Burn Down This Room
Ruben Lyrics


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You think I like to play the victim
Say that it's clear in how I speak
Like it's some kind of competition of
Who hurts the most of you and me

What if for once you try to listen
You know it's really not that deep
Or carry on with the partition
But drown your dignity in sea

So leave me here abandoned and stranded
As if that's gonna do
Yeah, leave me empty handed in Band-Aids
The best that you can do

Just set it all on fire and burn down this room
Strip my being to the wires and I'll learn to carry it through
But in any kind of way I'll make it clear for you
I'm not leaving quiet babe, so burn down this room

Which one of us can scream the loudest
So many careless things to say
And every word we will devour
It's like there is no better way

I swear there's something in the water
And now it's running in our veins
Because it keeps on getting harder
Since you're not ever gonna change

Just set it all on fire and burn down this room
Strip my being to the wires and I'll learn to carry it through
But in any kind of way I'll make it clear for you
I'm not leaving quiet babe, so burn down this room
Burn down this room
Burn down this room

So leave me here abandoned and stranded
As if that's gonna do
Yeah, leave me empty handed in Band-Aids
The best that you can do

Just set it all on fire and burn down this room
Strip my being to the wires and I'll learn to carry it through
But in any kind of way I'll make it clear for you
I'm not leaving quiet babe, so burn down this room

Burn down this room
Burn down this room
Burn down this room
Burn down this room




Burn down this room
Burn down this room

Overall Meaning

In "Burn Down This Room," Ruben critiques the tendency to compare emotional pain and compete over who suffers more. The first verse suggests that the listener is accusing Ruben of self-victimization, but he insists that his pain is not a competition. He invites the listener to listen and understand rather than dismiss him, but acknowledges that they may choose to maintain a distance ("carry on with the partition") in order to preserve their own self-esteem. The chorus offers a resolution: rather than continuing to argue or ignoring the issue, they should "burn down this room" together, facing the difficult emotions and working through them. The metaphor of fire suggests that the process will be painful and destructive, but "strip[ping] my being to the wires" implies that they will emerge raw and honest, ready to "carry it through" - that is, to deal with the issues in a constructive and productive way.



The second verse expands on the idea of verbal violence and the ways in which people can hurt each other through careless words. Ruben describes the way that the tension between two people can escalate until it feels like "there is no better way" than to hurt each other. He suggests that society as a whole is infected with this competitive, hurtful mindset ("something in the water running in our veins"), and that the conflict will only become more difficult as long as individuals refuse to change. The chorus then repeats the resolution from the first verse, emphasizing that it is not a passive escape from the pain, but an active confrontation of it.



Line by Line Meaning

You think I like to play the victim
You assume I enjoy feeling sorry for myself


Say that it's clear in how I speak
You believe it's evident in my words and tone


Like it's some kind of competition of
As if it's a contest between us


Who hurts the most of you and me
To see who is suffering the most


What if for once you try to listen
Perhaps you could listen for once


You know it's really not that deep
It's not as serious as you think


Or carry on with the partition
You can keep ignoring me


But drown your dignity in sea
But you're only hurting yourself and your pride will suffer


So leave me here abandoned and stranded
Just abandon me and leave me alone


As if that's gonna do
As if that will make anything better


Yeah, leave me empty handed in Band-Aids
Leave me with only temporary fixes to my wounds


The best that you can do
It's the most you can offer


Just set it all on fire and burn down this room
Let's destroy everything and start fresh


Strip my being to the wires and I'll learn to carry it through
I'll adapt and persevere even if it means being stripped down to my soul


But in any kind of way I'll make it clear for you
But I'll always be honest with you


I'm not leaving quiet babe, so burn down this room
I won't back down without a fight, so let's start anew


Which one of us can scream the loudest
Who can make the most noise to prove a point


So many careless things to say
So many thoughtless things being spoken


And every word we will devour
We're consuming and digesting every hurtful word and action


It's like there is no better way
As if there are no other solutions to our problems


I swear there's something in the water
There's something about this environment that's affecting us


And now it's running in our veins
And now it's influencing us and affecting our behavior


Because it keeps on getting harder
Because this situation is becoming increasingly more difficult


Since you're not ever gonna change
Because you're not willing to make a change


Burn down this room
Let's start fresh


Burn down this room
Let's destroy everything and start anew


Burn down this room
Let's forget about our past and move on


Burn down this room
Let's start over without any negativity weighing us down


Burn down this room
Let's rebuild ourselves and be better than before


Burn down this room
Let's ignite a new flame of hope and positivity




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lasse Michelsen, Kent Sundberg, Cato Sundberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@quit.8900

um excuse me?
how the hell is he so underrated
this is one of the best songs ive ever heard
why are the best artists underrated
like you, noah kahan, nico santos and many more

@leah271

Omg 💯 absolutely love noah kahan seriously underrated

@XserienjunkiesX

He is not underrated, but is main consumer are not americans... Long story short, because he is from a nordish country where everyone has Spotify the clicks of spotify gives the real quote. And it is good that not every american want it to hear so you know you have a better taste like the mainstream bubbly guys.

@XserienjunkiesX

I think rubens Follower rate him alot more. So he is not overrated but hardly accepted. But lets be honest Americans give a shit about other culturs there is only one existing. And i speak not for everyone i know really cool dudes there. But for the average they are just more proud of made in america and so the marketing goes.

@XserienjunkiesX

And just be proud that you are sth. special and you have just another taste because actually the most of the humas dont have taste and style. They just follow trends and they want to be sth. but in the end they never developed their own personality.

@XserienjunkiesX

So at the End everyone who knows Ruben loves him and rate him 10/10 but he is underdiscovered ;)

4 More Replies...

@FarzanShaikh76

This is underrated as hell

@whilewild

Ruben! One of the best artist I’ve ever heard. He deserved more! I think he is underrated! His voice has something special and you feel that he is singing with his heart ❤️ I love that. I wish I could make a song with him one day 🙏

@arneandersen5195

Eg kan ikkje engelsk

@dawneslight

Yeah his voice is unique, that's why I follow him even thiugh I don't like his music that much.

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