Pouring Petrol on a Burning Man
Paul Kelly and The Messengers Lyrics

The lyrics to "Pouring Petrol On A Burning Man" by Paul Kelly appear to be about a person who is trying to make amends and fix things with someone they care about. The first two stanzas seem to indicate that the singer has been working hard and trying to get to a better place in their life, perhaps to impress this person. The use of the phrase "heading straight for you" twice indicates a sense of urgency and determination. The chorus, however, seems to suggest that the other person is not interested in reconciliation and is instead making things worse by "pouring petrol on a burning man." This phrase could be interpreted in a few different ways - it could refer to this person exacerbating the singer's current state of instability or difficulties, or it could be a metaphor for the other person adding fuel to a situation that is already volatile and likely to end in flames. The repetition of the phrase "Oh my angel" throughout the song, particularly in the chorus, adds a sense of desperation and longing - the singer wants desperately to be seen as good and worthy by this person, but perhaps feels as though they are being set up to fail.

Overall, the lyrics to "Pouring Petrol On a Burning Man" are fairly simple and straightforward, but there's a lot of room for interpretation and analysis. The song seems to deal with themes of regret, redemption, and the push-pull dynamic of trying to make up for past mistakes. The repetition of the phrase "I'm heading straight for you" adds to the urgency and tension of the song, and the final repetition of "burning man" reinforces the sense of chaos and impending disaster. From the lyrics alone, it's unclear whether the singer ultimately succeeds in winning over their angel or whether the situation continues to escalate.