2022 will forever go down as the year of Zach Bryan. After dropping the 34-track album, American Heartbreak, in May and following that up with the 9-track EP, Summertime Blues in July, Bryan let everyone know that he wasn’t planning on slowing down any time soon with the release of “Burn, Burn, Burn” in September.
The track racked up over 175,000 views the first day it was posted on Aug. 17, 2022; however, Bryan took the original video down before announcing the song’s official release on September 8.
“Burn, Burn, Burn” is arguably Bryan at his most personal. He’s not telling a grand story of heartbreak or love, he’s simply talking about his hopes and dreams. The song sounds less like a country song and more like a late-night conversation with a friend. Like many of his songs, he expresses his want for simplicity in life. It’s clear that Bryan would much rather write poetry on a quiet balcony than live in the spotlight whether it’s on stage or on TikTok.
Throughout the song, he rides an incredibly fine line of making the listener feel a bit hopeful, a bit melancholy and ultimately a bit inspired.
“I know I’m bound to die one day
So when I reach those golden gates
I pray to say I did the best I can
Sit with my mother and the dearly departed
Send a prayer down to the broken-hearted
Let ’em know it all turns out just fine”
Since its release, Burn, Burn, Burn has risen to be one of the most popular songs Bryan has released so far. It was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 13, 2023, and judging by its huge streaming numbers (316 million on Spotify alone), it will receive higher certifications in the near future. The track has become a staple at Bryan’s live shows, being featured on his live album, All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster.
Burn, Burn, Burn also became the name of the “Something in the Orange” singer’s 2023 tour which wrapped up on August 30th.
Listen to it here: