Man on Fire
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a man on fire
Walking through your street
With one guitar
And two dancing feet
Only one desire
That's left in me
I want the whole damn world
To come dance with me

(Oh, come dance with me)

I'm a hunter at bay
Come set you free
Over heartache and shame

I wanna see our bodies burning like the old big sun
I wanna know what we've been learning and learning from

Everybody want safety (safety love)
Everybody want comfort (comfort love)
Everybody want certain (certain love)
Everybody but me

I'm a man on fire
Walking down your street
With one guitar
And two dancing feet
Only one desire
That's left in me
I want the whole damn world
To come and dance with me

(Bah bah bah bah bah)

Yay, yay, come dance with me
Over heartache and rage
Come set us free
Over panic and strange

I wanna see our bodies burning like the old big sun
I wanna know what we've been learning and learning from

Everybody want romance (romance love)
Everybody want safety (safety love)
Everybody want comfort (comfort love)
Everybody but me

I'm a man on fire (he's a man on fire)
Walking down your street (walking down your street)
With one guitar (With one guitar)
And two dancing feet (two dancing feet)
Only one desire (one desire)
That's still in me (that's left in me)




I want the whole damn world (I want the whole damn world)
To come and dance with me (come and dance with me yeah)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’s song “Man on Fire” encapsulate the essence of living without fear and embracing life to the fullest. The song begins with the declaration “I’m a man on fire, walking through your street, with one guitar and two dancing feet.” The lyrics describe the singer’s fierce spirit and desire to unite the world in dance, asserting that he wants “the whole damn world to come dance with me.” The song presents a vision of liberation and freedom that arises from overcoming heartache, shame, and fear, and embracing spontaneity, creativity, and joy.


The lyrics of “Man on Fire” are marked by a sense of rebellion against societal norms and expectations. The singer notes that “everybody wants safety, everybody wants comfort, everybody wants certain, everybody but me,” rejecting the status quo in favor of a more adventurous and spontaneous way of living. The song’s repeated refrain of “come dance with me” encourages listeners to join the singer in an embrace of life’s joyful possibilities, and the ecstatic chanting of “yah yah” creates a sense of communal celebration. Overall, “Man on Fire” is an anthem of liberation and self-discovery, urging listeners to follow their passions, embrace life’s uncertainties, and dance with abandon.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a man on fire
I am filled with passion and energy.


Walking through your street
I am exploring the world and eager to share my excitement with others.


With one guitar
I have a means to express myself and connect with others.


And two dancing feet
I am ready to move and groove through life.


Only one desire
I have a singular goal that motivates me.


That's left in me
Despite obstacles and challenges, my desire remains strong.


I want the whole damn world
I have a deep desire to share my joy and energy with everyone around me.


To come dance with me
I want to connect with others through music and movement.


I'm a hunter at bay
I am determined to overcome obstacles and achieve my goals.


Come set you free
I want to help others experience the same sense of liberation I feel.


Over heartache and shame
I am willing to face difficult emotions and experiences in order to grow and transform.


I wanna see our bodies burning like the old big sun
I want to experience passion and intensity in all aspects of life.


I wanna know what we've been learning and learning from
I want to understand the lessons we can glean from our experiences.


Everybody want safety (safety love)
Most people prioritize security and stability over excitement and intensity in relationships.


Everybody want comfort (comfort love)
Most people seek ease and familiarity rather than pushing themselves out of their comfort zones.


Everybody want certain (certain love)
Most people crave clarity and predictability, rather than embracing the uncertainty of life.


Everybody but me
I am different from the norm, prioritizing passion and connection over safety and comfort.


Yay, yay, come dance with me
I am exuberantly inviting others to join me in celebrating life.


Over heartache and rage
I am not afraid to confront difficult emotions and experiences.


Come set us free
I believe that through embracing intensity and passion, we can break free from our inhibitions and limitations.


Over panic and strange
I am open to whatever life throws my way, even if it is challenging or unexpected.


Everybody want romance (romance love)
Most people are seeking love and companionship.


I'm a man on fire (he's a man on fire)
I am bursting with energy and enthusiasm.


Walking down your street (walking down your street)
I am exploring the world and eager to share my joy with others.


With one guitar (With one guitar)
I have a tool for creative expression and connection with others.


Two dancing feet (two dancing feet)
I am ready to move and groove through life.


Only one desire (one desire)
Despite all challenges, my passion burns brightly.


That's still in me (that's left in me)
My sense of purpose and enthusiasm has not dimmed over time.


I want the whole damn world (I want the whole damn world)
My desire to connect and share joy is all-consuming.


To come and dance with me (come and dance with me yeah)
I want to unite with others through the universal language of music and dance.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Alexander Ebert

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@RafaelSilva-pt7xj

I'm a man on fire
Walking through your street
With one guitar
And two dancing feet
Only one desire
That’s left in me
I want the whole damn world
To come dance with me

(ohhhhhhhh. Come dance with me)

I’m a hunter at bay
Come and set you free
Over heartache and shame

I wanna see our bodies burning like the old big sun
I wanna know what we’ve been learning and learning from

Everybody want safety (safety love)
Everybody want comfort (comfort love)
Everybody want certain (certain love)
Everybody but me

I’m a man on fire
Walking down your street
With one guitar
And two dancing feet
Only one desire
That’s left in me
I want the whole damn world
To come and dance with me

(bah bah bah bah bah…)

Yay, yay. Come dance with me
Over heartache and rage
Come set us free
Over panic and strange

I wanna see our bodies burning like the old big sun
I wanna know what we’ve been learning and learning from

Everybody want romance (romance love)
Everybody want safety (safety love)
Everybody want comfort (comfort love)
Everybody but me

I’m a man on fire (he’s a man on fire)
Walking down your street (walking down your street)
With one guitar (With one guitar)
And two dancing feet (two dancing feet)
Only one desire (one desire)
That’s still in me (that’s left in me)
I want the whole damn world (I want the whole damn world)
To come and dance with me (come and dance with me yeahhhhh…)



All comments from YouTube:

@nitrii

I love that they could have made a video of the band in any location, but they chose to give glory to everyday people and their talents. Badass.

@williamjohnston9568

You're rite ma man 👍✌

@nankerphelge3771

This is still uplifting today.

@bethgarner5329

Your comment is badass 🤗

@markmachell5086

Who really cares about the video/ location? We are all here for the music.... which is fantastic

@pjm48

@@markmachell5086 No, it's the video. This isn't the radio.

@PatMackinHard

I don't understand how Ed Sharpe isn't one of the most popular bands in the world right now. Their music is incredible.

@on3mcperry563

AMEN, my friend.

@emanuelaydin3306

i realize I'm kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good website to watch new tv shows online ?

@salvadormadden2090

@Emanuel Aydin i would suggest FlixZone. You can find it by googling :)

More Comments

More Versions