"Fire" was re… Read Full Bio ↴"Fire" was the first single from U2's 1981 album, October.
"Fire" was recorded at a studio in the Bahamas while U2 took a break from the Boy Tour in April 1981, and it debuted live the next month on 27 May 1981. It was the second of two October songs played on the Boy Tour, the first being "I Fall Down." "Fire" was a setlist regular for much of the October Tour, although it was not played at any of the tour's shows where U2 acted as support for the J. Geils Band. It then appeared on the War Tour's "Pre-Tour", and its final live performance was at the first proper date of the War Tour on 26 February 1983. Most of its live appearances were in the encore, often as the first encore song. "Fire" was also the song U2 played for their first appearance on Top of the Pops. After its initial release, "Fire" was U2's first song to chart in the UK, where it managed to break the top 40, peaking at #35. This chart position would not be surpassed until 1983's "New Year's Day."
Fire
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sun is burning black
Falling falling
It's beating on my back
With a fire (fire)
With a fire (fire)
Falling falling
Falling falling
It's pulling me instead
With a fire oh, (ooh)
Fire oh (ooh)
But there's a fire inside
When I'm falling over
There's a fire in me
When I call out
I built a fire (fire)
I'm going home
Falling, falling
The stars are falling down
Falling falling
They knock me to the ground
With a fire, oh (ooh)
Fire, oh (ooh)
But there's a fire inside
When I'm falling over
There's a fire in me
When I call out
There's a fire inside
When I'm falling over
I feel the fire
I'm going home
Falling, falling
Falling, falling
Falling, falling
The lyrics of U2's "Fire" describe a sense of being overwhelmed by the apocalyptic imagery of the sun burning black, the moon running red, and the stars falling down. However, despite the chaos and destruction going on around the singer, there is also a sense of an internal fire burning within them. This fire is what gives them the strength to keep going and to make it home, even in the face of such adversity.
The repeated refrain of "falling, falling" creates a sense of vertigo and disorientation that reinforces the theme of being overwhelmed. The use of fire imagery reflects both the devastating effects of a natural disaster and the transformative power of inner strength.
Overall, the lyrics of "Fire" can be interpreted as a metaphor for facing challenges and finding the courage to keep moving forward, even when everything seems to be falling apart. The sense of urgency and the repetition of the refrain create a feeling of building intensity that mirrors the transformative power of the fire burning within.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling, falling
Things are quickly falling apart
The sun is burning black
It seems like even the bright things in life are turning dark
It's beating on my back
The struggles are weighing me down and causing pain
With a fire (fire)
The current situation is intense and overwhelming
Falling, falling
Things are continuing to go downhill
The moon is running red
Even the peaceful and calming things in life are becoming chaotic
It's pulling me instead
I feel out of control and helpless to what is happening around me
With a fire oh, (ooh)
This chaos is fueled by intense emotions
But there's a fire inside
Despite everything going on externally, there is still a sense of passion and inner strength
When I'm falling over
Even when I feel like I can't go on anymore
There's a fire in me
That inner strength is still alive and well
When I call out
Asking for help and support can ignite that fire even more
I built a fire (fire)
I have taken ownership of my inner strength and used it to keep going
I'm going home
I have a sense of peace and comfort knowing that I can rely on myself and my inner fire to keep moving forward
Falling, falling
Things are still falling apart
The stars are falling down
Even the things I thought were untouchable are now being affected by the chaos
They knock me to the ground
I hit rock bottom and feel like I can't go any lower
Fire, oh (ooh)
That inner strength and passion is all I have left to rely on
But there's a fire inside
Even in the darkest moments, there is still hope and strength within me
I feel the fire
That inner strength and passion is what will keep me going
I'm going home
I have faith that I will make it through and find a sense of peace in the end
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A me
on eleven o' clock tick tock
And girls can make children but not like this one...so will just have to walk around with a painted face then...
LMewdowlark
on One
Baby, baby, baby, I know I'm not alone
Ha, ha, ha
Oh, it's not a hill it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light
You know we're gonna go crazy, you know we'll go crazy
You know we'll go crazy, if we don't go crazy tonight
Oh, slowly
Oh
Hold me slow
Again, these are the wrong lyrics. They are not the lyrics for 'One' but a different song. I pasted the correct lyrics in my other comment.
LMewdowlark
on One
And there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet-tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?
Oh, change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting?
We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Every generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won't listen to you boys and girls
Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?
The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
But we're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?
You say, one love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well, it's too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on to what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One