Kerosene
Sean McVerry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Set the scene on a broken man
Kerosene and a little lamp
And just enough light
To make out a figure
She got the thunder under her command
She got the lightning in the palm of her hand
And enough of the sun
We can make it through the winter

And I can feel her breathing out
I got the ice in my veins
I'm a man but I don't know how

I keep the fear in the back of my head
I keep her photograph under my bed
But she knows where I am
And they watch me almost everyday
And I can take all the memories
And I can blow them to smithereens
But the ashes would fall
And they'd recollect a figure

And I can feel her breathing out
And I'm inside my head
And I think that it's time to get out

(Oooooooh)
(Oooooooh)

It might be a brand new day
I'll hold your hand 'til it stops it's shake
And then we'll have enough sun
We can make it through the winter
And we'll have enough light
We can make it through the winter

And I'll hold you so tight
We'll make it through the winter

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sean McVerry's song Kerosene paint a picture of a man who is broken and filled with fear. The scene is set with the image of a broken man in a room with only a small lamp and kerosene for light. The imagery suggests that he is in a dark place both physically and emotionally. However, the song also introduces a woman who is strong and powerful. She has control over the elements with the thunder and lightning in the palm of her hand. This juxtaposition of the two characters creates a sense of hope and possibility for what may happen next.

Despite the woman's strength, the man still feels fear in the back of his head. He keeps a photograph of her under his bed, suggesting that she is a source of comfort and protection for him. However, he is being watched almost every day by an unknown observer. This adds a sense of danger to the song and intensifies the situation that the man is in.

The song reaches its climax with the repetition of the phrase "we can make it through the winter". This line represents an optimistic and hopeful outlook for the future. The snow and darkness of winter are often used as metaphors for difficult times, yet the woman's power and the sense of unity between the two characters create a feeling that they can overcome any obstacle. The final line of the song, "I'll hold you so tight, we'll make it through the winter", solidifies this sense of hope and the idea that the two characters will come together to survive.

Line by Line Meaning

Set the scene on a broken man
The song starts by introducing a man who seems to be going through a tough time.

Kerosene and a little lamp
The man is only using a small amount of light to see, and kerosene is the source of this light.

And just enough light To make out a figure
The light is dim but enough for the man to make out the shape of a person nearby.

She got the thunder under her command She got the lightning in the palm of her hand And enough of the sun We can make it through the winter
The person the man sees has control over a powerful force and enough resources to help them survive the cold, dark months ahead.

And I can feel her breathing out I got the ice in my veins I'm a man but I don't know how
The man is both scared and in awe of the person he's seeing, and feels frozen in fear.

I keep the fear in the back of my head I keep her photograph under my bed But she knows where I am And they watch me almost everyday
The man is terrified of this person and is constantly being watched by them and others.

And I can take all the memories And I can blow them to smithereens But the ashes would fall And they'd recollect a figure
The man can try to erase his memories, but the image of this person would still remain in his mind.

And I can feel her breathing out And I'm inside my head And I think that it's time to get out
The man is consumed by his thoughts and fears, and thinks it's time for him to leave this situation behind.

(Oooooooh) (Oooooooh)
Instrumental break.

It might be a brand new day I'll hold your hand 'til it stops it's shake And then we'll have enough sun We can make it through the winter And we'll have enough light We can make it through the winter And I'll hold you so tight We'll make it through the winter
The man sees hope for a better future with this person by his side and they will support each other through the tough times that come with winter.

Writer(s): ANTHONY PARRINO, SEAN MCVERRY

Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS