Sara Hickman (born in Jacksonville, NC, on March 1, 1963) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Sara Hickman (born in Jacksonville, NC, on March 1, 1963) is an American singer, songwriter, and artist.

Hickman has released more than 15 albums, including a half dozen on major record labels, and a few independent albums. She has been a guest performer on at least 25 albums by other musicians. She had a #3 adult contemporary hit "I Couldn't Help Myself", has twice been a guest of NBC's Tonight Show, hosted her own VH-1 special, produced an independent video, Joy, that won first place in the USA Film Festival, and co-produced a PBS documentary titled Take It Like A Man.

Hickman also performed a Martika song for the soundtrack to the film, Arachnophobia. She has both appeared in and sung for national ad campaigns for Wal-Mart, Daisy Sour Cream, Southwest Airlines, Fannie Mae and others.

Kerosene
Sara Hickman Lyrics

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Here we are
Shallow but inspired
Jumping into fires we set
Here we are
We're dumb enough to learn
Risking all we know to forget

So don't make me lead the way

Or make me say
It's real
The way
I feel

Chorus
'cause words burn like kerosene
Flickering
Then gone
Words burn like kerosene
Seldom seen again

Well damn the lies
I'm choking on the truth
Time is passing by
It's no excuse
Stale goodbyes
Oh really what's the use
To try and save what we long to lose

So don't make me lead the way
Or make me say
It's real
The way
I feel

Chorus
'cause words burn like kerosene
Flickering
Then gone
Words burn like kerosene
Seldom seen again

Words burn like kerosene
Flickering
Then gone
Words burn like kerosene
Seldom seen again

Sometimes you need to go astray
So throw caution to the wind
Sometimes it carries you away
Ohh please don't hate me when I say

Words burn like kerosene
Flickering
Then gone
Words burn like kerosene
Seldom seen again

Kerosene
Oh seldom seen

Ohh oh oh
Then gone

Overall Meaning

In "Kerosene," Sara Hickman delivers an evocative meditation on the hazards of playing with fire, while juxtaposing the impermanent nature of words with her longing for more meaningful communication. The opening verse sets up the dangerous dance many of us willingly engage in: we crave the rush of the flame and the fireworks that come with taking risks, even though we know that ultimately we could get burned. The chorus cleverly equates words with kerosene - a volatile substance that ignites so easily and burns quickly, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake. The idea that spoken or written words can be similarly incendiary conveys how dangerous communication can be, and how quickly something can go up in smoke.

The second verse of "Kerosene" speaks to the destructive power of lies, and the difficulties of confronting truth head-on. It's a theme echoed in the final verse, which advises that sometimes we need to dive headlong into the unknown, despite the risks. Hickman seems to be saying that while words can be powerful tools, they can also create a minefield of misunderstandings that make it hard to connect authentically with ourselves or others. It's an intriguing and thought-provoking take on the challenges of communication.

The lyrics are poetic and nuanced, and the driving guitar work and upbeat tempo create a sense of forward momentum that gives the song extra energy. Overall, "Kerosene" is an excellent example of Sara Hickman's songwriting talent, and a powerful, memorable track that stays with the listener long after the last chord has faded away.

Line by Line Meaning

Here we are
We find ourselves in this situation

Shallow but inspired
We are not deep thinkers but we are motivated

Jumping into fires we set
We are taking risks and dealing with the consequences

Here we are
We remain in this situation

We're dumb enough to learn
We acknowledge our ignorance and want to learn from our mistakes

Risking all we know to forget
We are willing to risk everything to move on from our past

So don't make me lead the way
I don't want to be the one responsible

Or make me say
I don't want to express myself

It's real
My emotions are genuine

The way
The manner in which

I feel
I am experiencing