[Verse 1]
I seen the smoke lean low
over Island Creek road
Old screen door shaking hard
from the heat, from the glow
Sirens cut the dark apart
red wash on the tin
Mama said, "Grab the keys"
then we ran out again
Ash on the porch rail
boots in the mud
Pet dog in my lap
heart loud as a drum
Neighbors in the yard
with the hose stretched thin
Trying to hold back hell
with a garden hose grin
[Pre-Chorus]
Wind keep pushing
fire keep talking
Whole block waking up
when the trees start knocking
Black sky moving
ember rain falling
Everybody praying
when the creek starts boiling
[Chorus]
Island Creek fire
burning high, burning high
Island Creek fire
keep your people inside
Island Creek fire
say a prayer, say it loud
Island Creek fire
we survive, we survive
[Verse 2]
Radio crackled out
"Evac now, move fast"
Truck bed full of boxes
and the clothes from the past
Photo albums, birth papers
bagged up in a rush
Granddad’s blue toolbox
and a dented red brush
Saw the church bell swing
heard the dogs all bark
Smoke made noon look
like a piece of dark
Everybody on the hill
watching orange climb
You don't forget a night
when it steals your time
[Pre-Chorus]
Wind keep pushing
fire keep talking
Whole block waking up
when the trees start knocking
Black sky moving
ember rain falling
Everybody praying
when the creek starts boiling
[Chorus]
Island Creek fire
burning high, burning high
Island Creek fire
keep your people inside
Island Creek fire
say a prayer, say it loud
Island Creek fire
we survive, we survive
[Bridge]
Next morning, gray ground
but the river still ran
Hands on the coffee mugs
in a borrowed-up van
Loss got weight, yeah
heavy in the chest
Still we pass that water
and we do our best
[Chorus]
Island Creek fire
burning high, burning high
Island Creek fire
keep your people inside
Island Creek fire
say a prayer, say it loud
Island Creek fire
we survive, we survive