Cousins Steven Delopoulos and John Philippidis were performing in a New Jersey coffeehouse when they were "discovered" by manager Jamison Ernest. The Brooklyn based cousins then assembled a larger band under the name "Burlap to Cashmere", recruiting guitarist Mike Ernest, bassist Roby Guarnera, keyboardist Josh Zandman, drummer Theodore Pagano and percussionist Scott Barksdale (John Degrazio eventually joined the band on bass when Guarnera left).
The group drew on a wide range of musical styles and influences, but their signature sound was rooted in lightning-fast acoustic guitar rhythms. The band began performing in local New York-area venues, and quickly developed a cult following. In 1997, they independently released their first EP under the label Squint, Live at the Bitter End. In 1998 Burlap to Cashmere signed with A&M Records and released the full-length recording Anybody Out There?, followed by an A&M re-release of Live at the Bitter End.
Skin Is Burning
Burlap To Cashmere Lyrics
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And the light hits the ground
There's a moment to be captured
So I sit here with silence
In the makes of my eyes
Talking to you, who left before
I don't know why
These things, I cannot
It comes with the gig, I feel it dwelling
The friends, away, afraid of me
And I know I'm near
But my pride is selling
Trading for hearts of humble peers
Trading for hearts of humble peers
And she comes with the son
Her light is shining, beaming with love
Flying to the ocean
And I, I know the seagulls
When I see her flying reaching out to the bones
That are casually roasting
And my skin is burning with the fire of the world
Sometimes my eyes are tricking me
But when the words of His song
Are singing through the birds
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
And this dark small pain grows like cancer
Sometimes her eyes are speaking to me
But when the flesh is gone, my soul is all I travel by
And my guitar will vanish like the earth and the sea
Yes, my guitar will vanish like the earth
And my skin is burning with the fire of the world
Sometimes my eyes are tricking me
But when the words of His song
Are singing through the birds
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
The song "Skin Is Burning" by Burlap To Cashmere is a poignant reflection on life, death, and the spiritual journey that lies in between. The first half of the song deals with loss and the struggle to come to terms with it. The singer is sitting with silence, talking to someone who has left before but he doesn't know why. He feels the weight of the "gig," perhaps referring to the music industry, and the isolation that comes with it. Despite being near other people, his pride is selling, trading for the hearts of humble peers. This seems to suggest a struggle to connect with others on a real level, leading to his loneliness.
The second half of the song takes a turn towards hope and longing for something more. The singer sees a woman who is radiant with love and light, and he feels drawn to her. He describes himself as flying to the ocean, with the seagulls he knows so well. As he watches her reach out to the bones casually roasting on the beach, he feels his own skin burning with the fire of the world. This could be interpreted as a sense of urgency and vulnerability in his own life. However, when he hears the words of God's song singing through the birds, he finds a sense of peace in dying so that he can be taken higher. He repeats this phrase twice, perhaps to emphasize the transformative power of faith and surrender.
Line by Line Meaning
When the darkness falls early
The start of a difficult time.
And the light hits the ground
There's a moment worth capturing.
There's a moment to be captured
Capture the good things while you can.
So I sit here with silence
Quietly taking things in.
In the makes of my eyes
Reflecting on the past.
Talking to you, who left before
Missing someone who is no longer there.
I don't know why
Uncertainty.
These things, I cannot
Inability to understand everything.
It comes with the gig, I feel it dwelling
The pressures of the job are taking a toll.
The friends, away, afraid of me
Feeling isolated from friends and loved ones.
And I know I'm near
Being close but feeling far away.
But my pride is selling
Losing a sense of self for the sake of success.
Trading for hearts of humble peers
Sacrificing relationships for fame.
And she comes with the son
Finding hope in the love of another.
Her light is shining, beaming with love
The love of another is illuminating.
Flying to the ocean
Chasing a dream.
And I, I know the seagulls
Knowing signs along the way.
When I see her flying reaching out to the bones
Reaching for others in need.
That are casually roasting
Those who are struggling.
And my skin is burning with the fire of the world
Feeling overwhelmed and burdened.
Sometimes my eyes are tricking me
Doubting oneself and reality.
But when the words of His song
Finding solace in faith and spiritual guidance.
Are singing through the birds
The universe providing signs and messages.
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
Surrendering to a higher power.
And this dark small pain grows like cancer
A small problem that grows and eats away at peace.
Sometimes her eyes are speaking to me
Feeling a connection with another person.
But when the flesh is gone, my soul is all I travel by
The journey of the soul after death.
And my guitar will vanish like the earth and the sea
Material possessions being insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Yes, my guitar will vanish like the earth
Accepting inevitable change.
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
Surrendering to a higher power.
I can't help but die, so He can take me higher
Surrendering to a higher power.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMISON ERNEST, JOHNNY PHILIPPIDIS, STEVEN SOCRATES DELOPOULOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind