Reflections: Crash & Burn

Crash & Burn is a song I wrote back in 2004 when I was contacted by a musician who went by the name Sacre Coeur. I was immediately drawn in by the driving beat and Spanish guitar; the words and melody just seemed to flow. To this day it remains one on my favorite songs that I have written, lyrically. I recently re-recorded it and made it available as a free download on Bandcamp.

It’s about an individual who is on a path of self destruction but refuses to heed warnings or listen to wise counsel. Something is compelling them to continue on, most likely the excitement of living on the edge and doing what feels good.

Yet they are not completely naive about the fact that what they are doing is wrong, they just refuse to change their ways. Even when the day comes to finally face the consequences of their actions, they choose to continue on the vicious cycle. No matter how many people try to intervene, they simply cannot be helped.

This attitude is quite prevalent, especially among addicts and criminals. Sometimes we witness these patterns in our loved ones, and sometimes even in ourselves. We know that poor decisions will never garner positive results, but we insist on learning the hard way. Though the culprit may be fully aware that they have chosen a path that leads nowhere, they still somehow have the audacity to act surprised when they hit a dead end.

Why is thickheadedness a trait so common in humans? It seems that we are inherently born with a rebellious nature. We like to push the limits and do the things that bring immediate satisfaction. We may be warned of consequences, but our brains can’t always process the foresight that could help us walk away before it’s too late. We live the mantra ‘tomorrow never comes’, but come it will and the piper will be paid, or in the worse case scenario, it truly may not. In such cases, perhaps the real mantra is ‘let me burn’.

Crash & Burn
Lyrics by Jakki Jelene

Touched a rose but the thorns caused me to bleed
Should have known, but I’m much too young to see
All the danger that’s surrounding me
Cannot hear the words that I should heed

Intertwined by greed and my desire
Mapping out a plan that conspire
Gathering the tools it will require
Moving toward the thing I aspire

And there’s nothing that men say
That can change my pathway
Even if I crash and burn

Devious and wild is more sincere
Sweet and mild is how I will appear
If I’m caught the punishment severe
The only hope is if I persevere

Every step I’m walking on a line
As I’m plotting out my latest crime
I can’t help if this is my design
We’re all masters of our own decline

And there’s nothing that men say
That can change my pathway
Even if I crash and burn (let me burn)

And now is the time
To pay for my crime
But it’s not the end
It starts all over again

But there is nothing that men say
That can change my pathway
Even if I crash and burn (let me burn)