Flame Burns Blue
David Gray Lyrics


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I went looking for someone I left behind
Yeah, but no one just a stranger I did find
I never noticed, hadn't seen it as it grew
The void between us where the flame turns blue

Different places, yeah, but they all look the same
Dreams of faces in the streets devoured by names
I'm in collision with every stone I ever threw
And blind ambition where the flame turns blue

Words dismantled, hey, and all the books unbound
Conversations though we utter not a sound
I heard a rumor, I don't know if it's true
That you'd meet me where the flame turns blue

So I venture underneath the leaden sky
See the freight train with it's one fierce eye
And then I listen as it tears the night in two
With a whistle and the flame turns blue

In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing

Through the lemon trees, the diamonds of light
Break in splinters on the pages where I write
That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
Burn forever where the flame turns blue
That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
Burn forever where the flame turns blue

In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing




In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Gray's "Flame Burns Blue" convey the feeling of loneliness and desperation. The song starts with the singer searching for someone he left behind, but instead, he finds a stranger. The void between them grows, symbolized by the blue flame, which represents a loss of passion and heat. The singer feels trapped in a monotonous life, unable to escape the cycle of a repetitive routine, as he sees the same places in different locations, eating away at his dreams and ambitions. Memories of conversations come to mind, but the words are dismantled, and the books are unbound. However, the singer hears a rumor that his love will meet him where the flame turns blue, which offers a glimmer of hope.


The second verse includes an image of a freight train, tearing the night in two with its whistle, which could represent the singer's feelings of being trapped and wanting to escape. The final verse culminates in the singer's hope to regain his passion, to burn forever where the flame turns blue, showing that he is willing to undergo any hardship or pain as long as he can feel the fire burn again. The repeated line, "in the morning I will sing," gives the impression that the singer is hopeful despite his current hardships and is longing for a brighter future.


Line by Line Meaning

I went looking for someone I left behind
I searched for a person from my past


Yeah, but no one just a stranger I did find
I did not find that person, only a stranger


I never noticed, hadn't seen it as it grew
I did not realize the growing distance between us


The void between us where the flame turns blue
The emptiness between us makes our once passionate love turn cold


Different places, yeah, but they all look the same
I have been to several different places, but they all seem familiar


Dreams of faces in the streets devoured by names
I see people in my dreams, but they are consumed by their societal identities


I'm in collision with every stone I ever threw
I am suffering from the effects of my past actions


And blind ambition where the flame turns blue
My unending desire for success is destroying my romantic relationships


Words dismantled, hey, and all the books unbound
Our conversations are meaningless, and all knowledge seems useless


Conversations though we utter not a sound
We communicate without exchanging any spoken words


I heard a rumor, I don't know if it's true
I heard a rumor about you, but I am uncertain if it is factual


That you'd meet me where the flame turns blue
The place where our love has turned frigid is where we will reunite


So I venture underneath the leaden sky
I take a risk under the gloomy skies


See the freight train with it's one fierce eye
I notice the train with its bright light piercing through the darkness


And then I listen as it tears the night in two
I hear the loud whistle of the train splitting the silence of the night


With a whistle and the flame turns blue
The sound of the train whistle matches the coldness of our love


In the morning I will sing
I will express my emotions in a melodious voice tomorrow


Through the lemon trees, the diamonds of light
I see the shining light reflections through the lemon trees


Break in splinters on the pages where I write
The light breaks into fragments on the pages I write on


That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
I am uncertain how I would cope if you leave me


Burn forever where the flame turns blue
I would suffer the pain of the coldness of our love forever


In the morning I will sing
I will sing again tomorrow


In the morning I will sing
I will express my emotions in a melodious voice tomorrow


In the morning I will sing
I will sing again tomorrow


In the morning I will sing
I will express my emotions in a melodious voice tomorrow




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID GRAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Kirsten Logan

Lovely memory 💚

I went looking for someone I left behind
Yeah, but no one just a stranger I did find
I never noticed, hadn't seen it as it grew
The void between us where the flame turns blue
Different places, yeah, but they all look the same
Dreams of faces in the streets devoured by names
I'm in collision with every stone I ever threw
And blind ambition where the flame turns blue
Words dismantled, hey, and all the books unbound
Conversations though we utter not a sound
I heard a rumor, I don't know if it's true
That you'd meet me where the flame turns blue
So I venture underneath the leaden sky
See the freight train with it's one fierce eye
And then I listen as it tears the night in two
With a whistle and the flame turns blue
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing
Through the lemon trees, the diamonds of light
Break in splinters on the pages where I write
That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
Burn forever where the flame turns blue
That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
Burn forever where the flame turns blue
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing



All comments from YouTube:

K P

Easily my favorite David Gray song. It means a lot to me.

Phil Owen

Stunning David gray my fsv

Barry Smyth

The beauty of this album was that it was first only released in Ireland for the irish fans because for some reason we just clicked with him as an artist & White ladder went to number 1 in Ireland!!! Nowhere else!! So David released lost songs as a thank you to the Irish fans & then released it somtime later to the wider audience!!!

Jaceh3rondale

My dad used to play this song to me every night when I was a baby and I would fall asleep.

Kirsten Logan

Lovely memory 💚

I went looking for someone I left behind
Yeah, but no one just a stranger I did find
I never noticed, hadn't seen it as it grew
The void between us where the flame turns blue
Different places, yeah, but they all look the same
Dreams of faces in the streets devoured by names
I'm in collision with every stone I ever threw
And blind ambition where the flame turns blue
Words dismantled, hey, and all the books unbound
Conversations though we utter not a sound
I heard a rumor, I don't know if it's true
That you'd meet me where the flame turns blue
So I venture underneath the leaden sky
See the freight train with it's one fierce eye
And then I listen as it tears the night in two
With a whistle and the flame turns blue
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing
Through the lemon trees, the diamonds of light
Break in splinters on the pages where I write
That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
Burn forever where the flame turns blue
That if I lost you I don't know what I'd do
Burn forever where the flame turns blue
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing
In the morning I will sing

Jaceh3rondale

I still listen to it every night 10 yeare later

Chris Maslen

still one of the best songs he ever wrote, love, emotion, says what we have all felt at some time in our lives with a haunting melody and voice, once heard, forever in your heart.

Eli c.

I'm in collision, with every stone I ever through, and blind ambition ,where the flame turns blue.....
Sheer brilliance in one line, David gray is so utterly genious

only1Icon

Eli c. It is lyrically masterful and one that really sticks with you. Fantastic talent David Gray

Jare Roken

Why isn't David Gray regarded as a legend? IMHO he's a genius. He writes a bit like Dylan and performs a bit like Van Morrison but very much his own style. I've been working from home and going through his back catalogue, I forgot how good he really is.

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