What It Is to Burn (song)
"What It Is to Burn" is the debut single and title track off the album What It Is to Burn by the U.S. post-hardcore band Finch. It was released as a single in 2003 and was featured in the pilot episode of One Tree Hill. A demo version of the song was released on the Drive-Thru Records compilation CD Welcome to the Family in 2001.
| "What It Is to Burn" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Finch | ||||
| from the album What It Is to Burn | ||||
| Released | January 2003 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 
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| Label | Drive-Thru | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Nate Barcalow | |||
| Finch singles chronology | ||||
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Background
    
In an interview with AOL, lead singer Nate Barcalow said he wrote this song from the viewpoint of a man in hell sending a letter to his loved one.[3]
"What It Is to Burn" was first released in 2001 as a demo for a compilation by Drive-Thru Records entitled Welcome to the Family.[4] This version is described as being longer and orchestral, as well as more popular within Finch's fanbase.[3] The song was re-recorded and added as the title track for Finch's debut album in 2002.[3] The shorter album version was released as a single in 2003, peaking at No. 15 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart; to this date, it is Finch's only charting song in the United States.[5]
Loudwire listed "What It Is to Burn" at No. 47 in their list of the Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs.[3]
Chart history
    
| Chart (2003) | Peak position  | 
|---|---|
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[6] | 15 | 
References
    
- Hartmann, Graham. "No. 47: Finch, 'What It Is To Burn' – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs". Loudwire.
 - Heisel, Scott (2013-10-23). "10 Essential Emo Power Ballads - Page 2 of 2". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
 - "No. 47: Finch, 'What It Is To Burn' – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
 - Savage, Paul (February 23, 2002). "Finch Know What It Is to Burn". Punktastic. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
 - "Finch Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
 - "Finch Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
 
