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Anders Osborne — Burning on the Inside
Album: Which Way to Here
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 594









Released: 1995
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I bid your greeting, welcome, don't be shy
There's plenty of room but we're a little short of supplies
The rivers dry, it's sand for everyone
Don't mind the vultures, they only come for the sun

One man, one woman with a hard luck spell
One man, one woman smile
And they're mad as hell
But they're burning, burning in the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now
Burning, burning on the inside
Burning, burning from the inside out

I worked the land, I tend to every seed
I don't ask for much, I'm a man with simple needs
You came and went with news that slit my throat
To wreck my plans before the morning broke

One man, one woman with a hard luck spell
One man, one woman smile
And they're mad as hell
But they're burning, burning in the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now
Burning, burning on the inside
Burning, burning from the inside out

One man, one woman with a hard luck spell
One man, one woman smile
And they're mad as hell
But they're burning, burning in the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now
Burning, burning on the inside
Burning, burning from the inside out
Comments (44)add comment
Ain't nothing political going on here.  Don't make it into something it's not.

A couple ("one man, one woman") on a spell of hard luck show up at the narrator's [house]  and realize there's nothing for them here.  When they got the tough news that "slit their throats" they started metaphorically burning on the inside.
It's very good song. Many thanks RP.
who the hell made this political - yall need jesus… oh wait now cancel me…
I think they have an ointment for that.
There's no way Anders is some sort of hetero-normative advocate. He describes himself as an old hippy (although he's only like 55) and is involved with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, a great "activist-through-music" group that works to protect coastal Louisiana. I don't hear a lot of politics in his music, but he has had a lot of substance abuse problems that seriously affected his marriage and I think a lot of his music is personal on that level (his wife had substance issues, too, I think). I have no real idea, and am not sure about the timing, but I bet this song is about him and his wife and their drug use.

Ultimately, I think it's ok for some relationships to be between one man and one woman and for musicians to sing about those relationships.

That said, this isn't my favorite Anders song. Better examples of his harder rock stuff can be found on Flower Box, which is an awesome album.
the attempts to infer some hidden political meaning in these lyrics is ridiculous.
also. not that great a song.
I don't get comments that act like this song is some conservative prescriptive political piece. Couldn't it just be telling (alluding to) a story?
One man, one woman

That kind of talk gets you doxed these days.
When a song — first listen — makes you stop what yer doin and head for the song ID ... that's a "9." Docked one click for lifting Lowell George. Yet it sounds really good.

Thanks Billbecca

Followed by Stand or Fall sounding fresh on RP. Yes.
Burning..... my ears are BURNING.... on the inside...

 
The lyrics don't offer much elucidation;
Burning On The Inside

Lyrics: Anders Osborne
Music: Anders Osborne

Played by Anders Osborne with Phil Lesh & Friends in April 2013.

Bid your greeting, welcome, don't be shy
Plenty of room on my little shoulder to cry
The rivers dry, it's sad for everyone
Don't mind the vultures, they only come for the sun

One man, one woman had a hard luck spell
One man, one woman smile
But they're burning, burning in the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now
Burning, burning on the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now

I worked the land, I tend to every seed
I don't ask for much, I'm a man with simple needs
You came and went with news that slit my throat
To wreck my plans before the morning broke

One man, one woman had a hard luck spell
One man, one woman smile
But they're burning, burning in the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now
Burning, burning on the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now

One man, one woman had a hard luck spell
One man, one woman smile
But they're burning, burning in the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now
Burning, burning on the inside
Burning, burning on the inside now

Recordings     Date Album Recorded 1995 Which Way To Here    By Anders Osborne

Whatever.
 merobreno wrote:
Said to myself "I've never heard this". Made me look. Gets a 5.5 rating. Curious. I gave it a 7. Thinking RP listeners are becoming more PC all the time. " I don't know it, I it does't think like me, I don't like it".
 
Why would that attitude be an example of "PC"?  That example is more like a xenophobic attitude.  PC would be more like: "I won't say anything negative about this song for fear I may offend someone who likes it."
I would have rated it at a 7, but question his intentions, or at the very least insensitivities, over the 1 man/1 woman line. I went to review the lyrics for better context, but none were available. 
Could definitely be the clap... {#Redface}
Just added to a 10 to fuel the fire. 
 merobreno wrote:
Said to myself "I've never heard this". Made me look. Gets a 5.5 rating. Curious. I gave it a 7. Thinking RP listeners are becoming more PC all the time. " I don't know it, I it does't think like me, I don't like it".

 
I too gave it a 7 without looking at what the masses rated it. But 5.5? Really? I don't care if it reminds me of Little Feat. I liked it.
 Jdingman wrote:
Reminds me of Leftover Salmon

 
Stinky.  Time to take out the garbage.
burning from the inside out - what, is this song about Menopause? lol!
Said to myself "I've never heard this". Made me look. Gets a 5.5 rating. Curious. I gave it a 7. Thinking RP listeners are becoming more PC all the time. " I don't know it, I it does't think like me, I don't like it".
 MsJudi wrote:
Is it just me or does his voice sound like Billy Joel?
 
I hear it too, but the sound of a car crash is strangely absent.

 Photo of totaled car resting on concrete pillars with caption:

 adiroot wrote:
The worst thing I've heard on RP ever...  

   

Really? Worse than anything by Yoko Ono? Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter? Most stuff by Dengue Fever? Nay, Nay! 
The worst thing I've heard on RP ever...  
Reminds me of Leftover Salmon
Blech. Like Montgomery Gentry on the Nashville Network.
Weird. When I first hear the verse it reminded me of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated".
Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Hornsby, Peter Case, little Feat, Roy Rogers, Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel.....and Cher; this guy must have heaps of talent.. but this song doesn't
Eagan wrote:
Re:The comparisons to other artists: I think I caught a twinge of Little Feat in this tune.
I was also thinking Little Feat when I first heard it, but can also see the comparisions with Bruces Hornsby and Cockburn.
...not bad...not good...yawn..... anyone else hear strains of Cher in this song...or is it just me...(wouldn't be the first time)....
MsJudi wrote:
Is it just me or does his voice sound like Billy Joel?
Yeah, maybe a teensy bit. I can hear it now that you say that but I never would have thought that otherwise.
Is it just me or does his voice sound like Billy Joel?
When you put it this way the lyrics are kinda depressing. Anyway, I still like it. Illustr8r wrote:
"One man one woman"?
Eagan wrote:
Re:The comparisons to other artists: I think I caught a twinge of Little Feat in this tune.
Yes and Peter Gabriël's Sledgehammer (that bassline). Makes a nice, uplifting, catchy song.
"One man one woman"? I didn't know the concept was still considered acceptable in a place like CA... This is like the official theme to the Defense of Marriage Act. :D
I\'m hearing Roy Rogers (not the cowboy).
Re:The comparisons to other artists: I think I caught a twinge of Little Feat in this tune.
I have to agree with the comment below about this being very generic sounding. Does nothing for me.
I bought this cd because of RP and it\'s excellent!
I\'ve had this CD for a year or so, thought I was the only one. Nice to hear this tune.
People think it sounds like Bruce Cockburn or Bruce Hornsby? I thought it might be Peter Case. Hmm. Bill followed it with Midnight Oil and that was a good match. It\'s great that somebody around here listens to the music!