Down to my last match fire I’ll touch just to feel
Why’s it easier to burn than it is to heal?
Out in the cold you have been
I’ve begged you to come back in
But I can’t do this again
I can’t keep you from harm
But I’m set on fire to keep you warm
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t keep you from harm
But I’m set on fire to keep you warm
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I’ve been looking for answers I don’t want to hear
Chest to chest with you I’m staring into a mirror
Out in the cold you have been
I’ve begged you to come back in
But I can’t do this again
I can’t keep you from harm
But I’m set on fire to keep you warm
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t keep you from harm
But I’m set on fire to keep you warm
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
What would I do?
What I wouldn’t do to save you
What would I do?
What I wouldn’t do to save you
I can’t keep you from harm
But I’m set on fire to keep you warm
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t keep you from harm
But I’m set on fire to keep you warm
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t
I can’t
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
I can’t
I can’t
I can’t go on and on
Setting fires to keep you warm
Exploring the Emotional Heat of “Setting Fires”
“Setting Fires” by The Chainsmokers dives into the turmoil of loving someone deeply while battling the pain that comes with trying to save them—and yourself—from emotional harm. The lyrics use the metaphor of setting fires to express the lengths one might go to keep a relationship alive, even when it becomes self-destructive. The recurring line, “I can’t keep you from harm, but I’m set on fire to keep you warm,” highlights the sacrifice and exhaustion that can come from giving too much for someone else. This poignant narrative captures the struggle of balancing self-care with the desire to protect a loved one, making the song resonate with anyone who has ever felt burned out from loving too hard.
Song Credits
- Artist: The Chainsmokers
- Featured Artist: XYLØ
- Songwriters: Melanie Fontana, Jon Asher, Andrew Taggart, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson
- Release Year: 2016
- Label: Disruptor Records, Columbia Records