Burning Love is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada formed in 2007. T… Read Full Bio ↴Burning Love is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada formed in 2007. The band consists Chris Colohan of the hardcore band Cursed and of the ex-members of Toronto-based sludge band Our Father. The band and their first album Songs for Burning Lovers have received critical acclaim.

To date they have released a demo 7", a single 7", 'Jack the Ripper' and an LP entitled 'Songs for Burning Lovers.' Their newest LP, 'Rotten Thing to Say,' was released in 2012.

Pig City I
Burning Love Lyrics

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We got bigger problems now
Throw some gasoline on the fire
My city is a burning ship
Throw another one on the pile
(and burn it up) with the DUIs that never stick
and the punched-out wives that drop the charge
and the racial slurs struck from the record
and all the ones they're too tired to remember

the next business day

Shout em down and shut em out
Crunch the numbers, cook the books
The bums lost, the pigs are in
and if AIDS don't get you the Asians will

I can't take another year.
I can't take another day.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Pig City I" by Burning Love convey an intense sense of disillusionment with the urban environment, specifically one that is plagued by corruption, injustice, and inequality. The first line, "We got bigger problems now," sets the tone of urgency and desperation. The images of burning fires and piles of gasoline suggest that things have reached a boiling point, and that people are willing to take drastic actions to express their frustration. The references to DUIs, domestic violence, and racism highlight some of the systemic issues that are often overlooked or ignored by those in positions of power. The line "all the ones they're too tired to remember the next business day" is particularly powerful, as it suggests a collective amnesia or apathy towards the suffering of others.

The second half of the song is even more confrontational, with Burning Love urging people to "shout em down and shut em out" and to "crunch the numbers, cook the books" in order to expose the corrupt systems at play. The line "the bums lost, the pigs are in" highlights the stark divisions between the haves and have-nots, with the latter being treated as disposable and criminalized. The final line, "and if AIDS don't get you the Asians will," is a chilling indictment of the xenophobia and racism that plagues many societies, and suggests that there are very few safe spaces left.

Overall, "Pig City I" is a potent critique of the urban landscape and the various ways in which it is failing its citizens. The lyrics speak to a profound sense of anger and frustration, but also a glimmer of hope that change is possible if people are willing to band together and fight for justice.

Line by Line Meaning

We got bigger problems now
There are larger issues at hand that need to be addressed

Throw some gasoline on the fire
Make the situation worse or more intense

My city is a burning ship
The city is in danger and its fate is uncertain

Throw another one on the pile
Add to the already existing problems

(and burn it up) with the DUIs that never stick
Condemn those who drink under influence but never face consequences

and the punched-out wives that drop the charge
Victims of domestic violence who give up on reporting the incidents

and the racial slurs struck from the record
Ignoring or not acknowledging acts of racism

and all the ones they're too tired to remember
Cases that are forgotten or dismissed due to lack of effort

the next business day
The situations are left unaddressed until it's convenient to do so

Shout em down and shut em out
Suppress or silence opposing voices

Crunch the numbers, cook the books
Manipulate and falsify data to make things appear better than they are