In this dark night we stand or fall
We are kings now, or nothing at all
Check your armor; Light up your torch
Touch the flame to the sail before you head for shore

And we will burn the fleet
We can never go home
It's on to victory or under ground
Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts
But we won't be turned around

The old flag will burn with the sail
And a new one won't fly if we fail
But the fire continues to rise
And it shows not a hint of any fear in our eyes

Burn the fleet, we can never go home
It's on to victory or under ground
Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts
But we won't be turned around


Lyrics submitted by ckalelk

Burn the Fleet Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Burn the Fleet song meanings
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34 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Comparison

    This always reminds of the the Warcraft 3 campaign, when Arthas decides to burn the ships, so they can't go back. Maybe I'm just a huge nerd, though. Great song and lyrics whatsoever.

    TSTTon August 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    From lyric book with some spacing.

    In this dark night we STAND OR WE FALL. We are kings now, or nothing at all. Check your armor; light up your torch. Touch the flame to sail before you head for the shore.

    And we will burn the fleet, we can never go home; it's on to victory or under ground. Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts, but we won't be turned around.

    The old flag will burn with the sail, and a new one won't fly if we fail. But the fire continues to rise, and it shows not a hint of any fear in our eyes.

    And we will burn the fleet, we can never go home; it's on to victory or under ground. Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts, but we won't be turned around.

    And we will burn the fleet, we can never go home; it's on to victory or under ground. Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts, but we won't be turned around.

    WinterKisson October 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    perhaps its about fighting for what you believe in no matter what the odds are. really like these lyrics, so abstract. although, i wonder what cave in thinks about this.. it seriously sounds as if cave in wrote it.

    mellodaraon October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about a Captain that arrives to land, and tells his crew to burn their boats, this way they can not escape and the only option left is to conquer

    saocoreon October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah definately saocore thats cool does anyone think some of the fire stuff, this song and the arsonist, sound familiar to some deftones stuff?

    faithinthethiefon October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think mellodara has it nailed. I love this song, but does anyone else think it sounds a bit like Oasis? ^-^ I'm loving these new songs, I'd though I would be more of a Fire person but now I just don't know what to think.

    loggery_vnvon October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Upon arriving at the New World, Hernan Cortes destroyed his ships, not by fire, but later myth had him destroying them by fire.

    jstor.org/view/00182133/ap020195/02a00030/0

    There might be other historical precedence as well

    Sojourneymanon October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Good call Sojourneyman, I knew there was at least one historical example of burning the ships like that. There may be literary examples that this is meant to reference, as well. I'm pretty sure it's not what they were going for, but Warcraft III's storyline has a similar plot device, where one of the main characters secretly destroys his own army's ships, to prevent them from deserting and to rally them against the enemy.

    Anyway, the song is about committing fully and completely to a cause. The speaker is ordering the ships burned, forcing himself (and his men) to commit to his task until the very end - either he'll be a ghost or a king, but he won't turn around and run.

    DubbaEwwTeeEffon October 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    dubbaeww dont be so sure you are not right. Dustin is know to play a shitload of WOW and Warcraft. He might just have been inspired by that story.

    TrendyKidsSuckon October 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My view on the meaning of songs are normally very unique but will tell you what this song meant to me anyway. I felt this the first time i heard this song. It is about how Thrice as a band have evolved, and alot of fans criticise them for not playing hard rock songs like Deadbolt and Paper tigers anymore, and this song is about how they are not going back to their old style, and will continue to make music how they want even if it makes them lose a few fans.

    We are kings now, Or nothing at all.

    Although some may be dissapointed this is the way that they are going and there is no going back.

    Anglianon October 15, 2007   Link

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