Burning Bridges
12. OneRepublic Lyrics


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You and I were meant to be
Ain't no doubt about it
No way to hide that sort of thing
Now I'm waiting for something better
Ain't nothing better worth imagining

I, I keep on running
I'm building bridges that I know you never wanted
Look for my heart
You stole it away
Now I'll never sing the road that I could take

Listen, I
Want you to burn my bridges down (down)
I said I
Want you to burn my bridges down (down, down)
Set me on fire
You set me
Set me on fire
You can burn my bridges down

Send this out to sea
You send it where you wanted
You can take it note for note or not at all
There's no filling up your spaces with fictionary places
Imaginary faces they don't work at all

I, I keep on running
I'm building bridges that I know you never wanted
Look for my heart
You stole it away

Now I'll never sing the road that I could take
Listen,
I want you to burn my bridges down
Said I
Want you to burn my bridges down (down, down)
Set me on fire
You set me
Set me on fire
Girl you burnt my bridges down

I
Want you to burn my bridges down,
Down
I
Want you to burn my bridges down yeah
Set me on fire
You set me
Set me on fire
Set me on fire

I
Want you to burn my bridges down
I said, I
Want you to burn my bridges down (down, down)




Set me on fire
Set me on fire

Overall Meaning

In "Burning Bridges," OneRepublic reflects on a relationship that has come to an end. Lead singer Ryan Tedder sings about the pain of building bridges to someone who does not want to cross them. He acknowledges that he and his former lover were meant to be together but that he is now searching for something better. The chorus of the song is a plea for the ex-lover to "burn my bridges down." The lyrics suggest that the singer wants to move on from the relationship and start anew. He wants the bridges to be burned so that there is no way back to the past.


The verses of the song describe the futility of trying to maintain the relationship. The singer is building bridges which his lover has no interest in crossing. The bridge metaphor reinforces the idea that the relationship requires effort from both parties. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "burn my bridges down," positions the act of letting go as a necessary one. The bridge must be destroyed in order to move forward. This is further reinforced in the final verse when the singer asks his ex-lover to "send this out to sea." He wants to sever all ties with the former relationship and start anew.


Line by Line Meaning

You and I were meant to be
Our connection was destined from the start


Ain't no doubt about it
There's no question in my mind


No way to hide that sort of thing
Our love is too strong to conceal


Now I'm waiting for something better
I'm hoping for a brighter future


Ain't nothing better worth imagining
There's nothing more desirable than what we had


I, I keep on running
I can't escape my feelings


I'm building bridges that I know you never wanted
I'm trying to hold onto something that is already gone


Look for my heart
I'm searching for what's left of my emotions


You stole it away
You took it all with you when you left


Now I'll never sing the road that I could take
I can't envision a future without you


Want you to burn my bridges down (down)
I want to let go and move on


Set me on fire
I want to feel alive again


You can burn my bridges down
I'm giving you permission to destroy our past


Send this out to sea
I'm letting go of everything


You send it where you wanted
You have control over what happens to us


There's no filling up your spaces with fictionary places
I can't fill the void you left with imaginary things


Imaginary faces they don't work at all
Pretending you're still here doesn't help


Girl you burnt my bridges down
You destroyed everything we had


Set me on fire
I'm ready to feel something again




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOSEPH EDWARD MACKLIN, NICK FURLONG, RYAN TEDDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Shalynn Latee Carden

Oh my Gosh, Ryan Teddar' s voice & this Song! Makes me wanna cry! I'm holding back , cause I cried ALOT yesterday, from all the PAIN. I woke up in excruciating excruciating pain !! My chest/ Sternum, Is Only got worse & so yesterday I couldn't move around alot, but I definitely listen to music and watched music videos ( Live performances) & Not Live. Lyric and All different genres!! It Literally takes my mind off some of my pain, which helps me Be able to Bare it !!

Ben Fielding

hope you're doing better

Maaike Rommens

OMG YES I WAS THERE OMG THNX

Edu Ardo

The Best

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