Old Flame

Lyrics

[Verse 1] I am waiting for a man, I am sitting in his place It's been 40, 50 years since I last saw his face I used to pray that he'd come back I'd hold a photo to my chest I would whisper filthy poems The doctor said I was obsessed I moved on and I grew up I had a husband, a career But lately, I been feeling prickly Guess that's what brought me here In some minutes, maybe more He's gonna open up that door [Chorus] Old flame, old flame Will you freeze or will you run When you see I've got a gun? When you see I've got a gun? Old flame, old flame Will I feel a little doubt When it's time to snuff you out? [Verse 2] Oh, I try to think of good things And the positives I've got Then I think of him a little Then I think of him a lot And it's not him just by himself I think of what he put me through And how I had to overcome That which he never had to do I been sittin' here forever It's so like him that he's late And now he's made me think about him That's the part of him I hate Well, hate is much too strong a word I guess that I'm not bein' fair As I clutch the pistol tighter in the dark and in his chair [Chorus] Old flame, old flame Why does your memory persist? I think I hate that you exist I think I hate that you exist Old flame, old flame Why should I have any doubt That I need to snuff you out? [Verse 2] 'Cause Oprah Winfrey told me on TV the other day That dealing with the past is really so the only way To move on and change and be the woman that I deserve to be See Oprah told me Yeah, Oprah told me! And I realize the reason I was feeling awfully low I had not really confronted what had happened long ago I was angry at the past and at this man and Oprah said That the best way to get past the past was shoot him in the head! ... Or somethin' like that... ...Sometimes I paraphrase... Well, anyways... [Bridge] I am Waiting for a man I hear his car, I start to churn Steps on gravel coming close I see the doorknob start to turn I aim my gun, he steps inside He looks at me and I at him He's confused and I am too I say out loud, "You're not Jim" He says, "Who's Jim?" I try to leave He grabs me roughly by the arm I shoot him in the shoulder (Sound of a gunshot.) It's self-defense, I mean no harm My ears are ringing loud as I walk swiftly from the house You can't trust Google for addresses And look, a blood stain on my blouse I hear Oprah in my head as I look down at my shirt "When you can't let go of the past That's when the innocent get hurt" There's a lesson to be learned here What it is I just can't see I'm not living in the past It's the past that lives in me [Chorus] Old flame, old flame Look at what you made me do I guess I always knew I guess I always knew Old flame, old flame You never let me mend You'd burn me in the end Old flame, old flame How I struggle how I fight But I can't ignore your light I cannot ignore your light Old flame, old flame You're out there burning bright But I can't ignore your light I cannot ignore your light Light Now I haven't any doubt Hard as I try I will never blow you out I will always be the same Old... flame 🔥