Released: 2017
“Burn Out” by Midland paints a vivid picture of heartbreak and longing. The song uses the metaphor of a cigarette burning out to describe a love that once burned brightly but faded quickly. It’s a tale of loss, regret, and the struggle to move on from a relationship that ended too soon.
The opening lines set the scene in a dimly lit bar, where the protagonist watches cigarettes burn out, symbolizing the end of a passionate love affair. The neon lights turning off represent the fading excitement and joy that once filled the relationship.
The lyrics “I was so on fire for you, it hurts, how fast as cigarette can burn out” highlight the intensity of the love and the pain of its abrupt end. The imagery of rivers running down a bottle, like tears, underscores the sorrow and emotional turmoil experienced by the protagonist.
The chorus reflects on the emptiness left behind, with “nothing left but empty glasses now.” The “smokin’ memory” and “ashes” symbolize the remnants of the relationship, while the “done-me-wrong songs” provide a sense of comfort in shared heartbreak.
The verse about putting hands on the flame speaks to the inevitability of getting hurt when playing with fire, or in this case, love. The scattered embers in the wind suggest the search for a new beginning after the end of a relationship.
The song’s conclusion, with the repeated imagery of cigarettes burning out, reinforces the theme of fleeting love and the difficulty of letting go. The protagonist’s admission of being unable to quit, despite the pain, captures the struggle of moving on from a deep connection.
