Currently, the group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of original bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999.
While Blues Traveler is best known among fans for their improvisational live shows, the general public is most familiar with the group from their Top 40 singles "Run-Around" and "Hook". They gained mainstream popularity after their fourth studio album four, released in 1994. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002.
You're Burning Me
Blues Traveler Lyrics
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My dream is made of gold
I tread upon with muddy feet
My fever leaves me cold
I'm stretched across a thousand miles
And there's nothing I can do
Useless machines without your word
And the ropes are burning through
Fire is flame
You're burning me
Passion is pain
You're burning me
The flickering illuminates
But I only see your face
Paradise to he who waits
But it doesn't know it's place
I stand beyond the bain of time
I'm strong against the sand
Trapped inside the hourglass
Turning over in your hands
Fire is flame
You're burning me
Passion is pain
You're burning me
I'm at your mercy, at your feet
It isn't good enough
Though I am burned, I don't retain the heat
Without the sunshine of your love
You maketh me of fire and flame
No engine is en route
There's no evil in the joy you bring
But there's torture all about
Fire is flame
You're burning me
Passion is pain
You're burning me
Blues Traveler’s “You’re Burning Me” speaks of a narrator who is at the mercy of another person’s love. The singer is looking for some kind of indication from the person they love, however, nothing comes to fruition. Instead, the singer is left to tread on muddy feet and is stretched across a thousand miles with nothing they can do. They feel the burning passion of unrequited love and the pain which comes from it. The song speaks of the paradoxical nature of passion; how it can illuminate, but also burn. The singer compares his love to fire, with the person they love burning them.
The singer sees only the person they love and the soft flickering around, which illuminates their face. Time is bane for the singer, who is strong-willed, trapped in the hourglass, turning over in the person they love's hand. The singer feels helpless, with all their hopes and desires locked inside the person they love. They feel they are at the mercy of their love interest, and although he is burned, the heat isn't retained without the sunshine of love.
Blues Traveler's "You're Burning Me" provides a commentary on the nature of love, and how it can illuminate and make life worth living, but also how destructive unrequited love can be. The singer struggles with their feelings and sees only the face of the person they love in everything they do. It speaks of the all-consuming and paradoxical nature of passion that while being illuminating can also cause a lot of pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking for some kind of sign
I am in search of a sign that will give me clarity and direction.
My dream is made of gold
My aspirations are precious and valuable to me.
I tread upon with muddy feet
I am in a difficult situation and feeling trapped.
My fever leaves me cold
My intense emotions are not reciprocated and leave me feeling empty and disillusioned.
I'm stretched across a thousand miles
I feel like I am far away from what I desire and there is a great distance between myself and my goals.
And there's nothing I can do
I am powerless to control my situation and unsure of how to proceed.
Useless machines without your word
In the absence of communication from the person I desire, I feel lost and without direction.
And the ropes are burning through
I am in a precarious situation that is becoming even more dangerous and uncomfortable.
The flickering illuminates
There is a light in my life that brings me happiness and joy.
But I only see your face
My thoughts are constantly focused on the person I desire and they are the only thing I can see clearly.
Paradise to he who waits
The reward for waiting patiently is great and fulfilling.
But it doesn't know it's place
The thing I desire is not within my control and cannot be forced to fit into my timeline or expectations.
I stand beyond the bain of time
I am unaffected by the passing of time and remain steadfast in my desires.
I'm strong against the sand
I am resilient in the face of challenges and obstacles.
Trapped inside the hourglass
I am in a difficult and inescapable situation.
Turning over in your hands
I am not in control of my situation and am at the mercy of someone else.
I'm at your mercy, at your feet
I am vulnerable and dependent on the person I desire.
It isn't good enough
My efforts and actions are not adequate to achieve my desires.
Though I am burned, I don't retain the heat
I have been hurt and disappointed, but am still able to move forward without holding onto the pain.
Without the sunshine of your love
Without the affection and attention of the person I desire, my life is dark and empty.
You maketh me of fire and flame
The person I desire ignites passion and desire within me.
No engine is en route
There are no solutions or options available to me to obtain what I desire.
There's no evil in the joy you bring
The happiness and fulfillment I experience from the person I desire is pure and positive.
But there's torture all about
The struggles and challenges I face in trying to obtain what I desire are difficult and painful.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BRENDAN HILL, JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind