflects a sense of disillusionment with society and a search for purpose and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
And I can't just sit here thinking
I cannot just sit here and do nothing, I have to take some action.
My fleet is sinking,
My plans or ambitions are failing, falling apart.
Make room at the bottom of the sea
I feel like giving up altogether and sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
Or, "Don't upset the wealthy,
People always say not to make the rich angry, as it may create problems.
It's unhealthy,"
It's not a good thing or a healthy practice to do.
Everyone has a price, Sometimes I have two
Everyone can be bought, even me. Sometimes I have multiple motives.
And if I lack point or purpose
If I don't seem to have a clear goal or purpose in my actions.
On the surface
To an outsider looking in.
It's only 'cause I was trying to fit in
I am doing it only to fit in or be accepted by society.
And some years are uneventful
Some years are not exciting, nothing big happens.
Inconsequential
Of little importance or significance.
And some years I don't show up at all
There are times when I am absent, both literally and figuratively.
And I will build a wall to watch it tilting
I will create an obstacle for myself or others and watch it fall apart.
Knock it over, start rebuilding
I will knock it down and start again to avoid wasting time.
Just to keep from wasting time
I am doing it to avoid wasting my time on something that won't work out.
Salute the march of the newly peaceful
Admire the effort of those who strive for peace and harmony.
From the mine shaft to the steeple
From lowly workers to the clergy, everyone is included in this effort.
To the courthouse and back again
Even the law and justice system is included in this peace movement.
Why don't you don't I join the protest
Why are you in the protest and I am not?
I'm still asleep, you're not impressed
I am not fully aware of the consequences or the importance of the issue, but you are impressed and involved.
And we'd be better off uninvolved
We both think that staying out of it is a better idea.
Oh come on, come on tell me something
Encouragement for someone to speak their mind and share their thoughts.
Sell me something or I'm jumping
Convince me or I'll do something dramatic or extreme.
And I cannot live that way for long
I cannot sustain my current state or way of living for very long.
And you know this requires discussion
This situation requires communication and discussion to resolve things.
Or preferably, a concussion
Ideally, it requires strong action to change our state of affairs.
Why can't we talk about something good?
Why can't we discuss something positive, uplifting or inspiring instead of always dwelling on the negative?
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.