It was a picture perfect postcard day
When I followed her down the road,
A day to get to heaven, a day to drop your load
And as I walk down smiling on the street
I heard again the words she'd said to me:

You know I am burning, they say
It's better to burn out than it is to rust
So I am burning darling, away
The gravel and the dust,
I am burning both ends,
And if I don't last the day,
Tell my friends of the light
When I was burning away

On such a really picture postcard day
We went the longest road,
Thru places where we had lived,
Thru places we had roamed
And when at last we got where we should be
I heard again the words she'd said to me:

And so I am burning, they say
It's better to burn out than to fade away
So I am burning darling, today,
And I know that it won't last,
I am burning both ends,
And as I may not last the day,
Tell my friends of the light
When I was burning away

It was a really perfect postcard day
When she went down to her last home,
A perfect day to get some rest,
A day like seldom come
And as the ground was closing and she was set free
I heard again the words she'd said to me:

And now I am burning, they say
It's better to burn out than just disappear
I am burning darling, away
It's getting dark but I have no fear
I am burning both ends,
And as I won't last the day,
Tell my friends of the flames
When I was burning away