Biography by Mark Deming
Blessed & Burned
The Arcs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But don't control me
I'm just a driver here
So have no fear
Don't you battle me
Golden
Just like we candy
Down the deepest well
Light turns into heat
I've been blessed and I've been burned
Took the test and what I learned
'cause I'm older and I'm wiser
I've been blessed and I've been burned
By this
Fade it
Then fabricate it
They make up stories to
Remind us who
Makes the rules round' here
I've been blessed and I've been burned
Took the test and what I learned
'cause I'm older and I'm wiser
I've been blessed and I've been burned
By this
The lyrics of "Blessed & Burned" by The Arcs expresses the idea of holding on to a sense of freedom while navigating life's challenges, represented here as driving a car. The singer pleads to be held but not controlled, suggesting that while they crave connection and comfort, they are still capable of making their own choices. This is reinforced by the line "Don't you battle me," which implies that the singer has seen their fair share of conflict and wants to avoid further strife.
The metaphor of something sweet and golden falling down a well represents a sense of loss or longing, perhaps for something that seemed perfect at first but eventually fell apart. The transition from light to heat suggests a sense of intensity, a shift from something that was once simple and easy to something that's now more difficult or challenging.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I've been blessed and I've been burned," which is acknowledging the ups and downs of life, both the good and the bad, the successes and the failures. As the singer declares that they're "older and wiser," they're suggesting that they've been through it all and have learned from their experiences, both the blessings and the burns. The overall message is one of resilience and the ability to keep going through life's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold me
I need someone to hold me
But don't control me
But I don't want to be controlled
I'm just a driver here
I'm just one person in this complex world
So have no fear
So don't be afraid of me
Don't you battle me
Don't fight against me
Golden
My life is precious
Just like we candy
Just like candy that's sweet and easy to consume
But its so fast it fell
But my life changed so quickly for the worse
Down the deepest well
It's like falling into the darkest depths of despair
Light turns into heat
Everything that was good turns to pain and suffering
I've been blessed and I've been burned
I've experienced both happiness and pain
Took the test and what I learned
I went through a trial and gained knowledge
'cause I'm older and I'm wiser
Because I've aged and gained wisdom
By this
From this experience
Fade it
Make it less noticeable
Then fabricate it
Create something false
They make up stories to
They create lies to
Remind us who
Remind us who has the power
Makes the rules round' here
Controls everything that happens here
Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.