Weekly Poetry Blog

World on Fire
Sarah McLachlan

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
Night has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I try to hold it in, yeah I try to hold it in

The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(I try to pull my ship)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

I watch the heavens and I find a calling
Something I can do to change this moment
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
Don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone

The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(I try to pull my ship)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

Hearts break, hearts mend
Love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash
Still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold
Is closing in on us

We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take, the less we become
A fortune of one that means less for some

The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(I try to pull my ship)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

I absolutely love this song and I think that the lyrics are especially applicable for the political times. Sarah McLachlan wrote this song several years ago now, and it is still relevant and current. I love the line "I'll try to pull my ship" which is a beautiful image for tending to one's own needs.

The one line that confuses me is "We part the veil on our killer sun". I do love this stanza however, for the third line--"the more we take, the less we become." I am not sure if this is a nod to capitalism, to those in political power, or those who did what they had to do to get a ton of money. I also wonder if the planes crash line is a reference to 9/11? This poem is definitely about a crisis: the crisis that our world is facing, whether it be from pollution/global warming, Africa/starvation/AIDS epidemic, or our the political issues that are ever present such as the war in Iraq. I like that in spite of all the things that she has listed--all the terrible things that are going on currently--that this poem still has a message of hope embedded. It is simple: do what you can. I remember the music video budget went to support nonprofit organizations and that the music video was more or less a stripped down version of her singing this song with the explanation of where the money went. I am a huge fan of Sarah McLachlan and especially like this poem.