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  1. Tracks
  2. Sam Smith
  3. The Thrill of It All
  4. Burning
Burning by Sam Smith

SINGLE

Sam Smith

Burning

Release date: 3rd November 2017

From The Thrill of It All
Track 5
3:23
PopMusicRockAdult Contemporary
Spotify Apple Music More on Sam Smith

About This Track

A slow-burning ballad from Sam Smith's 2017 album 'The Thrill of It All', released as a promotional single on 27 October that year. Smith described it as his favourite track on the record, a claim that speaks to the raw emotional weight the song carries. The lyric builds its central metaphor around literal and figurative combustion: 'I've been burning up since you left', Smith sings, the flame on the chest an image of uninsurable damage. The smoking references layer a second meaning over the heartbreak, the habit framed as rebellion even as the narrator admits to isolation and regret. The chorus returns to that consuming fire, the love replaced by something hotter and more destructive. Stripped of ornament, the track leans into gospel-tinged balladry, Smith's voice carrying the full weight of the confession. It sits alongside the Timbaland collaboration 'Pray' as one of the promotional releases that built anticipation for the album's arrival.

"Burning" is a single by Sam Smith, from the album The Thrill of It All, released 3rd November 2017. The track is 3:23 long. It's filed under Pop. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 20 articles about Sam Smith.

About the Artist

Sam Smith

Sam Smith

Lyrics

Burning

I've been burning, yes, I've been burning
Such a burden, this flame on my chest
No insurance to pay for the damage
Yeah, I've been burning up since you left

I've been smoking, oh
More than twenty a day
Blame it on rebellion
Don't blame it all on me
Wish I was younger
Back to the nineteenth of May
I had an open mind
Swore to never change

Funny how time goes by
Had respect for myself
That river ran dry
You reached the limit
I wasn't enough
It's like the fire replaced all the love

I've been burning, yes, I've been burning
Such a burden, this flame on my chest
No insurance to pay for the damage
Yeah, I've been burning up since you left

Oh, if you ever called
I would run straight back
Give you my forgiveness
And the shirt off my back
No friends to turn to
Yeah, I messed up that
Wish we could smoke again
Just for a day, oh

Funny how time goes by
Had respect for myself
That river ran dry
You reached the limit
I wasn't enough
And it's like the fire replaced all the love

I've been burning, yes, I've been burning
Such a burden, this flame on my chest
No insurance to pay for the damage
Yeah, I've been burning up since you left

Yeah, I've been burning up since you left
Oh, I've been burning up since you left

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From The Thrill of It All

3:232017Single
Listen
Album
The Thrill of It All
The Thrill of It All
Sam Smith
3rd November 2017
Track number
5
Release year
2017
  1. 1Too Good at Goodbyes
    3:21
  2. 2Say It First
    4:08
  3. 3One Last Song
    3:13
  4. 4Midnight Train
    3:27

More from Sam Smith

Albums & EPs

BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
2025
In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition)
In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition)
2024
A Lonely Christmas - EP
A Lonely Christmas - EP
2023
Gloria (Special Edition)
Gloria (Special Edition)
2023
Gloria
Gloria
2023
Sam Smith Stripped - EP
Sam Smith Stripped - EP
2023

Explore

More tracks by Sam Smith

  1. Both Sides Now (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    6:05
  2. Good Thing (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    5:22
  3. How Do You Sleep? (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    4:17
  4. I’ve Told You Now (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    4:38
  5. Lay Me Down (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    5:27
  6. Leave Your Lover (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    3:21
  7. Like I Can (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    3:32
  8. My Funny Valentine (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    3:27
  9. Over The Rainbow (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    5:16
  10. Stay With Me (BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall)BBC Proms At The Royal Albert Hall
    4:37

Showing 10 of 20

If you like Sam Smith

Adele

Adele

James Arthur

James Arthur

JP Cooper

JP Cooper

Jessie J

Jessie J

Calum Scott

Calum Scott

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran

  • 5Burning
    3:23
  • 6HIM
    3:10
  • 7Baby, You Make Me Crazy
    3:28
  • 8No Peace (feat. YEBBA)
    4:43
  • 9Palace
    3:07
  • 10Pray
    3:42
  • —Leader of the Pack
  • —Blind Eye
  • —Scars
  • —One Day at a Time
  • —Nothing Left for You
  • —No Peace
  • —The Thrill of It All

    • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Dominic Jordan, Jimmy Giannos, Poo Bear, Sam Smith
    Producer
    Jimmy Napes, Steve Fitzmaurice
    Bass
    Jodi Milliner
    Vocals
    Sam Smith
    Assistant Recording Engineer
    Henri Davies, Steph Marziano
    Mastering Engineer
    Bob Ludwig
    Mixing Engineer
    Jimmy Napes
    Organ
    Reuben James
    Recording Engineer
    Darren Heelis, Gus Pirelli, Steve Fitzmaurice
    READ MORE ABOUT SAM SMITHREAD MORE ABOUT SAM SMITHREAD MORE ABOUT SAM SMITHREAD MORE ABOUT SAM SMITH
    READ MORE ABOUT SAM SMITHREAD MORE ABOUT SAM SMITHREAD MORE ABOUT SAM SMITHREAD MORE ABOUT SAM SMITH
    Sam Smith has recruited a 28-piece choir for new single 'Oh Mother'
    News

    Sam Smith has recruited a 28-piece choir for new single 'Oh Mother'

    Second single lifted from fifth album 'Hazel Eyes', arriving 21st August.

    23 Jul 2026 • 9:39 am
    Sam Smith has announced intimate UK ‘To Be Free’ shows, including an eight-night London residency
    News

    Sam Smith has announced intimate UK ‘To Be Free’ shows, including an eight-night London residency

    The run precedes fifth album 'Hazel Eyes', led by Feist collaboration 'My Guy'.

    2 Jul 2026 • 9:58 am
    Sam Smith has returned with ‘My Guy’ and details of fifth album ‘Hazel Eyes’
    News

    Sam Smith has returned with ‘My Guy’ and details of fifth album ‘Hazel Eyes’

    "This album is an incredibly special record to me," says Sam.

    25 Jun 2026 • 10:29 am
    Sam Smith is launching a new charitable foundation and podcast, The Pink House
    News

    Sam Smith is launching a new charitable foundation and podcast, The Pink House

    Keep an eye out for more on the foundation soon.

    7 Jun 2024 • 4:00 pm
    Sam Smith and Madonna have teamed up for a new single, 'Vulgar'
    News

    Sam Smith and Madonna have teamed up for a new single, 'Vulgar'

    It's the duo's first collaboration together.

    9 Jun 2023 • 11:08 am
    Sam Smith is releasing a brand new track next week
    News

    Sam Smith is releasing a brand new track next week

    Titled 'How Do You Sleep?', the fresh cut is set to arrive next Friday, 19th July.

    11 Jul 2019 • 9:46 am