We
We don't have to worry 'bout nothing
'Cause we got the fire
And we're burning one hell of a something
They
They're gonna see us from outer space, outer space
Light it up
Like we're the stars of the human race, human race
[Pre-Chorus]
When the lights started out
They don't know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud
Giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands
Shinin' up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah, we got the fire, fire, fire
[Chorus]
And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We don't wanna leave, no
We just wanna be right now, right, ri-ri-right now
And what we see
Is everybody's on the floor, actin' crazy, gettin' loco till the lights out
Music's on, I'm waking up
We start the fire, then we burn it up
And it's over now, we got the love
There's no sleepin' now, no sleepin' now, sleepin' now
[Pre-Chorus]
When the lights started out
They don't know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud
Giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands
Shinin' up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah, we got the fire, fire, fire
[Chorus]
And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
When the lights started out
They don't know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud
Giving love to the world
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn (Ooh)
Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn (Ooh)
[Bridge]
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
[Pre-Chorus]
When the lights started out
They don't know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud
Giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands
Shinin' up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah, we got the fire, fire, fire
[Chorus]
And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn (Let it burn)
When the lights started out
They don't know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud
Giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands (Burn, burn, burn, burn)
Shinin' up to the sky (We gonna let it burn, burn, let it burn)
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah, we got the fire, fire, fire
And we gonna let it burn
About
“Burn” is a song by English recording artist Ellie Goulding from Halcyon Days (2013), the reissue of her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). Originally a demo by Leona Lewis, “Burn” was released by Goulding in July 2013 as the lead single from the reissue.
Upon its release, “Burn” was met with a mixed response from music critics. They recognized that it may be the “radio-friendly” hit she needed, but questioned whether it would be the “pivotal track which will elevate her career even further in the mainstream radio world.”
It sold 116,857 copies in its first week and became Goulding’s first number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, where it would stay for three consecutive weeks.
The track achieved similar success internationally, reaching the top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden. It was Goulding’s third single to reach the top twenty in the United States.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Ryan Tedder, who helped co-write the song, had this to say in an interview with Billboard on how the song came to be:
“I wrote it on a tour bus in Chicago, me and Brent [Kutzle, of OneRepublic]. I was so ecstatic about the song that our show was probably delayed five minutes because I couldn’t stop listening to it. Ellie cut the vocal, killed it, she didn’t mess around. And then it sat for a year. [Interscope] came back to me and I told my manager, ‘I can’t even look at it and I will give up publishing to do it.’ We had a list of two or three producers – the name [Greg] Kurstin came up. I don’t think I let them finish the sentence because I had just spent time with him on the Beyonce camp. And I said, ‘Absolutely Greg Kurstin! I know that he is the guy.’ I sent him a list of comments, he gave it a second pass, and it was done.”
- 2.My Blood
- 4.Only You
- 5.Halcyon
- 6.Figure 8
- 7.JOY
- 8.Hanging On
- 9.Explosions
- 10.I Know You Care
- 11.Atlantis
- 13.I Need Your Love
- 14.Ritual
- 15.In My City
- 18.Burn
- 22.Stay Awake
- 23.Under Control
- 24.Flashlight
- 26.Tessellate
- 27.Midas Touch