Template:MusicBox I Burn[1] is Yang Xiao Long's music theme. Three different versions of the song exist: the one featured in the "Yellow" Trailer, a hard rock version featuring a rap verse, and a club/dance remix of the hard rock version minus the rap verse.
It is also used as the ending song for Welcome to Beacon of RWBY.
Composition
The single version features remixed versions of previous trailer songs, Red Like Roses, Mirror Mirror and From Shadows, as well as a shorter version of the I Burn album version.
The remixes of the previous trailer songs, as well as the I Burn song remix, are primarily influenced by electronic dance music, with synthesized instruments, heavily auto-tuned vocals and four-to-the-bar bass drums.
The album version of the song drops most of the electronic influence in favor of a hard rock sound. The song starts off with heavily distorted guitar chords which accompany the first verse. After the first verse and chorus, sung by Casey Lee Williams, a rough, atonal guitar solo with heavy use of artificial harmonics is played.
After the second verse and chorus, the bridge leads into two rap verses performed by Lamar Hall. His raps are far more rebellious in content, with a few instances of vulgar language, such as "Human Torch can’t fuck with me" and "Shit will never be the same.".
After the rap verses, Jeff Williams plays a cleaner, more melodic guitar solo before Casey takes back over, singing the song's chorus twice before the song ends.
The chorus, the first solo, and the bridge after the second chorus are in the key of E major, whereas the verses and the second solo are in the parallel key of E minor.
Lyrics
Single
Red like roses fills my dreams and brings me to the place you rest.
White is cold and always yearning, burdened by a royal test.
Black the beast descends from shadows.
Yellow beauty burns gold.
Mirror, tell me something,
Tell me who's the loneliest of all?
Fear of what's inside of me,
Tell me can a heart be turned to stone?
Born with no life
Into subjugation
Treated like a worthless animal
Stripped of all rights
Just a lesser being
Crushed by cruel ruthless Human rule
When it started
All we wanted was a chance to live our lives
Now in darkness
Taking everything we want and we will rise
We'll rise
We'll rise
From shadows
We'll descend upon the world
Take back what you stole
From shadows
We'll reclaim our destiny
Set our future free
And we'll rise
And we'll rise
Above the darkness and the shame
Above the torture and the pain
Above the ridicule and hate
Above the binding of our fate
Come at me
And you'll see
I'm more than meets the eye.
You think that
You'll break me,
You're gonna find in time
You're standing too close to a flame that's burning
Hotter than the sun in the middle of July.
Sending out your army, but you still can't win;
Listen up, silly boy, 'cuz I'm gonna tell you why...
I burn!
Can't hold me now,
You got nothing that can stop me.
I burn!
Swing all you want.
Like a fever I will take you down.[2]
Album/Remix
Come at me
And you'll see
I'm more than meets the eye.
You think that
You'll break me,
You're gonna find in time
You're standing too close to a flame that's burning
Hotter than the sun in the middle of July.
Sending out your army, but you still can't win;
Listen up, silly boy, 'cuz I'm gonna tell you why...
I burn!
Can't hold me now,
You got nothing that can stop me.
I burn!
Swing all you want.
Like a fever I will take you down.
Reign supreme?
In your dreams;
You’ll never make me bow.
Kick my ass?
I'm world-class
And Super Saiyan now.
You’re starting up a fight that you just can’t finish;
Watch the little hearts while they scrape you off the floor.
Bringing out your rockets? Well, shoot 'em up, baby,
High as you can go, but I’m the one who’s gonna soar.
I burn!
Can't hold me now,
You got nothing that can stop me.
I burn!
Swing all you want,
Like a fever I will take you down.
It doesn’t have to be this way;
Let’s kiss and make up, then you’ll learn
You can fight your life away;
I get what I want, so don’t bother and just watch me burn.
Hotter than the sun,
Feel my fire;
Pyromaniac: my desire.
Thought that you could see the truth,
'Til I just burned down the booth.
Human Torch can’t fuck with me;
Johnny Blaze: Suspect B.
Strike 'em quick, lightning fast;
Melt them bitches down to ash.
Gasoline, kerosene;
Strike the match, ignite the scene.
Shit will never be the same;
Feel the fury of my flame.
Beg for mercy: it won’t help;
Embrace the ending you were dealt.
Seems you fucks will never learn;
Now sit back and watch me burn.
I burn!
Can't hold me now,
You got nothing that can stop me.
I burn!
Swing all you want,
Like a fever I will take you down.
I burn!
Can't hold me now,
You got nothing that can stop me.
I burn!
Swing all you want,
Like a fever I will take you down.
Trivia
- For the CD release the Lamar Hall version of the song was censored and the corresponding version on iTunes was subsequently censored as well.
- Both the album version and the remix version of the song make reference to the Super Saiyan state from the anime and manga series Dragonball. The reference stems from Yang's fiery Aura or Semblance that appears when she is enraged.
- The album version also features reference to the Human Torch from the Marvel comic book universe, as well as Johnny Blaze, the alter ego of the Ghost Rider.
- An instrumental version of I Burn is used as background music in RWBY Volume 2: Production Diary 4.
References
Template:SoundtrackNavbox