The music video for the song premiered on 9 December 2010. It depicts a bar fight scene and was performed by actors. The video is in slow motion. At the end of the video, everyone floats into the ceiling except for the band, who are playing as a concert band and they are playing their instruments beside the tables while sitting on chairs. Their 2004 song "Four Kicks" was set in the same studio with the same director.
According to songfacts.com, Caleb Followill explained about the original inspiration for this song: "I had actually written some verses because I was watching this piece on these radical Christians that live up in the mountains and somehow the FBI got involved and pretty much went and killed them (presumably a reference to Ruby Ridge). And so I started writing kind of about that and about a guy that was kind of fed up with it all and he thought that the world that he was living in wasn't the perfect world to him so he kind of goes and burns it down. It's just one of those songs where it's like it starts out with someone thinking they know how it's supposed to be and at the end it's like, 'I can't even be that way.'"
Kings of Leon performed the song on Saturday Night Live on October 23, 2010.
Pyro
Kings of Leon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roaring down the mountain, now they're calling on the fire brigade
Bury all the pictures, and tell the kids that I'm okay
If and I'm forgotten, you'll remember me for today
I, I won't ever be your cornerstone
I
Everything I cherish, is slowly dying or it's gone
Little shaken babies and drunkards seem to all agree
Once the show gets started it's bound to be a sight to see
I, I won't ever be your cornerstone
I, I don't wanna be here holding on
I, I won't ever be your cornerstone
I
Watch her roll, can you feel it?
Watch her roll, can you feel it?
Watch her roll, can you feel it?
Watch her roll, can you feel it?
I, I won't ever be your cornerstone
I, I don't wanna be here holding on (watch her roll)
I (can you feel it?)
I won't ever be your cornerstone (watch her roll)
I
In "Pyro," Kings of Leon lead singer Caleb Followill sings about letting go of things that are weighing him down and burning them to the ground. The lyrics, “Single book of matches, gonna burn what’s standing in the way/ Roaring down the mountain, now they’re calling on the fire brigade,” evoke a sense of urgency and determination. Followill is ready to move past anything that is holding him back and is willing to go to extreme lengths to do so. He is also willing to let go of his past, as he sings, “Bury all the pictures, and tell the kids that I’m okay/ If and I’m forgotten, you’ll remember me for today.”
The chorus of the song, “I won’t ever be your cornerstone,” is a declaration that Followill will not be the foundation or support for anyone else. He wants to move on and live his life without any burdens or obligations. The line, “All the black inside me, is slowly seeping from the bone/ Everything I cherish, is slowly dying or it’s gone,” portrays a sense of sadness and loss, but also implies a sense of transformation and renewal.
Overall, "Pyro" is a song about letting go of the past and being ready to move forward. The lyrics suggest a sense of urgency and determination, while still acknowledging the sadness and loss that come with change.
Line by Line Meaning
Single book of matches, gonna burn what's standing in the way
I'm going to use one match to burn down anything blocking my path.
Roaring down the mountain, now they're calling on the fire brigade
My fire is spreading quickly and now the authorities are calling for reinforcements.
Bury all the pictures, and tell the kids that I'm okay
I want to forget about the past and make the children believe that I'm doing well.
If and I'm forgotten, you'll remember me for today
Even if everyone forgets me, you will always remember this day.
I, I won't ever be your cornerstone
I won't be the foundation upon which you build your life.
All the black inside me, is slowly seeping from the bone
My internal darkness is slowly leaving my body.
Everything I cherish, is slowly dying or it's gone
Everything that is important to me is disappearing or has already disappeared.
Little shaken babies and drunkards seem to all agree
Even the most vulnerable and intoxicated individuals understand that once the show begins, it will be a spectacle to behold.
Once the show gets started it's bound to be a sight to see
When the performance begins, it will be an amazing sight.
Watch her roll, can you feel it?
Observe her movements, can you experience the sensation?
I, I don't wanna be here holding on
I don't want to stay here and hold on to what's left.
I won't ever be your cornerstone
I won't be the crucial element upon which you depend.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Anthony Caleb Followill, Ivan Nathan Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andjelavuckovic8103
A single book of matches gonna burn what's standing in the way.
Roaring down the mountain, they're calling on the fire brigade.
Carry out the pictures and tell the kids that I'm okay.
If'n I'm forgotten, you'll remember me for the day.
I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I
All the black inside me is slowly seeping from the bone.
Everything I cherish is slowly dying or it's gone.
