Let It Burn
Florence K Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I feel real low
Why should I try
When I feel like I know
I'm never gonna fly
I cry, cry, cry
I'm down and out
I try, try, try
But I'm always left out
Mother always told me
That I'd have two choices
That I'd know when to fight
And when I'd have to let it go
Father taught me right all the things I know
Like how to pray
The pain away

Let it burn
'Cause I need a change
Let it burn
If you want it to change

My friend Bobby is always cold
But he ain't got no credit card
And Tony drinks it down
In a crappy old bar
There's a good friend of mine
She calls the whole city on the phone
They make me wanna stay
The hell away

Let it burn
'Cause I need a change
Let it burn
If you want it to change

(Instrumental)

'Been looking for some help
I wish I had a clue
How my problems could melt
So I'd have a clear view
All of this
It's getting me tired
I'll be happy to see smoke
'Cause then I'll know there'll be fire

Let it burn
'Cause I need a change
Let it burn
If you want it to change

You've gotta love, love, love entirely
You've gotta cry, cry, cry entirely
You've gotta live, live, live entirely
And when there's trouble, you know
You get up and go
You've gotta love, love, love entirely
You've gotta cry, cry, cry entirely
You've gotta live, live, live entirely
And when there's trouble, you know
You get up and go
You've gotta love, love, love entirely
You've gotta cry, cry, cry entirely
You've gotta live, live, live entirely
And when there's trouble, you know
You get up and go




You've gotta love, love, love entirely
You've gotta cry, cry, cry entirely

Overall Meaning

In the song Let It Burn, Florence K sings about the struggles of trying to change one's life while feeling stuck and helpless. The opening lines, "When I feel real low, why should I try? When I feel like I know, I'm never gonna fly," express a feeling of hopelessness and resignation. She then goes on to describe her efforts to improve her situation, but feeling constantly left out or unsuccessful. However, she also reflects on the lessons her parents taught her - to know when to fight and when to let go, and how to pray away the pain. The chorus, "Let it burn, 'cause I need a change; Let it burn, if you want it to change," reinforces the idea that sometimes change can only happen by letting go of what is holding us back, even if it is painful.


The song also touches on the experiences of Florence K's friends, including Bobby who is always cold because he cannot afford a credit card and Tony who drinks his problems away in a cheap bar. The line, "There's a good friend of mine, she calls the whole city on the phone; They make me wanna stay the hell away," reflects the negative influence certain people can have on our lives and the need to distance ourselves from toxic relationships. The instrumental section is a brief respite from the emotional intensity of the rest of the song, but it is followed by a bridge where Florence K expresses her frustration with feeling stuck and her desire for clarity.


Overall, Let It Burn is a powerful song that captures the struggles of trying to change one's life under difficult circumstances. It acknowledges the pain and difficulty of that process while also encouraging the listener to keep going, to love and live fully, and to know when to let go in order to move forward.


Line by Line Meaning

When I feel real low
When I am emotionally down


Why should I try
I don't see the point in making an effort


When I feel like I know
When I am certain/convicted


I'm never gonna fly
I won't prosper


I cry, cry, cry
I grieve


I'm down and out
I am distressed


I try, try, try
I attempt


But I'm always left out
However, my efforts are always unsuccessful


Mother always told me
My mom always advised me


That I'd have two choices
That I'd only have two options


That I'd know when to fight
One is to fight back when necessary


And when I'd have to let it go
The other is to let go when needed


Father taught me right all the things I know
My dad instilled values and knowledge in me


Like how to pray
Such as the act of praying


The pain away
To relieve pain


Let it burn
To allow things to take their course


'Cause I need a change
Because I need a change in my life


If you want it to change
If you desire a change as well


My friend Bobby is always cold
My friend Bobby is always feeling cold


But he ain't got no credit card
He does not have a credit card


And Tony drinks it down
Tony drinks alcohol excessively


In a crappy old bar
In a low-class bar


There's a good friend of mine
I have a good friend


She calls the whole city on the phone
She frequently talks to people on the phone


They make me wanna stay
Their behavior makes me want to avoid them


The hell away
Completely away from them


'Been looking for some help
I've been seeking help


I wish I had a clue
I wish I had some guidance


How my problems could melt
How my issues could fade away


So I'd have a clear view
So I'd have a better perspective


All of this
All of these problems


It's getting me tired
I'm exhausted from it all


I'll be happy to see smoke
I will be content to see a sign/result


'Cause then I'll know there'll be fire
Because I'll know there's a source/problem


You've gotta love, love, love entirely
One should love wholeheartedly


You've gotta cry, cry, cry entirely
One should express emotions fully


You've gotta live, live, live entirely
One should live life fully


And when there's trouble, you know
And when there's adversity


You get up and go
You rise and overcome it




Writer(s): Daniel Cinelli

Contributed by Chloe F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions