Just Like Fire Would
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

One night in a motel room
Eyes cast like steel
I drank the wine that they left on my table
I knew the morning was too far
I smoked my last cigarette
I stay only to get by
The night was dark and the land was cold
I was frozen right to the bone

Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up, oh

Five hundred miles I have gone today
Tomorrow it's five hundred more
Outside my window the world passes by
Its stranger than a dream

Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up

I go to work and I earn my pay, lord
My sweat falls to the ground
I see you now but we may never meet again child
The ice is hanging on the door

One night in a motel room
Eyes cast like steel
I drank the wine that they left on my table
Knew the morning was too far

Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would




Just like fire would
I burn up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's song "Just Like Fire Would" express feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, as the singer finds himself in a motel room with nothing but a bottle of wine and his thoughts to keep him company. The opening lines set the scene of desolation, with the character's gaze as hard as steel and his body chilled to the bone. The metaphor of fire represents a yearning for something more, a burning desire to escape the bleakness of his current circumstance. The repetition of the chorus, "Just like fire would, I burn up", emphasizes this longing for a transformative force that would ignite his life and set him on a new course.


As the song progresses, the lyrics describe a state of endless travel and toil, with the character working hard but feeling trapped in his routine. The reference to "five hundred miles" suggests the never-ending journey that he is on, both physically and emotionally. The outside world, passing by "stranger than a dream", is an intriguing yet unknown entity that he is unable to reach. The chorus is repeated again, reinforcing the theme of longing and yearning for change.


The final verse brings the song full circle, back to the motel room where it all began. The singer drinks his wine once more, knowing that the morning and its realities are fast approaching. The repetition of the chorus conveys the futility of his situation, the impossibility of a transformation that would bring him the freedom and fulfillment he craves.


Line by Line Meaning

One night in a motel room
Bruce Springsteen sets the stage and describes the place he's in


Eyes cast like steel
Bruce Springsteen's eyes are firm and steady


I drank the wine that they left on my table
Bruce Springsteen consumed the alcohol that was left for him in his motel room


I knew the morning was too far
Bruce Springsteen realizes it's too late at night and morning is still hours away


I smoked my last cigarette
Bruce Springsteen is out of cigarettes and has reached the end of the pack


I stay only to get by
Bruce Springsteen is only here to survive


The night was dark and the land was cold
Bruce Springsteen describes the weather and environment


I was frozen right to the bone
Bruce Springsteen is severely cold


Just like fire would
Bruce Springsteen will burn up


I burn up
Bruce Springsteen will eventually have a meltdown


Five hundred miles I have gone today
Bruce Springsteen describes how far he's traveled


Tomorrow it's five hundred more
Bruce Springsteen knows he has another long journey ahead of him


Outside my window the world passes by
Bruce Springsteen watches the world go by from his window


Its stranger than a dream
The world outside is surreal and almost unbelievable


I go to work and I earn my pay, lord
Bruce Springsteen goes to work like everyone else to make a living


My sweat falls to the ground
Bruce Springsteen works hard and puts in the effort


I see you now but we may never meet again child
Bruce Springsteen may never see this person again


The ice is hanging on the door
There's ice hanging on the motel room's door, showing how cold it is outside


Just like fire would
Bruce Springsteen's internal fire will burn him up


I burn up
Bruce Springsteen will eventually succumb to his own fire




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JAMES MANNI BAILEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

wavy811

One night in a motel room
Eyes cast like steel
I drank the wine that they left on my table
I knew the morning was too far
I smoked my last cigarette
I stay only to get by
The night was dark and the land was cold
I was frozen right to the bone


Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up, oh


Five hundred miles I have gone today
Tomorrow it's five hundred more
Outside my window the world passes by
Its stranger than a dream


Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up


I go to work and I earn my pay, lord
My sweat falls to the ground
I see you now but we may never meet again child
The ice is hanging on the door

One night in a motel room
Eyes cast like steel
I drank the wine that they left on my table
Knew the morning was too far


Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
I burn up
Just like fire would
Just like fire would
I burn up



All comments from YouTube:

Philip Archer

Sadly the great Chris Bailey, who penned this song for the pioneering Aussie band The Saints, passed away yesterday. A huge loss for music lovers here Down Under. Im sure he was very proud knowing the Boss covered this song, which truly is a beauty.

Milt MacFarlane

Well reminded Phill, rest easy Chris

Tara Venn

Such a legendary song & songwriter - #vale #ChrisBailey; top version of Chris's song Bruce! One of #Australia's most underrated punk rock bands - bands full stop!

darbization

RIP Chris, THANK YOU MY FRIEND!

Bada Bing

Vale Chris Bailey song writer and top band
the "Saints"
PS
Bosses Version a belter as well

S Nomad

how would "the boss" have heard of a semi famous australian band?

8 More Replies...

Damon Marsh

A fitting tribute and acknowledgement by Bruce singing a song from one of the worlds influential bands from back in the day, The Saints.

Phil Nash

I was in my first job as a secondary school teacher in central Australia when a fellow teacher leant me "A Little Madness to be Free" by The Saints. 35 years later I am still counting my blessings! Ghost Ships, and all the other splendour...

Petra Kann

Sadly Chris Bailey just passed away at the age of 65

Bada Bing

@Petra Kann indeed far to young

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