Lyrics Page
Burn The Ships
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Aug 25, 2026 updated
Verified editorial review
Steven Curtis Chapman's 'Burn the Ships' uses the historical image of Cortez burning his ships to illustrate a decisive, faith-filled commitment to follow Christ. The song contrasts the temptation to return to a former life with the call to press forward, trusting that God, who led the believer this far, will never abandon them. It emphasizes that there is no turning back once one has experienced God's grace and mercy. The lyrics encourage perseverance and wholehearted surrender, celebrating the point of no return in the journey of faith.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
In the spring of 1519
A Spanish fleet set sail.
Cortez told his sailors,
"This mission must not fail."
On the eastern shore of Mexico,
They landed with great dreams,
But the hardships of the new world
Made them restless and weak.
Quietly they whisper
"Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying,
"Burn the ships!
We're here to stay.
There's no way we could go back now that
We've come this far by faith
Burn the ships.
We've passed the point of no return.
Our life is here so let the ships burn.
Let 'em burn!"
In the spring of new beginnings
A searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life
And a love that would not fail.
On the shores of grace and mercy
It landed with great joy.
But an enemy was waiting
To steal kill and destroy
Quietly he whispers
"Go back to the life you knew"
But the one who led us here is saying
"Burn the ships!
We're here to stay.
There's no way we could go back now that
We've come this far by faith
Burn the ships.
We've passed the point of no return.
Our life is here so let the ships burn."
Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone
Burn the ships!
We're here to stay.
There's no way we could go back now that
We've come this far by faith
Burn the ships.
We've passed the point of no return.
Our life is here so let the ships burn.
Burn the ships!
We're here to stay.
There's no way we could go back now that
We've come this far by faith
Burn the ships.
We've passed the point of no return.
Our life is here so let the ships burn.
So let the ships burn.
Let 'em burn!
Let the ships burn!