Burning

Sam Smith's song 'Burning' is a poignant expression of heartache and the struggle to cope with the aftermath of a lost relationship. The lyrics convey a deep sense of loss and the emotional turmoil that follows a breakup. The recurring line 'I've been burning' suggests a feeling of intense emotional pain, likening the heartache to a physical burn that continues to hurt and cause distress. The 'flame on my chest' metaphorically represents the lingering love and pain that the singer feels, which is so intense that it's as if it's physically burning them.

The song also touches on themes of regret and nostalgia. Smith reflects on past times, wishing to return to a period when things were better, and their mind was more open. The mention of 'the nineteenth of may' could signify a specific memory or a time when the relationship was still flourishing. The lyrics 'Funny how time goes by / Had respect for myself / That river ran dry' suggest a loss of self-esteem and a feeling of emptiness that has replaced the self-respect they once had. The idea that 'the fire replaced all the love' indicates that the passion that once fueled the relationship has now turned into a destructive force, consuming the love that was there.

The song's narrative is not just about loss but also about the inability to move on. The lines 'No insurance to pay for the damage' and 'I've been burning up since you left' imply that the singer is left with the emotional wreckage and there's no easy way to recover from the damage. The act of smoking 'more than twenty a day' is a metaphor for self-destructive behavior, a way to cope with the pain, even though it's harmful. The yearning for reconciliation, even if just for a day, shows the depth of the singer's longing and the difficulty of letting go.