[Verse 1] My father gave me anger My mother gave me nerve A teacher gave me language For the things I couldn't learn A lover gave me patience An enemy gave me pride I took a little from them all And called the whole thing mine [Pre-Chorus] But when the room goes quiet And there’s no one left to blame I wonder what would still be burning If you took away the names [Chorus] I don't know if I'm burning Or just carrying the flame Don't know if this is power Or somebody else's name Every light that ever found me Left a little of itself Maybe I am what they gave me Maybe I became myself I don't know if I'm burning Or just borrowed fire [Verse 2] I learned courage from a coward Who stayed when he could run Learned mercy from a woman Who had every right to none Learned hunger from the gifted Learned grace from being denied Every scar became a doorway Every doorway changed the light [Pre-Chorus] Now every hand that shaped me Has disappeared from view Still I feel them in the choices I keep swearing that I choose [Chorus] I don't know if I'm burning Or just carrying the flame Don't know if this is power Or somebody else's name Every light that ever found me Left a little of itself Maybe I am what they gave me Maybe I became myself I don't know if I'm burning Or just borrowed fire [Bridge] If I gave it all back Every lesson, every scar Every voice I ever carried Every hand that got me far Would there still be something left here That no one else had touched? Or is a soul just what remains Of everyone we loved? Maybe nothing starts from nowhere Maybe nothing ever should Maybe taking what they gave me Doesn't mean I never stood [Final Chorus] Maybe I am burning Maybe borrowed isn't false Maybe every flame is given Before it learns to stand alone Every light that ever found me Left a little of itself I can carry what they gave me And still become myself So let them call it borrowed Let them ask me where it starts Fire doesn't lose its meaning Just because it changed its heart [Outro] I don't need to own the spark To know the heat is mine Let it burn Let it burn Let it become mine
