"Firework" was written by Katy Perry together with Stargate, Sandy Wilhelm and Ester Dean. It is a self-empowerment anthem, and its chorus is built around one central image: the listener compared to a firework.
The image is drawn from Jack Kerouac's On the Road, specifically his description of burning like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars. The chorus pairs this call to shine with the wish that others will respond with awe, so the song is as much about being noticed as about the blaze itself. Its message is that every listener should show others what they are worth, openly and boldly. The imagery gives the song its vivid character and sits at the heart of the chorus. Perry has called it a song with a fantastic message.
