Don't stand so close to me,
Don't be another tragedy.
I've burned everybody who had a hand to lend,
A man burning at both ends.

No one put me in this hell,
I lit a fire underneath myself.
Now I'm blazing that same old trail back to you again,
A man burning at both ends.

(Chorus)
A dangerous thing to know about,
No painless way to put me out,
You either make a bed that's cold,
Or you're wlaking barefoot over coals.

I regret the things I've done,
The bitter words and fiery tongues.
And letters turned to smoke then turned to wind,
A man burning at both ends.

(Chorus)

We ran barefoot through the reeds,
Wetted down and with the need.
The tide though high and getting higher,
Could not put out the man on fire.

Look, look, look, look, look, down your street for me.
Look, look, look, look, look, up in your window please.
You'll see a light where before no light had been,
A man burning at both ends.
You'll see a light where before no light had been,
A man burning at both ends.