Needle Can't Burn (What the Needle Can't Find)
Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to … Read Full Bio ↴Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to the mainstream-sounding, garage/arena rock of post-Ten Pearl Jam, but the group insists that their refusal to alienate themselves from the rest of the world makes them different. Instead, Seven Mary Three offer songs concerning self-discovery and true outsiders isolated from society. Based in Virginia (where the bandmates attended the College of William and Mary), Seven Mary Three signed to the Mammoth label after releasing a self-produced album, Churn, in 1994. The album -- particularly its gritty lead single, "Cumbersome" -- generated a healthy buzz in Florida, and radio stations in Orlando began devoting significant airtime to the band. Seven Mary Three relocated to the Orlando area and re-recorded their old songs, which were packaged alongside two new cuts to round out the band's proper debut, 1995's American Standard. With "Cumbersome" enjoying national success, the album went platinum and won the group a contract with Atlantic Records. Rock Crown followed in 1997, and a year later Seven Mary Three returned with their third LP, Orange Ave. Neither record enjoyed as much recognition as American Standard, but the band continued to release albums into the following decade, issuing The Economy of Sound in 2001 and Dis/Location three years later. Seven Mary Three signed with New York's Icon Records in late 2007, and the following year saw the release of their sixth effort, DAY&NIGHTDRIVING. Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Needle Can't Burn
Seven Mary Three Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't want to spend the rest of my life
Starin' at a man, Looking down a line
What's he say? ot my style?
Just a stylized version of an obsolete file

I don't want to spend the rest of my time
Lookin' for the words I'm never going to find
You read them in a book and apply them to your life
But how can I be as pretty as she writes?

I know I'm all right. Because
The needle can't burn what the needle can't find

She don't want to spend the rest of her heart
Waste it on a job, and never get a start
Part of her says she should be herself
And part of her says she should be with someone else

I don't want to spend the rest of my life
Looking for a girl I'm never gonna find.
Starin' back at me when I come home at night
But how can she be as pretty as I write?

It will be hard, but I know I'm all right,
Because the needle can't burn
What the needle can't find
And the money won't save what the money
Can't buy

And part of me is safe




And part of me is lies
So be mine tonight.

Overall Meaning

Seven Mary Three's "Needle Can't Burn" is a song about the internal struggles of individuals who are trying to find their place in the world. The first two verses deal with the singer's desire to avoid conformity, and the pressure they feel to fit into society's expectations. They debate whether to follow society's norms or to embrace their own unique style. The singer expresses his frustration with the difficulty of finding meaning and purpose in his life by searching for answers in books, and how that is not always a solution. Still, he retains hope and faith in himself that he will be able to find his way. The chorus "I know I'm all right, because the needle can't burn what the needle can't find" is repeated, conveying the belief that individuality and authenticity can't be erased or destroyed.


The third verse switches perspective to a girl who also struggles with her identity and the pressure to conform. She questions whether she should pursue her own passions or settle into a more traditional role. The song ends with the two characters coming together, with a sense of safety but also uncertainty, as they navigate their individual journeys.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want to spend the rest of my life
I don't want to waste my life


Starin' at a man, Looking down a line
Working monotonously in a job and taking orders from someone else


What's he say? ot my style?
Feeling out of place, not belonging in a particular environment


Just a stylized version of an obsolete file
Feeling undervalued and not being able to contribute creatively


Lookin' for the words I'm never going to find
Trying to find meaning and purpose in life but not succeeding


You read them in a book and apply them to your life
Seeking guidance from self-help books


But how can I be as pretty as she writes?
Feeling inadequate when comparing oneself to others


I know I'm all right. Because
Having confidence in oneself


The needle can't burn what the needle can't find
No harm can come to someone who is hiding and not exposed to risk


She don't want to spend the rest of her heart
Not wanting to waste her emotions


Waste it on a job, and never get a start
Investing time and emotion into a dead-end job


Part of her says she should be herself
Wanting to be authentic to oneself


And part of her says she should be with someone else
Feeling pressure to conform to societal norms in finding a partner


Looking for a girl I'm never gonna find.
Constantly searching for perfection in a partner


Starin' back at me when I come home at night
Being disappointed by the realities of a relationship


And the money won't save what the money Can't buy
Money cannot fix everything


And part of me is safe And part of me is lies
Being torn between conflicting emotions


So be mine tonight.
Seeking companionship and comfort




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON ROSS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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