Lyrics
Cowards and Flames
By Ian G. Clifton
August 31st, 2003
Passing by a house
I've never been to before
I hear a scream
And flames eat the door
Smoke comes out the cracks
And broken windows too
Someone's inside, trapped,
She doesn't know what to do
No one else is around
No firefighters to be seen
Fire's eating out the frame
And the house begins to lean
A few passer-bys pull up
And they begin to stare
That someone is trapped inside
They don't seem to care
I throw my cellphone
At someone near by
He looks at me strangely
Maybe he wonders why
I tell him to call
Get help on the way
I hope he understands
The words I say
Sweating and aching
Flames all around
Why don't you help me
In this Godforsaken town
I can't breathe
Nor can I see
I wish you cowards
Were helping me
I run up to the door
At least where it used to be
Now it barely remains
Blackened wood swinging free
I slam through it
And the wood splinters apart
I'm sure I burned my arms
I feel a rush in my heart
The smoke is thick
I try to hold my breath
The lady is screaming
Possibly nearing death
Her cries give me strength
I cannot let her down
This person I've never met
In this cowardly little town
I lean low
I try to see
It's so black
And the flames burn me
The cries are closer
I can't let her down now
I take a breath of smoke
And to save her I vow
Sweating and aching
Flames all around
Why don't you help me
In this Godforsaken town
I can't breathe
Nor can I see
I wish you cowards
Were helping me
Pieces from the ceiling
Fall on my knee
It hurts so badly
But doesn't stop me
My eyes sting red
But I find the door
She's no longer screaming
She's lying on the floor
Her skin is black and red
She doesn't seem to see me
I put her over my shoulders
And begin to flee
I try to stay down
Keeping her below the smoke
But I don't think it is helping
The flames tease and joke
I'm not sure how
But I found my way
I broke through a window
And out into the day
People continued to stare
While I gently set her down
What is wrong with people
In this cowardly little town
Sweating and aching
Flames all around
Why don't you help me
In this Godforsaken town
I can't breathe
Nor can I see
I wish you cowards
Were helping me
With only minor coercion
She gasps fresh air
She was alive after all
She had given me quite a scare
Now that I know
She is safe at last
I grab my cellphone back
And walk away fast
People stare at my back
None even know my name
Am I heroic or crazy
Maybe the words are the same
As I walk away
The fire truck flies past
It's too late for the house
But the woman will last
I am glad
I didn't have to shed tears
I may ache for days
But she will live for years
Into memories I go
A stranger looking down
I can't believe the people
In this cowardly little town
Sweating and aching
Flames all around
Why don't you help me
In this Godforsaken town
I can't breathe
Nor can I see
I wish you cowards
Were helping me