Released: 2015
Chris Stapleton’s ‘Fire Away’ is a heart-wrenching ballad that delves into the emotional complexities of a turbulent relationship. The song presents a protagonist who’s willing to bear the emotional brunt of his partner’s pain, showcasing a deep, albeit painful, form of love.
The opening lines, ‘Honey, load up your questions and pick up your sticks and your stones’, sets the stage for a relationship where the protagonist is prepared to endure emotional attacks. The phrase ‘sticks and stones’ is a common saying, referring to hurtful words or actions.
When Stapleton sings, ‘And pretend I’m a shelter for heartaches that don’t have a home’, he’s expressing his readiness to absorb his partner’s pain, to be a refuge for their unexpressed sorrows.
The chorus, ‘Fire away, take your best shot, show me what you got, honey, I’m not afraid’, emphasizes the protagonist’s willingness to withstand whatever emotional barrage his partner throws at him. He’s unafraid of the potential hurt.
In the verse, ‘Well, I wish I could say that I’ve never been here before, but you know and I know that I’ll always come back for more’, Stapleton reveals the repetitive nature of this relationship. Despite the hurt, he’s drawn back, indicating a deep, albeit painful, love.
The line, ‘Your love might be my damnation, but I’ll cry to my grave’, is a powerful confession of the protagonist’s readiness to endure suffering for love. The term ‘damnation’ suggests eternal punishment, showing the extent of his commitment.
All in all, ‘Fire Away’ is a profound exploration of love’s darker side, underlining the lengths some are willing to go to support the ones they love, even when it inflicts them pain.
