Holding hands
Skipping like a stone
On our way
To see what we have done
The first to speak
Is the first to lie
The children cross
Their hearts & hope to die

Bite your tongue
Swear to keep your mouth shut

Ask yourself
Will i burn in Hell?
Then write it down
& cast it in the well
There they are
The mob it cries for blood
To twist the tale
Into fore wood
Fan the flames
With a little lie
Then turn your cheek
Until the fire dies
The skin it peels
Like the truth, away
What it was
I will never say...

Bite your tongue, swear to keep
Keep your mouth shut
Make up something
Make up something good...
Holding hands
Skipping like a stone
Burn the witch
Burn to ash & bone



Lyrics submitted by bugmenot

Track duration: 03:35

"Burn the Witch" as written by Josh/castillo Homme

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Burn The Witch song meanings
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53 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think the lyrics are about the Salem Witch burnings. It was started when two girls (Abigail Williams, 11 and Betty Parris, 9) were caught with a slave woman. They started throwing "possessive fits" and claimed that they were cursed by a witch and started spreading rumors and accusing people of being witches. (The first to speak, is the first to lie), (Make up something, make up something good.) (Bite your tongue, swear to keep your mouth shut.) Trials were held (Were on holding hands, skipping like a stone. On our way, to see what we have done.) Many people were convicted and executed for being witches. Soon everyone was wanting to rid the village of witches and as a result more were killed. (There they are, the mob it cries for blood. To twist the tale, into firewood.) All of this happened because of a lie told by two little girls. (Fan the flames, with a little lie.) Some of the "witches" fought back, while others ignored it. (Then turn your cheek, until the fire dies.) So many people died because of that lie, but no one knows the exact truth. (The skin it peels, like the truth away. What it was, I will never say...)
    Flag Kirjailijaon June 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I'm thinking it's actually about lying and gossip, and the aftereffects of lying and gossiping - the metaphorical witch-hunt that can occur as a result, and the feeling of being the person who began it all by lying or gossiping, and then watching the metaphorical witch-burning.
    Flag dartigenon January 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:LOVE THIS BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Flag tpman45on January 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it is about the mob mentality and people following something just because others do.

    I agree that it is great live. Love the bluesy riff
    Flag pmo1983on January 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:many ideas for this i see. This song could easily be metaphorical for a number of things josh never semmed like the cryptic type to me. this song is great live. it involves the audience so well.
    Flag FenderPrecisionon October 14, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:i was hoping no one had said it yet but milkwig beat me to it... i think this song is about the Salem witch trial that happen in 1768 i believe. (some time around then) after learning about them and listening to this song, i can pick out some lyrics from the song that relate to the Salem witch trials.

    First, a little background history on the Salem witch trials. During the discover of America, puritans came for religious freedom from england, if you dont know, puritans did nothing for fun a worshiped god 24/7. they didnt have dancing and what not because they thought it might lead you to the devil and stuff... anyway. Rev. Parris was the towns minister and his stepdaughter, Abigael Williams, and the other girls of the town went out to go dance and play in the woods. they danced around a pot with hot watter and threw berry's and leaves and stuff in it like children do, but Rev. Parris thought of it as witch craft and the devils work. shortly after the girls started to say names of people in their town who "they saw" with the devil. the reason why one person stood up and said something about it because Abigail Williams threaten to kill them if they told that it was all a joke and a scam. She saw her parents murdered as a young child by Indians. So at a young age she grew up a very corrupted person. So the other girls just rolled with it and this lead to a court of people who were accused of "knowing the devil". if you confessed, you could live, if you didnt confess, you would be hanged. i know the song is called "Burn the witch" but when i look at the rest of the lyrics, it just says salem witch trials to me.. for exammple.


    "Holding hands
    Skipping like a stone"


    this is kinda like childs play and what not, holding hands and skiping stones is all they do. now when

    "On our way
    To see what we have done"

    On their way to see what they have done to the towns people by letting it happen and not standing up to Abigail

    "The first to speak
    Is the first to lie"

    The first person to speak (or accuses someone) was the first to lie because they were lying the whole time

    "The children cross
    Their hearts and hope to die"

    they would rather die then live to see them kill innocent people for no reason? im not to sure about this line.

    "Bite your tongue
    Swear to keep your mouth shut"

    Pretty much what Abigail told them.

    "Ask yourself
    Will I burn in Hell?"

    thinking if they will burn in hell for killing these people

    "There they are
    The mob it cries for blood"

    Mob of girls that cry for blood by killing the accused

    "Fan the flames
    With a little lie"

    The little lie they told has started this huge fire and they cant stop it now

    "Then turn your cheek
    Until the fire dies"

    until this comes to an end, just look the other way and let it happen

    "Bite your tongue
    Swear to keep
    Keep your mouth shut
    Make up something
    Make up something good"

    Pretty much just keep your mouth shut and lie until the trials come to an end.


    So thats my take on this song, sorry if that was to long for you but thanks if you read it all. good song, good album, really good band!
    Flag tdw23on October 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Hey hey, just remember, guys, the immortal saying that couldn't be more true- sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Or in this case, a burning witch isn't a metaphor for anything but a burning witch.
    Flag MadQueenon August 09, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is about the Salem Witch Trials. From the girls who were making the accusations perspective. They are skipping to see the "witches" burned. It is to see what they have done because they are the ones whoe told ppl that they were witches. They make an agreement to never tell anyone what they did.
    Flag milkwigon July 17, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I believe kinda everyones right. I think he is referencing the salem witch trials to explain how society hasnt really progressed just changed forms. Its still the same, the media makes lies and false accusations then the mob comes after. This was true back in the days of the witch trials and is still prevelent today, just in a different fashion.
    Flag dakjm4txon May 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I really, really like the media explanation of it. If that was Homme's intention, then these lyrics are flat-out genius. Makes perfect sense and even the pscyhidelic feel of the song fits when you're in the spotlight and everyone's coming after you with the latest scandal.

    Great.
    Flag CovinSon January 23, 2009   Link

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