1. "Burnin' Up" (3:33)


REFRAIN:
"When you play with fire, sooner or later, you're gonna get burned.
When you play with fire, sooner or later, you're gonna get burned."

1.
I was so angry---just burning up---
I felt out of control completely!
I wanted to hurt them, 'cause they'd hurt me, too!
As I thought of what I'd like to do, I heard the news...

"There was a bad fire today," I heard the announcer say,
"It was kids with matches, maybe wanting to play...
Maybe they were curious, maybe they were bored,
maybe they were angry, or thought they'd been ignored."

Then the fire fighter said as he sadly shook his head,

"If only they had thought about what fire can do!
Could it be they didn't know? How can that be so?
But, whatever the excuse, once fire is turned loose,
there's no telling what will happen,
who'll get hurt...
where it'll end...
what will be forever burned."

REFRAIN:
"When you play with fire, sooner or later, you're gonna get burned.
Yeah, when you play with fire, sooner or later, you're gonna get burned."


2.
I'd been so angry---just burning up---
I'd felt out of control completely!
It scared me to think what I'd been ready to try!
After hearing 'bout those kids, I wanted to cry.

It could be they had thought, "We'll only burn a little."
But what started as a spark at the end of a match
Soon turned into a blaze, quick as a flash;
and then it was too late...there was no turning back.

I'm sure they never thought it could get so out of hand.

So...will I control my anger? I'll master it, you bet!
But could I control a fire? No one can count on that!
I'm so glad that my anger didn't burn up anyone else!
From now on, when I get angry, I'll play it cool...
That's much better for myself,
and for other people, too.


REFRAIN:
"When you play with fire, sooner or later, you're gonna get burned.
When you play with fire, sooner or later, you're gonna get burned."

(repeat last line and fade)
Copyright 1987 by Linda K. Williams
available for download from SongsForTeaching.com
Listen to the song: BetterWorld-Resources.com Linda.BetterWorld@gmail.com