Burnin’ alive
Set my soul on fire
Running with a gun
This place is gonna burn
No fire-water, or Novocain
No thunderstorm, no John Wayne
No kids to rock, nowhere to run
So, watch out, ’cause this place is gonna burn
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive
They be smokin’ your hide, come runnin’ wild
Tell you, “Nothing to fear, ’cause the buck stops here”
He came from a little town called Hope
And someday, maybe, it’ll go up in smoke
I said
No fire-water, or Novocain
No thunderstorm and no John Wayne
No kids to rock, nowhere to run
So, watch out, ’cause this place is gonna burn
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
It’s an all-out war
An all-out war
Burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive
Somewhere, there’s a little town called Hope
And someday, maybe, baby
He’ll inhale that smoke
(Ha-ha)
Yeah, we’re burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
It’s an all-out war
An all-out war
Hear the battle roar
It’s an all-out war
Yeah, we’re burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Burnin’ alive, burnin’ alive
Yeah
Watch the place burn down
Unleashing the Flames: Interpreting “Burnin’ Alive”
“Burnin’ Alive” by AC/DC is a high-energy anthem that captures the band’s signature hard rock spirit. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of chaos and intensity, where the protagonist feels engulfed by inner and outer turmoil. References to running with a gun, the absence of escape, and a sense of impending doom create an atmosphere of relentless urgency. The repeated mantra of being “burnin’ alive” amplifies the feeling of being trapped in a volatile environment, perhaps reflecting broader themes of conflict, rebellion, or personal struggle. The mention of a “little town called Hope” going up in smoke introduces a hint of irony, suggesting that even places of optimism are not immune to destruction.
Song Credits
Artist: AC/DC
Release Year: 1995
Label: EastWest Records
Songwriters: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson