The band was form… Read Full Bio ↴The Burden Brothers were a Dallas-based rock band.
The band was formed by singer Vaden Todd Lewis (formerly of Toadies) and drummer Patrick "Taz" Bentley (formerly of Reverend Horton Heat, Tenderloin, and the Izzy Stradlin Band) in 2002.
The band can be regarded as a Texas rock supergroup since its members were all members of other Texas-based bands (of varying success and popularity) before joining the Burden Brothers.
The band was signed to Kirtland Records until their separation in 2006. They released two albums over the course of their career; 2003's Buried In Your Black Heart and 2006's Mercy.
I Am a Cancer
Burden Brothers Lyrics
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The lover that you're loving on the way that I loved you
Find another breakup song and sing it to yourself
Here's to having everything, here's to your health
I am a cancer
I wish that I could hear the song that's falling from your lips
Quietly become the one that's got you in my grip
I wish that I could be the smoke that's stirring up your blood
I am a cancer
And I live, inside you
And you give
Inside you, I am the answer
The Answer The Answer The Answer
Shift your hips and wet your lips and take another drag
Cigarette then fingernail, then cigarette, then back
You can put it down, you know, but you can never quit
One fire goes out and one fire is lit
I am a cancer, I am a cancer, I am a Cancer!
(And I live inside you,
And you give)
Inside you I am the answer
(End)
The lyrics of "I Am a Cancer" by Burden Brothers delve into complex emotions surrounding a tumultuous relationship and the singer grappling with the destructive nature of their love. The opening lines suggest a sense of bitterness and longing as the singer implores their former lover to find another love song to dedicate to their new partner, indicating a need to move on from the past relationship. The mention of a breakup song being sung to oneself reflects a sense of self-reflection and coping with heartache.
The recurring refrain of "I am a cancer" conveys a dark and consuming presence within the singer, portraying themselves as a destructive force in the life of their former lover. The desire to hear the song falling from the lover's lips and to be the one holding them in their grip hints at a possessive and potentially toxic attachment. The metaphor of being like smoke stirring up their blood symbolizes a sense of infiltrating and pervading the lover's being, causing internal turmoil.
The lines "Shift your hips and wet your lips and take another drag / Cigarette then fingernail, then cigarette, then back" paint a vivid image of indulgence and addiction, suggesting a cycle of destructive behavior that parallels the destructive nature of the relationship. The reference to fire being extinguished and reignited symbolizes the constant cycle of intensity and passion that characterizes their connection. The repetition of "I am a cancer" reinforces the theme of being a malign influence that cannot be easily shaken off.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Am a Cancer" paint a haunting portrait of a toxic relationship marked by possessiveness, destructiveness, and a sense of entanglement that is difficult to break free from. The imagery of smoke, fire, and addiction serves as metaphors for the consuming nature of the singer's presence in the lover's life. The repeated assertion of being the answer underscores a twisted belief in being the solution to their lover's needs, further complicating the emotional landscape of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Find another love song and dedicate it to
Find a song about love and direct it towards someone new
The lover that you're loving on the way that I loved you
The person you are currently in love with, the way I used to love you
Find another breakup song and sing it to yourself
Find a song about breaking up and sing it to your own reflection
Here's to having everything, here's to your health
Toasting to having it all, wishing you good health
I am a cancer
I am a destructive force in your life
I wish that I could hear the song that's falling from your lips
I wish I could hear the words you say
Quietly become the one that's got you in my grip
Silently take control over you
I wish that I could be the smoke that's stirring up your blood
Wishing to have an intoxicating effect on you
Something grows inside of you and I am the one
A negative influence inside you is from me
I am a cancer
I am a harmful presence in your life
And I live, inside you
Persisting within you
And you give
And you provide the opportunity for me to thrive
Inside you, I am the answer
Within you, I am the solution to your problems
Shift your hips and wet your lips and take another drag
Move your body and indulge in harmful habits
Cigarette then fingernail, then cigarette, then back
Engaging in a cycle of destructive behavior
You can put it down, you know, but you can never quit
You may stop temporarily, but addiction is persistent
One fire goes out and one fire is lit
As one problem ends, another begins
I am a cancer, I am a cancer, I am a Cancer!
I am a destructive force, repeating for emphasis
(And I live inside you,
Persisting within you,
And you give)
And you provide the opportunity for me to thrive)
Inside you I am the answer
Within you, I am the solution to your problems
(End)
The end of the song
Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.