Katy Perry’s Song ‘Watch It Burn’ Is a Fiery Anthem About Finally Putting Yourself First

Katy Perry is embracing a fiercer side on her latest single, “Watch It Burn.” Released on June 25 along with a cinematic music video, the track finds the singer reflecting on years of suppressed anger before ultimately choosing herself.

Ahead of the song’s release, Perry previewed “Watch It Burn” during performances at O Son do Camiño in Spain and Rock in Rio Lisboa. She later opened up about the inspiration behind the track during an appearance on songwriter Justin Tranter’s Unfamous podcast, revealing that it grew out of an especially difficult period in her life.

“In ‘Watch It Burn,’ I am wrestling with my darkness, but last year was pretty tough,” Perry said.

She also explained that writing the song meant allowing herself to express emotions she had long pushed aside.

“I have not given myself permission to be angry my whole life over things where I should be fucking angry about,” she said. “What I’ve done is I pushed it down, but I should be fucking angry. I’m allowed to be angry for a fucking moment.”

That perspective carries throughout the lyrics. Perry reflects on feeling diminished in a relationship before reaching a turning point, singing, “For years, you fed me only crumbs / You paid me only dust,” before declaring, “You know I gave and I gave / Now I’m giving up.”

The chorus shifts from frustration to release as she sings, “Tonight’s the night, I light a match / Throw it hard behind my back / Gonna try to forgive and forget / Light a cigarette, and watch it burn.”

While Perry has not confirmed who the song is about, many listeners have speculated that it draws from the end of her relationship with Orlando Bloom. The former couple, who share daughter Daisy, ended their engagement last year after nearly a decade together.

The song’s closing lyrics suggest the focus is less on revenge and more on moving forward. In the outro, Perry sings, “I’m gonna get what I deserve...Finally I put myself first,” before repeating the title refrain.

Read the lyrics to Katy Perry’s “Watch It Burn” below.

[Verse 1]For years, you fed me only crumbsYou paid me only dustSaid I was too hard to love, woahFor years, I tried to rise aboveWas only light and love

But now I'm, "Shut the fuck up," woah

[Pre-Chorus]You know I gave and I gaveNow I'm giving upThere's nothing more you can takeNo, I don't want to cause a scene

But give me the gasoline

[Chorus]Tonight's the night, I light a matchThrow it hard behind my backGonna try to forgive and forgetLight a cigarette, and watch it burnWith the past, I'ma breathe in the ashGonna try to forgive and forget

Light a cigarette, and watch it burn

[Verse 2]Thank you for showing me the painThis was not a mistake

The mistake would be to stay, ayy

[Pre-Chorus]You know I gave and I gaveNow I'm giving upThere's nothing more you can takeNo, I don't want to cause a scene

But give me the gasoline

[Chorus]Tonight's the night, I light a matchThrow it hard behind my backGonna try to forgive and forgetLight a cigarette, and watch it burnWith the past, I'ma breathe in the ashGonna try to forgive and forget

Light a cigarette, and watch it burn

[Outro]I'm gonna get what I deserveI'm sorry, I know that it hurtsFinally I put myself firstAnd watch it burnI'm gonna get what I deserveI'm sorry, I know that it hurtsFinally I put myself first

And watch it burn