Burning Bright

Brent Smith ,the guy who wrote it, described it like this, "I wrote it as like a manual on life, that you write as you go, and realizing that you might be different than everyone else and things might be hard but you have to find your inner strength and your own ways to overcome your demons; it's about being honest with yourself and staying true and not changing yourself for anyone, because in you darkest hour you're the only one that can find the light."

Seems to me hes just having some hard times and is sort of depressed. "Theres nothing ever wrong, but nothings ever right" Thats a sign to me that screams depression. Nothing is going good for him, but nothing really is going bad, its just gives a general feeling of absolute hopelessness. It kinda seems to with "Theres always something new some new paht I'm supposed to choose" that says to me that he feels like hes being tossed around, and really isnt in control of his life, and that hes just going through the motions.

I feel like there is no need for conversation (he doesnt want to talk about it, no need)

Some questions are better left without a reason (because there some things that cant be explained)

And I would rather reveal myself than my situation (he would rather talk about hismelf, then the state of confusion he is in)

Now and then I consider, my hesitation (he thinks about why he doesnt act, make a choice, a path)

The more the light shines through me I pretend to close my eyes (The more he feels God, the more he looks away)

The more the dark consumes me I pretend I'm burning, burning bright (likewise, when the enemy comes, and tests him, he acts if he is of the light)

I wonder if the things I did were just to be different To spare myself of the constant shame of my existence (did he sin, solely because he wanted to look away from the real reason he was born, to pick a path)

And I would surely redeem myself in my desperation Here and now I'll express, my situation (he would save himself if he could.)

There's nothing ever wrong but nothing's ever right Such a cruel contradiction. (the paths are not clear to him, is evil good and good evil?)

I know I cross the lines its not easy to define I'm born to indecision (he cant grasp just what each path leads to, the light leads to? and the dark leads to? In a state of confusion, one might think the dark path is the fun and therefore best pick)

There's always something new some path I'm supposed to choose With no particular rhyme or reason (he see's the paths, new each day, and not sure why he should pick either. . . therefore his situation which he did not want show us, is that he knows he has to pick, but hasnt as of yet.)

Put the bong down and PICK ONE DAMN IT!

this song makes me think of that game with the little ball barings and you both shoot at the little disk trying to get it into the goal. he is getting tossed around by people. pretending to be the opposite.. prolly for attention.

I think this song is about the inner struggle one has with the anxiety that accompanies depression and how it ultimately can spiral further down. The lyrics allude to a "situation" - one where this person feels bound by their own fear and/or sadness. He/she cannot understand why they just can't "get it together & set aside these feelings" so to speak, and that deeply saddens them further. Become aware of their growing sadness creates further uneasiness for themselves, leaving them to feel helpless.

"I feel like there is no need for conversation Some questions are better left without a reason" (Depression can intensify quickly and seeming without justification)

"And I would rather reveal myself than my situation" (This person longs to feel normal again, but fears he/she will unveil their deep melancholia for which they feel ashamed of because they cannot control it)

Now and then I consider, my hesitation (That deep melancholia prohibits them from feeling confident in taking action. Knowing this, they dwell on it, which furthers the depression)

"I wonder if the things I did were just to be different To spare myself of the constant shame of my existence" (A questioning of one's self and actions or lack there of. Why does he/she live as they do, attempting to masking their inner pain)

"And I would surely redeem myself in my desperation Here and now I'll express, my situation" (a hint towards suicide - A fatal attempt to release themselves of this paining depression. They now look to reveal their feelings)

Here, the music changes, and the vocal style changes from a low somber tone during the first two verses to shouts - This person is now trying to explain how this feels:

"There's nothing ever wrong but nothing's ever right Such a cruel contradiction" (This sadness didn't start out this intense. It was the dwelling guilt over feeling this way and inability to shake it that has made it what it has become. Until they allow themselves to feel happy, it won't end)

I know I cross the lines its not easy to define I'm born to indecision (They are lost in their sorrow and the anxiety has deterred them from taking action)

There's always something new some path I'm supposed to choose With no particular rhyme or reason (He is overcome & feels it is hopeless)

I particularly like the last line of the 3rd verse and how it is carried over into the chorus. It's a cathartic cry that fits the mood of the song perfectly. The chorus is equally great, explaining how this depression has caused them to hide out of fear and shame. A great song, and seemingly the polar opposite to the optimistic attitude of "Fly from the Inside".

This song decsribes me right down to the T, & I kind of hate that :\

There is quite a bit of meaning to this song and most others, which I think many of you have made good points and expressed your views.

One point I would like to add: The first verse states he would rather reveal himself than his situation, but the second verse ends with him beginning to reveal his situation. At first, he puts on a facade saying, hey lets talk about who I really am, but then ends up later talking about his situation. Think about this along with what you think this song is about.

"A measure of success in one's life is not the status or goals he or she reached, but is measured by the obstacles he or she overcome." I forgot who said this, but the situation in the song the guy is dealing with becomes who he is, and he decides to reveal his situation.

this is my take on burning bright

there is no need for conversation and why do you think that is?

he sounds very terrified of a choice of his in place and as either pushes forward in his life he denies the conformaty of both good and evil outcast by both planning too redeem himself on his own terms a self riechious act that is the only thing that can set him free from a existence of hell where you can't answer anything because everything is right or wrong but its always wrong because there is no real easy answer too life and stumbling along his broken path with post mortem depression of some kind maybe because from what i have researched his brother killed himself, sure you would need too outcast everything too find what is real too you if you were also in his shoes... this song reminds me of my brother and i don't think there is a second of life i don't wish that son of a bitch was still here...

R.I.P. Nathan, also a thanks too this song i don't know where i would be without it and i would probably be regretting a life time decision

I think this is about feeling numb, but hopeless -- that feeling you get where everything's gray area, nothing matters, and you're just sick of living. Or maybe it's just me who feels that way =/.

And then there's always the bit about pretending you're alright, even though you aren't... Same old mask of happiness that no one ever bothers to look through...

this song reminds me of those kids dressed in black clothes and marilyn manson t-shirts, glaring at the world behind dyed black hair and from black-lined eyes. the kids that hide from the world, that resent ever being bored...yet there's always large groups of them. so while alternately hating the world and their existence, they still feel a need to belong and be accepted. but then, who doesnt? anyway, i hope i didnt' offend anyone of the goth persuasion, that's just the mental image i had. everyone at some point or another despises living but then still wants to belong somewhere...