The fire knows me

Verse 1

I know this room, I know this heat

I know what smoke does to my sleep

I know the silence before the flame

And I’m so mad I’m here again

I did my time, I paid that price

I crawled out once and built a life

I thought surviving meant goodbye

So why am I back here tonight?

Pre-Chorus

I thought surviving meant I’d never

Have to survive it twice

But here I am, back in the fire—

Why doesn’t it burn like last time?

Chorus

It’s not as hot this time

Not as hot this time

The flames are just as high

But I know I’m coming out alive

I know where to breathe

I know where to stand

I know how to walk through hell

And still know who I am

I’m still mad I’m back inside

But it’s not as hot

Not as hot this time

Verse 2

Last time I begged the smoke to clear

This time I know my way from here

Last time the pain felt like forever

Now I know nothing burns forever

Don’t call me grateful for the scars

I never asked to get this far

I shouldn’t have to prove again

That I can live through what once did me in

Pre-Chorus

I thought surviving meant I’d earned

A life without this fight

But here I am, back in the fire—

And it doesn’t own me this time

Chorus

It’s not as hot this time

Not as hot this time

The flames are just as high

But I know I’m coming out alive

I know where to breathe

I know where to stand

I know how to walk through hell

And still know who I am

I’m still mad I’m back inside

But it’s not as hot

Not as hot this time

Bridge

I won’t romanticize the burning

I won’t thank the match

I won’t say I needed this

To prove that I came back

I deserved a softer life

I still believe that’s true

But if the fire wants me twice—

It should know I’ve met it too

Breakdown

Last time, I thought I’d die here

Last time, I lost my name

Last time, I thought the ending

Was waiting in the flames

This time, I’m still angry

This time, I still cry

But I don’t mistake the burning

For the end of my life

Final Chorus

It’s not as hot this time

Not as hot this time

The flames are just as high

But I know I’m coming out alive

I know where to breathe

I know where to stand

I know how to walk through hell

And still know who I am

I’m still mad I’m back inside

I still wish I’d had a softer life

But it’s not as hot

Not as hot this time

Outro

Maybe the fire didn’t change

Maybe I did

I know this room

I know this heat

Last time, I met the fire

This time—

The fire knows me.