The title of this song is an allusion to I Was a Teenage Anarchist by Against Me!, the chorus of which is:
“Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?”
The song is based around the life of Michael ‘Mini’ Cooper, a former child arsonist from the band’s home town of...
[Verse 1]
Mini lit a match as he boarded the train
He knew he shouldn't go but he couldn't remain
With four white walls and a tortured brain
He stared into the flicker of a tiny flame
Mini was a rebel and a tearaway
He wouldn't say his prayers and he wouldn't behave
He could sing a song, he could write a play
But they gave him the belt and said he'd never be saved
[Refrain]
Something dies everyday, something precious died when he got locked away
Oh, funny and intelligent, charming and so eloquent, Mini caught the train
[Chorus]
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
You made it to the city
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
You made it to the city
[Verse 2]
Mini was a preteen arsonist
He stole firelighters and a bag of crisps
So they took him to church, yeah they put him on a list
But he wouldn't back down, he wouldn't desist
Oh, mini
You never asked for much
Something hot enough to touch
Something hot enough to touch
[Refrain]
Something dies everyday, something precious died when he got locked away
Oh, funny and intelligent, charming and so eloquent, Mini caught the train
[Bridge]
I hate the devil for the tricks he played on me
I won't believe in something I have never seen
It's such a shame
He just likes the flame
It's such a shame
He just likes the flame
He just likes the flame
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
[Chorus]
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
You made it to the city
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
You made it to the city
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
You made it to the city
Oh, Mini, oh, oh, Mini, oh
You made it to the city