A hauntingly beautiful ballad about the struggle of grappling with self-destructive habits, where a friend calls out the darkness but is met with denial. The song captures the tension of wanting to reach out for help while hiding the truth, using vivid metaphors of fire to symbolize both danger and desire.
(Verse 1)
Flickering flames, the war in my head,
I dance on the edge where the brave won’t tread.
Whispers of doubt like embers ignite,
I’m caught in the game, but I’m losing this fight.
(Chorus)
You said I’m playing with fire, burning bright,
But I nod and I smile, yeah, I’m fine in the night.
Your concern feels like chains, but they shimmer like gold,
I’m swimming in secrets, too afraid to be bold.
(Verse 2)
The heat of the moment, it wraps ‘round my chest,
But I laugh it away, pretending I’m blessed.
You saw deeper truths beneath my disguise,
Yet I give you my mask, it's the one with the lies.
(Chorus)
You said I’m playing with fire, burning bright,
But I nod and I smile, yeah, I’m fine in the night.
Your concern feels like chains, but they shimmer like gold,
I’m swimming in secrets, too afraid to be bold.
(Bridge)
And the flames start to dance as I twist and I turn,
Each flicker of doubt, just another lesson learned.
You call me a phoenix, but I’m aching inside,
While you reach for my heart, I’m drowning in pride.
(Verse 3)
Pages we turned, stories yet to unfold,
I’m lost in the fire, too terrified, too cold.
But in the silence I hear the soft echoes call,
As the heat wraps around me, I stumble and fall.
(Chorus)
You said I’m playing with fire, burning bright,
But I nod and I smile, yeah, I’m fine in the night.
Your concern feels like chains, but they shimmer like gold,
I’m swimming in secrets, too afraid to be bold.
(Outro)
So I hold onto embers, my heart in the blaze,
And I wish I could reach you but I’m caught in the haze.
You were my lifeline, but I turned from the light,
Now I’m just playing with fire, fading out of your sight.
Chords not available
Beat not available
Giving in to a self-destructive habit (an eating disorder) and my friend (who is long recovered) calling me out, but i minimize it for her benefit, and pretend it's fine. secretly it gets bad and i can't reach out to her. Don't use the words whisper, shadow, bones, mirror. Don't make it obvious that it's about an eating disorder. Make it lyrical. Use internal rhyme. Don't make it corny. Use elements that make it sound satisfying to the listener, not overly predictable. Use metaphors of fire, like the friend saying that I'm playing with fire.
Taylor Swift