Burning Bright
Shinedown. Lyrics
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Some questions are better left without a reason
And I would rather reveal myself than my situation
Now and then I consider my hesitation
The more the light shines through me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I wonder if the things I did were just to be different
To spare myself of the constant shame of my existence
And I would surely redeem myself in my desperation
Here and now I'll express my situation
The more the light shines through me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend I'm burning bright
The more the light shines through me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend I'm burning
There's nothing ever wrong, but nothing's ever right
Such a cruel contradiction
I know I crossed the line, it's not easy to define
I'm born to indecision
There's always something new, some path I'm supposed to choose
With no particular rhyme or reason
The more the light shines through me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend I'm burning bright
The more the light shines through me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend I'm burning
I feel like there is no need for conversation
In Shinedown's song "Burning Bright", the singer reflects on the struggles of finding his own identity and purpose. He acknowledges the difficulty in being able to articulate what he truly feels and what he truly desires in life. The opening lines, "I feel like there is no need for conversation, some questions are better left without a reason," suggests the singer's reluctance to open up and express himself. He then admits that revealing himself is easier than exposing his situation, implying that he is not comfortable sharing his struggles with others.
The chorus of the song repeats the lines "The more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes. The more the dark consumes me, I pretend I'm burning, burning bright." In this section, the light could symbolize the truth of his situation, while the darkness represents the unknown or the fear of being vulnerable. The singer pretends to not see the truth and instead appears to be burning bright to mask his pain.
The last verse suggests the singer's inner turmoil, as he struggles to find direction and purpose in life. He mentions feeling like there is always something new, some path he's supposed to choose, without any rhyme or reason. The song's overall message is about the struggle to find oneself and be true to one's own identity, despite the challenges that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel like there is no need for conversation
I believe that some things are best left unsaid, and I would prefer to keep to myself.
Some questions are better left without a reason
There are certain questions for which there is no answer, and it is best not to delve into them.
And I would rather reveal myself than my situation
I am not afraid to show who I am, but I prefer not to disclose the circumstances in which I find myself.
Now and then I consider my hesitation
Occasionally, I reflect on my reluctance to act.
The more the light shines through me
As I become more exposed, my inner self is revealed.
I pretend to close my eyes
I attempt to hide who I am and avoid confrontation with the world around me.
The more the dark consumes me
As I become more isolated, my inner darkness takes over.
I pretend I'm burning, burning bright
I create the illusion that I am strong and powerful, even though I am struggling internally.
I wonder if the things I did were just to be different
I question my motivations for my actions, and if they were driven by a desire to stand out from others.
To spare myself of the constant shame of my existence
I try to avoid feeling the shame that comes with being myself by taking certain actions.
And I would surely redeem myself in my desperation
If necessary, I would take drastic actions to improve my situation and save myself from desperation.
Here and now I'll express my situation
I will speak up about my current predicament in the present moment.
There's nothing ever wrong, but nothing's ever right
My life is a constant state of mediocrity, where nothing is particularly good or bad.
Such a cruel contradiction
This state of affairs is frustrating and confusing.
I know I crossed the line, it's not easy to define
I am aware that I have done something that may not be appropriate, but it is difficult to explain why.
I'm born to indecision
I struggle with making decisions and often find myself feeling stuck.
There's always something new, some path I'm supposed to choose
There are always new opportunities and decisions to make in life, and it can be overwhelming to sort through them.
With no particular rhyme or reason
There is no clear logic or pattern to the choices and opportunities that come my way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENT SMITH, TONY BATTAGLIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind