Burn
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
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Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned,
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand.
The city's a blaze, the town's on fire.
The woman's flames are reachin' higher.
We were fools, we called her liar.
All I hear is burn!
I didn't believe she was devil's sperm.
She said, curse you all, you'll never learn!
When I leave there's no return.
The people laughed till she said, burn!
Warning came, no one cared.
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared.
When it came no one was spared.
Still I hear burn!
You know we had no time.
We could not even try.
You know we had no time.
You know we had no time.
We could not even try.
You know we had no time.
The sky is red, I don't understand.
Past midnight I still see the land.
People are sayin' the woman is damned,
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand.
Warning came, no one cared.
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared.
When it came no one was spared.
Still I hear burn, burn!
The song "Burn" by W.A.S.P. seems to be a cautionary tale about the consequences of not heeding warnings and falling under the spell of a powerful woman. The beginning of the song sets a menacing tone with the description of a red sky and a sense of confusion and unease. The woman in question is believed to be cursed or evil, and the lyrics suggest that she has the power to make people burn with just a wave of her hand. Despite these warnings, the people ignore them and continue to be entranced by the woman's power, even laughing at the idea of being cursed.
As the song progresses, the warning becomes more urgent and the imagery more intense. The city is on fire, and the woman's flames are reaching higher. In the end, the warning comes too late, and everyone is caught in a cataclysmic event that spares no one. The repeated refrain of "still I hear burn!" suggests that even after the fact, the consequences of ignoring warnings and becoming too enamored with power are still being felt.
Overall, "Burn" is a powerful song that serves as a reminder to pay attention to warnings and not be blinded by power or charisma. The lyrics are eerily prophetic and have a haunting quality that stays with the listener long after the song has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is red, I don't understand
I am confused and fearful about the ominous signs in the sky.
Past midnight I still see the land
Even in the darkest of times, the world is still visible.
People are sayin' the woman is damned
The community has labeled this woman as cursed or wicked.
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
Her power is so great that she can destroy with a mere gesture.
The city's a blaze, the town's on fire
The destruction she causes is widespread, affecting both urban and rural areas.
The woman's flames are reachin' higher
The intensity of her power is growing stronger and more dangerous.
We were fools, we called her liar
We didn't believe her warnings and dismissed her as a liar.
All I hear is burn!
The message from the destruction is clear: everything must burn.
I didn't believe she was devil's sperm
I didn't think she was evil, but others did.
She said, curse you all, you'll never learn!
She cursed us for our ignorance and lack of understanding.
When I leave there's no return
Once she is gone, there is no chance to reverse the destruction.
The people laughed till she said, burn!
People thought it was a joke until she demonstrated her power to destroy.
Warning came, no one cared
We were warned of the impending disaster, but didn't take it seriously.
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared
The natural world was reacting to the upheaval, but we were powerless to stop it.
When it came no one was spared
All were affected by the destruction, regardless of their beliefs or actions.
Still I hear burn!
The aftermath of the destruction continues to echo in my mind.
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.