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.

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.

[3] The song was re-recorded and added as the title track for Finch's debut album in 2002.