Little shaking babies and drunkards seem to all agree,
Once the show gets started it's bound to be a sight to see.
I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I don't want to be here holding on.
I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I
Watch her run, can you feel it?
Watch her run, can you feel it?
Watch her run, can you feel it?
Watch her run, can you feel it?
I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I don't want to be here holding on.
I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I
@KIRBA30
This song has so many aspects.
Here is one of them.
It is a dedication to the people who take care of someone, in no regard for themselves.
At the very beginning we see a younger man entering the bar and helping the other man stand straight.
The young man walks over to the guy being a douche to that lady, and a fight breaks out.
Without thinking about himself, he enters in order to stop the fight, engaging in a bigger one. Where we see the other dude punching him. For what? Trying to be nice.
As he is falling, we see a younger lady, helping an older man drink something.
The man might be drinking poison, but she is helping him. Regardless of herself, she chose to be there with that old man who is vividly crippled.
We see a dancer, who is in no regard of her shame, she is there to entertain everyone in her own way, even though there is a guy being thrown into the mirror behind her.
By the time we have someone jumping in to save the dude being beat up, or someone is about to finish him, the line appears. "Want your love. Can you feel it?"
And in that instance, the body of that young man is being lifted up, as if he is being raised into heaven.
And into heaven, he goes, being followed by others who share the same line of characteristics in this video.
By the end, everyone is going to the light eventually, its just that people who dont care for themselves, but for others, will have the blessing recieved earlier. Because they didnt put themselves at spot number 1.
The line:"Want your love. Can you feel it?" Can be told to anyone.
And if you feel like this song touches you, which it most likely does, you too dont want to be a cornerstone.
You arent. You just care for people, where you know you will not get anything in return.
@janainaneves8936
Single book of matches
Gonna burn what's standing in the way
Roaring down the mountain
Now they are calling on the fire brigade
Bury all the pictures
And tell the kids that I'm okay
If I'm forgotten
They'll remember me for today.
I, won't ever be your corner stone
I...
All the black inside me
Is slowly seeping from the bone
Everything I cherish
Is slowly dying or it's gone
Little shaken babies
And drunkards seem to all agree
Once the show gets started
It's bound to be a sight to see
I won't ever be your cornerstone
I don't want to be here holding on
I won't ever be your cornerstone
I...
Watch her roll
Can you feel it
Watch her roll
Can you feel it
Watch her roll
Can you feel it
Watch her roll
Can you feel it
I won't ever be your cornerstone
I don't want to be here holding on
I won't ever be your cornerstone
I...
@luiswest7426
Dude, this song if so peaceful. it helped me stay strong when my pops died a week before my graduation. before walking the stage i asked my teachers if could put my head phones on and listen to this song. It gave me so much strength just to walk a few steps to grab my diploma and not cry at all but instead feel proud. This is all back in 2012 and i still love this song, a memory of my dad comes every time this song plays. thanks to kings of leon for this master piece
@timothyledbetter5744
Sorry buddy, read this an was like i feel for you man
@dalegrant9282
Well done mate. Hope you've had all the success you've worked for.
@miniseddy
Your dad will be proud of you
@paulhunt8094
Luis West respect to you my friend so sorry to hear about your loss, respect bro 👍
@karennorth5668
Sweet mercy. I cried. I've worked with teens for years. Wish I could virtually hug you. Bless you for graduating. My dads gone as well. Death is a son of a bitch ,but I'll see my family again one day. ☆
@lisanovosel3687
Two weeks ago my beautiful 13 year old German Shepherd went to heaven. Ever since, in my mind, I've had a vivid image of her running along the beach in slow motion with the "watch her run, can you feel it?" part of this song on rotation. I can't explain the feelings it gives me. RIP my beautiful Rani girl.
@hallo7475
im sorry, my condolences. german shepherds are fucking fantastic. im sure she blessed your life!! :)
@laceymajor3034
My father and I both really liked listening to KOL together. He found sobriety two years ago and showed what a Phoenix rising from the ashes can truly look like. Three weeks ago we listened to this song together and talked about their talent. Two days later he very suddenly passed away. 59 years old and in the best health he's ever been in. I had to tell my kids of his passing and papa wouldn't be here to give them treats everyday anymore, and we have to water his gardens now.
"Carry out the pictures and tell the kids that I'm okay..."
I'm a fucking wreck but this comment thread made me feel like it is something I can live with. Thank you all.
@icecoldcrown1013
#hardcore