Burning Memories
Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson Lyrics

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Burning memories
Teardrops fall while I am
Burning memories
Burning all the memories of you that I can't lose

Tonight I'm burning old love letters
Photographs and memories of you
Hoping somehow I'll feel better

And when the smoke is gone I won't want you

Burning memories
Teardrops fall while I am
Burning memories
Burning all the memories of you that I can't lose

My heart to you no longer matters
And I can't live alone with memories
Into the fire those dreams that you've shattered
And when the smoke is gone then I'll be free

Burning memories
Teardrops fall while I am

Burning memories
Burning all the memories of you that I can't lose

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Burning Memories" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson speak to the emotional turmoil of a breakup and the need to let go of painful memories. The singer of the song is burning old love letters, photographs, and memories of his ex-partner in an effort to move on and free himself from the pain of the past. He acknowledges that his heart no longer matters to his ex-partner and that he cannot live alone with the memories that haunt him. The repetition of the phrase "burning memories" throughout the song serves as a powerful symbol of the singer's desire to let go of the past.

The lyrics also touch on the hope that comes with the act of burning memories. The singer expresses the belief that by ridding himself of the physical symbols of his past relationship, he will be able to let go emotionally and move on. The act of burning memories is cathartic for him, as he feels like he is taking control of his own healing process.

Overall, "Burning Memories" is a poignant and relatable song about the pain of heartbreak and the need to let go of the past in order to move forward.

Line by Line Meaning

Burning memories
The singer is referring to physically burning memories

Teardrops fall while I am
The singer is crying while burning the memories

Burning all the memories of you that I can't lose
The singer is burning memories that they cannot bear to keep

Tonight I'm burning old love letters
The artist is burning love letters from their former lover

Photographs and memories of you
The artist is burning photographs and memories of their former lover

Hoping somehow I'll feel better
The singer hopes that burning the memories will help them feel better

And when the smoke is gone I won't want you
The singer hopes that after the burning is finished, they will no longer desire their former lover

My heart to you no longer matters
The artist realizes that their heart no longer belongs to their former lover

And I can't live alone with memories
The artist cannot bear to be alone with memories of their former lover

Into the fire those dreams that you've shattered
The artist is burning the dreams that were destroyed by their former lover

And when the smoke is gone then I'll be free
The singer hopes to be free of their former lover after the memories are burned