Fire Down Below
Nick Cave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With her red and rosy cheeks
She went to church on Sunday
And sang the anthem sweet
The parson was a misery
So scraggy and so thin
Look here, you motherfuckers
If you lead a life of sin
And there's fire down below
He took his text from Malachi
And pulled a weary face
Well, I fucked off for Africa
And there, I feel from grace
'Cause there's fire down below
The parson's little daughter
Was as sweet as sugar-candy
I said to her, "us sailors
Would make lovers neat and handy"
'Cause there's fire down below
She says to me, "you sailors
Are a bunch of fucking liars
And all of you are bound to hell
To feed the fucking fires"
'Cause there's fire down below"
Well, there's fire down below, my lad
So we must do what we oughta
'Cause the fire is not half as hot
As the parson's little daughter
And there's fire down below
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
The lyrics to Nick Cave’s song, Fire Down Below, paint a picture of a parson’s daughter, who is almost an angel in nature. The first verse describes her rosy cheeks and love for church, where she sings sweet anthems. However, the parson is frustratingly stern, warning his congregation of hellfire for those leading a life of sin. The singer of the song then recounts his own experience of guilt as he “fell from grace” having left Africa. The second verse speaks of the sailor’s attraction to the parson’s daughter, who he labels as sweet as sugar-candy, but her response is fiery as she rejects any idea of hellish sins by sailors. The chorus repeats the idea of “fire down below”, likening it to the heat of desire for the parson’s daughter.
In the song Fire Down Below, Nick Cave is playing with the idea of fire and heat on various levels. At the surface, the song suggests a sexual attraction between the singer and the parson’s daughter, with the heat of passion being likened to the heat of hellfire. However, on a deeper level, the song could be interpreted as a reflection on the power of religion over one’s life choices and the dangers of straying from its teachings. Cave has noted that the song was inspired by a cartoon from a 1950s US comic book series, entitled EC Comics, which often dealt with controversial themes such as horror, crime and the supernatural.
Line by Line Meaning
She was the parson's daughter
The girl in question was the daughter of the parson.
With her red and rosy cheeks
The girl's cheeks were red and rosy in color.
She went to church on Sunday
The girl attended church every Sunday.
And sang the anthem sweet
The girl sang the church's hymns in a pleasing manner.
The parson was a misery
The parson was a very unhappy person.
So scraggy and so thin
The parson was very thin and frail.
Look here, you motherfuckers
The singer is addressing a group of people, using profanity to get their attention.
If you lead a life of sin
The artist is warning the people that if they live a life of sin, there will be consequences.
And there's fire down below
The penalty for leading a life of sin is eternal damnation (represented by fire down below).
He took his text from Malachi
The parson used Malachi (a book of the Bible) as the basis for his sermons.
And pulled a weary face
The parson appeared tired and worn-out.
Well, I fucked off for Africa
The artist left for Africa (likely as part of colonialism).
And there, I feel from grace
The singer committed a sin while in Africa, causing them to fall from grace.
'Cause there's fire down below
The singer is reminded of the consequences of sin - hellfire.
The parson's little daughter
The parson's daughter was still the subject of discussion.
Was as sweet as sugar-candy
The girl was very sweet and pleasant.
I said to her, "us sailors
The artist is now addressing the parson's daughter directly.
Would make lovers neat and handy"
The singer is suggesting that sailors (presumably themselves) would make good lovers.
'Cause there's fire down below
Once again, the singers are reminded of the consequences of sin.
She says to me, "you sailors
The parson's daughter is now addressing the artist.
Are a bunch of fucking liars
The girl is insulting sailors (including the artist) by calling them liars.
And all of you are bound to hell
The girl believes that sailors (and presumably all sinners) are destined for hell.
To feed the fucking fires"
The girl is using crude language to describe the punishment of hellfire.
'Cause there's fire down below"
Once again, the artists are reminded of the consequences of sin.
Well, there's fire down below, my lad
The singer is directly addressing someone (presumably a young man) and reminding them of the danger of sin.
So we must do what we oughta
The singer is suggesting that they must do what is right to avoid hellfire.
'Cause the fire is not half as hot
The singer is making a comparison between the actual physical sensation of fire and the agony of eternal damnation.
As the parson's little daughter
The girl in question is used metaphorically to represent the danger of sin.
And there's fire down below
The song's title is reiterated at the end of the song.
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
The song's chorus is repeated several times, emphasizing the danger of hellfire.
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RT Elkin
She was the parson's daughter
With her red and rosy cheeks
She went to church on Sunday
And sang the anthem sweet
The parson was a misery
So scraggy and so thin
Look here, you motherfuckers
If you lead a life of sin
And there's fire down below
He took his text from Malachi
And pulled a weary face
Well, I fucked off for Africa
And there, I feel from grace
'Cause there's fire down below
The parson's little daughter
Was as sweet as sugar-candy
I said to her, "us sailors
Would make lovers neat and handy"
'Cause there's fire down below
She says to me, "you sailors
Are a bunch of fucking liars
And all of you are bound to hell
To feed the fucking fires"
'Cause there's fire down below"
Well, there's fire down below, my lad
So we must do what we oughta
'Cause the fire is not half as hot
As the parson's little daughter
And there's fire down below
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lloyd James / Johnny Osbourne
AtrociousGale
This is the most AWESOME song! I can't stop listening to it! =D
Abigail Carroll
This song is fun to scream out the car window (an old lady stared at me last time haha)
MrMickthemonster
So true. I got it for my 21st....I turned 25 a couple of weeks ago and I'm still playing it all the time. Good listening buddy.
El Último Soñador
Now, i hope, you're 32 and I'm 31. I've been listening to this record for years too.
repenter
i see them as being very different interpretations of the entire canon of folk traditions. both untouchable.
Rian Lyons-Copeland
Nick Cave is a legend. Him doing a sea shanty is perfection. 💜💜💜
bookeater
I am drunk, on red wine, on the defeat of of my heart and on the expression of true love from a fool. But mostly on wine and Nick Cave
RT Elkin
She was the parson's daughter
With her red and rosy cheeks
She went to church on Sunday
And sang the anthem sweet
The parson was a misery
So scraggy and so thin
Look here, you motherfuckers
If you lead a life of sin
And there's fire down below
He took his text from Malachi
And pulled a weary face
Well, I fucked off for Africa
And there, I feel from grace
'Cause there's fire down below
The parson's little daughter
Was as sweet as sugar-candy
I said to her, "us sailors
Would make lovers neat and handy"
'Cause there's fire down below
She says to me, "you sailors
Are a bunch of fucking liars
And all of you are bound to hell
To feed the fucking fires"
'Cause there's fire down below"
Well, there's fire down below, my lad
So we must do what we oughta
'Cause the fire is not half as hot
As the parson's little daughter
And there's fire down below
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Yes, there's fire (fire)
Down (down)
Below (below)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lloyd James / Johnny Osbourne
Geary Marcello
AMAZING!
lauralestat
God I love this song.