Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Rum Is for Drinking, Not for Burning” by Senses Fail
The emo-punk classic “Rum Is for Drinking, Not for Burning” by Senses Fail is an instantly recognizable anthem for the heartbroken and emotionally damaged. With powerful lyrics and an unyielding rhythm, the song paints a vivid picture of a person struggling to move on from a broken relationship.
The first verse details how the narrator has been affected by the breakup, as they cannot escape the feelings of loss that linger after the other person’s departure. The verse also alludes to the idea of fire and burning to metaphorically encompass the intensity of emotion felt due to the failed relationship.
The chorus then sees a shift in the narrator’s attitude as they come to terms with the dissolution of the relationship and the need to accept the situation and move on. The lyrics “Rum is for drinking, not for burning” exemplify how the narrator is taking an active stance in accepting the acceptance to continue forward in life without the other person.
The second verse continues on from this new outlook, allowing the narrator to admit that the relationship can no longer be salvaged, and that the other person may have been the one with the issues that ultimately led to the end of the partnership. The chorus then returns to reiterate that the narrator is committed to freeing themselves of lingering feelings and to going out and embracing life.
The climax of the song sees Senses Fail’s singer, Buddy Nielsen, proclaiming “[it] was her, not me” as a way to solidify the second verse’s sentiment to the listener. Thus, the song ends with a feeling of hope and reassurance for the narrator; they can come to terms with the relationship’s failure, find a way to be able to cope, move on and – as the chorus states – drink rum and watch the flame go from yellow to blue.