You keep a lot of secrets
And I keep none
Wish I could go back
And keep some

You're fireproof
Nothing breaks your heart
You're fireproof
It's just the way you are

You tell me you're waiting
To find someone
Who isn't so hopeless
There's no one

You're fireproof
Nothing breaks your heart
You're fireproof
How'd you get so far?

You're the needle in the hay
You're the water at the door
You're a million miles away
Doesn't matter anymore

Jennifer, you are not the only reason
My head is boiling and my hands are freezing
Jennifer, you are not the only one
To sit awake until the wild feelings leave you

You're fireproof
Nothing breaks your heart
You're fireproof
It's just the way you are
You're fireproof

It's what you always say
You're fireproof
I wish I was that way


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Imaji, jahjahjeh, flamebroiledchicken, dcb, nutshell7, Supersheep, vesperlynd7061, delorean21, cecioce89, Taytay41

Fireproof Lyrics as written by Matthew Donald Berninger Aaron Brooking Dessner

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Fireproof song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    Matt Berninger yearns for a hard-shell that would shield and protect him from strong, at times painful feelings and nagging thoughts associated with caring about someone special...

    He openly envies the tough, resilient, 'fireproof' nature of the woman who caused him pain and left him with a broken heart. He regrets opening up as much as he did, as he verbalizes with the remorseful "You keep a lot of secrets and I keep none. Wish I could go back and keep some."

    "You tell me you’re waiting to find someone who isn’t so hopeless", he utters calmly in an attempt to face the harsh cold truth himself. "There’s no one", he continues, in a sincere disbelief that it can be humanly possible to be immune to the emotional consequences of opening up and letting someone in.

    "How’d you get so far?", he asks in a partly rhetorical manner. It might be his belief that possessing that hard-shell and being 'fireproof'' comes naturally with one's emotional evolution.

    He tries to rationally get over his still-alive feelings for the one he cannot let go, by affirming and reminding to himself that "You’re a million miles away; it doesn’t matter anymore..."

    Self-aware and with his heart on his sleeve, he can see things as they are, but his feelings do not always cooperate.

    "Jennifer, you are not the only one to sit awake until the wild feelings leave you", he cries out softly at a climatic point. It is a confident moment of reassurance that he is not alone, and she too must have suffered from feelings, which he tries to relate to...

    "I wish I was that way", a sincere wish to be immune to certain feelings is right on point and ends the song on a high note, which the ongoing music carries on until the very end...

    gatinhaon August 17, 2013   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    Reminiscent of a past relationship with a girl who he keeps going back to. When they get back together here's her reasoning.

    "you tell me you're waiting to find someone, who isn't so hopeless, there's no one"

    but later he talks about how she's gone for good, and apparently stronger than him by thinking she's fireproof, and not affected by what happened.

    gizmo26on May 22, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is so powerful... so aching...

    kemdvon October 08, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    a needle in the hay, eh?

    sunwashighon May 16, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Official lyrics from album sleeve:

    You keep a lot of secrets and I keep none. Wish I could go back and keep some.

    You're fireproof. Nothing breaks your heart. You're fireproof. It’s just the way you are.

    You tell me you’re waiting to find someone who isn’t so hopeless. There’s no one.

    You’re fireproof. Nothing breaks your heart. You’re fireproof. How’d you get so far?

    You're a needle in the hay. You're the water at the door. You’re a million miles away. It doesn’t matter anymore.

    Jennifer, you are not the only reason my head is boiling and my hands are freezing. Jennifer, you are not the only one to sit awake until the wild feelings leave you.

    You're fireproof. Nothing breaks your heart You're fireproof. It’s just the way you are. You’re fireproof. It’s what you always say. You’re fireproof. Wish I was that way.

    flamebroiledchickenon June 08, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what's the meaning of- Jennifer, you are not the only reason my head is boiling and my hands are freezing....

    thisnametakenon March 15, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My personal interpretation is about being with someone that definitely is a hard shell. I can relate to this, being with someone who doesn't openly show vulnerable emotions. The part about "nothing breaks your heart" really stands out to me. The other person heavily guarding themselves. Also, in the beginning, "you keep my secrets and I keep none", the regret of opening yourself up to someone that doesn't open up to you. I really appreciate the National, great music.

    Phyrexia Riverson March 21, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Having just ended a 3+ year relationship with a heroin addict, my interpretation is likely skewed, but this song sounds like that person to me.. Always secretive, and manipulative in a way that makes you wish you were less open with them.

    How'd you get so far? Either far gone, or how have you lasted this long? Needle in the hay seems like an Elliot smith reference.. The water at the door is the constant threat of the lifestyle.. A million miles away is how they are most of the time.

    To me, the song sounds like a person trying to deal with another's addiction. "Wish I was that way" isn't to wish for the addiction, but to wish for their detachment because it's a lot easier than caring for/carrying them.

    ast*ron May 19, 2015   Link

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