Burn
By: Beck Hansen

Written by: Beck Hansen

Alternate Titles:

a.k.a. You Can Be So Careless

Versions:
  1. Burn (4:15)
    Available on Banjo Story.
    Credits
    Beck Hansen: Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonica, Vocals
 
Lyrics:
Burn [Version (a)]:

I was a brush stroke in the plan, an expendable man
A stepping stone, a houseplant
No goodbye, no thanks, just left to fill in the blanks
Honey, if the shoe fits, you better walk on
'Cause you can be so careless
Always change your mind

Will you look at that girl down on the street?
Making every little part of me sick to see
That killjoy kind of loving they teach
I'd rather be a drip in the bathroom sink
'Cause you can be so careless
Always change your mind

I was all for the damage, junk all in the hand
Cast off with that flick of the hand
I'm not your donkey, nor your jack-ass
Matchstick burnin' in a field of grass
'Cause you can be so careless
Always change your mind

Be hateful, be kind and be burned
Everything behind me burn
Be hateful, be kind and be burned
Everything behind me, now burn
 
The Song:

"Burn" is one of a couple of songs on Banjo Story that really showcase Beck's raw talent. This one is not perfectly coherent, but still full of amusing portraits ("I was a brush stroke in the plan / An expendable man / A stepping stone / A houseplant") and self-deprecating humor ("I'd rather be a drip in the bathroom sink").

The song is usually referred to as "You Can Be So Careless," because of the chorus. That was the title given to it by bootleggers, when Banjo Story was transferred to CD and distributed among fans sans liner notes. However, the original artwork for the tape calls the song "Burn," which comes from the coda, and probably also refers to all the insults (i.e., burns) of the song.