Deep Purple have had several line-up changes and were broken up for eight years from 1976 to 1984, with drummer Ian Paice being the band's only constant member. The first four line-ups, which constituted the band's original 1968–1976 run, are officially indicated as Mark I (1968–1969), Mark II (1969–1973), Mark III (1973–1975) and Mark IV (1975–1976). Mark I comprised the founding members of Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Rod Evans (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Paice (drums) and Nick Simper (bass), while Mark II was the most commercially successful line-up, with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover replacing Evans and Simper respectively. Mark III saw David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes replace Gillan and Glover respectively, while Mark IV featured Tommy Bolin replacing Blackmore. The band split in July 1976 and Bolin died from a drug overdose five months later. In 1984, Deep Purple reformed with the Mark II line-up, which remained in place until Joe Lynn Turner replaced Gillan in 1989. Gillan rejoined in 1992, with Blackmore leaving for the second and final time the following year. He was replaced temporarily by Joe Satriani and then permanently by Steve Morse. In 2002 Don Airey replaced Jon Lord, which saw Deep Purple settle into its longest running line-up, unchanged for the next twenty years, until Morse announced his departure from the band in 2022. His place was taken by Simon McBride. Paice, Glover, Gillan, Airey and McBride comprise the current line-up of Deep Purple.
Deep Purple were ranked number 22 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock programme] and a poll on radio station Planet Rock ranked them 5th among the "most influential bands ever". The band received the Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards. Deep Purple (specifically Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan, Glover, Coverdale, Evans, and Hughes) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Burn
Deep Purple Lyrics
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Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
The city's ablaze, the town's on fire
The woman's flames are reaching higher
We were fools, we called her liar
I didn't believe she was devil's sperm
She said, "Curse you all, you'll never learn
When I leave there's no return "
The people laughed till she said, "Burn"
Warning came, no one cared
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared
When it came, no one was spared
Still I hear, "Burn"
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
The sky is red, I don't understand
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
Warning came, no one cared
Earth was shakin, we stood and stared
When it came, no one was spared
Still I hear, "Burn"
The song Burn by Deep Purple was written in the early 1970s and appeared on their eighth studio album of the same name. The lyrics describe a chaotic scene of destruction and fear caused by a powerful woman who is believed to be cursed or possessed. The references to fire and burning suggest that the woman has supernatural abilities and can cause destruction with a wave of her hand. The song takes a dark turn as the woman issues a warning that no one believes, resulting in their eventual demise.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but several themes stand out. One possible interpretation is that it represents the fear of power and how it can be wielded for destruction. Another interpretation is that it reflects the demonization of women who are portrayed as powerful and threatening. The lyrics describe how people are quick to accuse the woman of being evil and how they fail to heed her warnings until it's too late.
Overall, Burn is a powerful song with a strong message that still resonates today. Its blend of heavy rock, catchy riffs, and memorable lyrics make it a classic of the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is red, I don't understand
The alarming red glow in the sky is confusing and unsettling
Past midnight I still see the land
Despite the late hour, the surroundings are visible due to the brightness of the fire
People are sayin' the woman is damned
Rumors are spreading that the woman is cursed or evil
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
Her intensity and energy can inspire passion and excitement
The city's a blaze, the town's on fire
The flames are consuming everything in sight in both the city and the rural areas
The woman's flames are reaching higher
The woman's power and influence continue to grow and escalate
We were fools, we called her liar
In retrospect, we realize that our skepticism and disbelief were misguided
All I hear is "Burn!"
The urgency and danger of the situation are forcing everyone to focus on the flames
I didn't believe she was devil's sperm
Initially, I rejected the idea that the woman was demonic or evil
She said, "Curse you all, you'll never learn!
In frustration and anger, the woman condemns everyone to a fate they will not escape
When I leave there's no return "
Once the woman is gone, there will be no going back to the way things were before
The people laughed till she said, "Burn!"
Initially, the idea of being consumed by flames seems absurd, but the woman's words strike fear into their hearts
Warning came, no one cared
Despite the signs of danger, no one took the threat seriously
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared
The power of the flames and the force of nature are overwhelming
When it came no one was spared
The flames engulfed everything and everyone in their path, without discrimination
Still I hear "Burn!"
The echoes of the destruction and devastation continue to reverberate long after the flames have died down
You know we had no time
It was impossible to take action or plan ahead in the face of such a sudden and intense threat
We could not even try
Despite our best efforts, there was no way to stop the flames from spreading
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ian Anderson Paice, David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Glenn William Hughes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind