Burn Bright
My Chemical Romance Lyrics

So give me all you've got, I can take it
The singer is challenging someone to test them, to try their best to push their limits because they believe they can handle it

We walked alone in your city lights Did you make it?
The singer and the person they were with were walking in the city and the singer is asking if the person they were with made it through the experience

We lit the fire and it's burning bright Did you take it?
The singer is referring to a metaphorical fire they have ignited within themselves and is asking if the person they were with has embraced it as well

Kissed all the boys in your city lights Did you make it?
The artist is asking the person they were with if they have successfully lived their life to the fullest and explored their desires

Left all the stars in your city nights Can you fake it?
The artist is asking if someone can pretend they are someone they're not and hide their true self in order to survive in the world

I lost my way in your city lights Clutching me, We stole the fire And it's burning bright
The singer is describing how they had a transformative experience in the city but had to rely on someone else to help them find their way and ignite the fire within themselves

We walked around in your city lights 'Cause it makes me who I am We lit the fire And it's burning bright
The singer is saying that the city and the experiences they had there have helped shape them into the person they are today and that they have embraced the fire within themselves

Not ashamed of what I am I took the pills For these empty nights 'Cause it makes me who I am
The artist is acknowledging that they sometimes need medication to cope with feeling empty but they are not ashamed of who they are because of it

They always told me that "You'll never get to heaven With a life like yours. Well, if you're lost, little boy, Oh, well, the cameras pull you right back down, yeah. It's like a chemical burn, I'm peeling off your skin, yeah. And when you see your face, Well, you'll never be the same again, yeah."
The artist is describing how people have harshly judged them for their life choices and how the media has a way of tearing people down, leaving them feeling stripped of their identity

Cause if you just stop breathing, I'll stop, I'll stop my heart I'll stop breathing too
The artist is telling someone that they care so deeply for them that if they were to stop breathing, the artist would follow suit

I'd trade the world for your city nights 'Cause it makes me who I am
The singer is saying they would give up everything for the experiences they had in the city because they have helped shape them into the person they are today

And it makes me who I am And it makes me who I am And though I missed the chance for this, I confess that I can't wait, Until it's gone
The artist is acknowledging that their experiences in the city have helped shape who they are and they can't wait to experience more of life's adventures before it's too late

No I mean this every single day So go if you can't burn inside 'Cause the world don't need Another hopeless cause Though it makes me who I am
The singer is asserting that they wholeheartedly believe in embracing the fire within oneself and that it's okay to let go of those who don't share that belief

I burned it all and I'm doin' fine 'Cause I'll never fade away, If I steal the fire from your city nights 'Cause it makes me who I am Who I am
The singer is saying that they let go of everything that was holding them back and that they will never disappear into obscurity if they continue to embrace the fire within themselves and their city experiences