James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, on 25th January 1938, to an unmarried fourteen-year-old mother, Dorothy Hawkins. According to Etta, her mother claimed that her father was the white Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and that they received financial support from him on the condition that they keep his paternity a secret. This seems unlikely, though it has not been definitively disproved. Etta was born in Los Angeles in 1938. At the time, Wanderone was known to be managing a pool hall in Washington, D.C. and had not yet become known to be the cross-country traveller he later became.
She received her first professional vocal training at five years old from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Her family moved to San Francisco in 1950, and she teamed up with two other girls to form a doo-wop singing group. When the girls were fourteen, band leader Johnny Otis had them audition. They sang an answer to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie" called "Roll Wwth Me Henry". Otis particularly liked the song, and against her mother's wishes, James and the trio went to Los Angeles to record the song in 1954. The song was recorded on the label Modern Records. By this time, the trio renamed the song "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" and released it in 1955. James named her vocal group The Peaches. Richard Berry, a Los Angeles doo-wop luminary, is featured on some of their records.
"The Wallflower" reached number two on the rhythm and blues charts in February 1955, but was undercut in the wider market by a rushed-out cover version by Georgia Gibbs on Mercury Records; in fact, the very first time Gibbs was recorded in studio, they used the first take recorded and it became number one on the top 100 songs nationally. The song's royalties were divided between Hank Ballard, Etta James, and Johnny Otis, and its huge success attracted the attention of the R&B world, resulting in James going on tour with Little Richard. On the tour, though, according to James, she witnessed and experienced situations to which minors are not usually privy, and she allegedly acquired a drug habit.
Soon after the success of "Wallflower", The Peaches and James parted company, but this did not halt her career. Shecontinued to record and release albums throughout much of the decade, and enjoyed more success. Her follow-up, "Good Rockin' Daddy", became another fifties hit. Other songs however, such as "Tough Lover" and "W-O-M-A-N" failed to gain any significant success. James toured with Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Otis Redding in the fifties, and has cited Watson as the most significant influence on her style..
In 1960, James signed a recording contract with Chess Records. She went on to have the biggest success of her career from this label, recording her biggest and most memorable hits. Chess went into high gear with James, releasing many duets with her then boyfriend, the married Harvey Fuqua, who was the lead singer of the Moonglows. One of her duets with Fuqua, "If I Can't Have You", became a hit on the R&B charts in 1960. As a solo artist however, she had more enduring success. One of her first singles released by Chess in 1960 was called "All I Could Do Was Cry"; this blues number became a big hit on the R&B charts in 1960. Leonard Chess, one of the founders of Chess Records, helped James along the way. He saw the potential for her to go in a more pop-oriented direction, and she started recording more pop tunes for the label.
The year 1961 became a year of great change for James. In 1961 came the release of one of her first pop-oriented tunes called "At Last". The song became a big hit in 1961, reaching number two on the R&B charts. The song even went as far as twenty-two on the pop charts that year. It became her signature song. Other songs, such as "Trust in Me", also became hits, and the 1962 tune "Something's Got a Hold On Me" showed more of James' gospel side, a genre she had sung since childhood.
She had other big hits in the 1960s, but mainly on the R&B charts: the song "Pushover" in 1963 and "Stop the Wedding", "Fool That I Am", and "Don't Cry Baby", were hits for her between 1961 and 1963. Her 1963 album Etta James Rocks the House, recorded at Nashville's "New Era" club, also gave her career a boost. James then became one of the most successful R&B artists of the 1960s, having many more top ten and top twenty hit singles. Performing in Memphis, Tennessee helped make her into a blues icon.
In 1967, James released her next hit single, "Tell Mama", and it became a top ten hit on the R&B charts. After a dry period of no hits for almost four years, the song once more made James a household name. The follow-up, "Security", was also a success, and proved that James had staying power on the charts again. Whilst less success came for James after this hit, she was still on the charts regularly and, despite the death of Leonard Chess, stayed with the Chess label into 1975. Towards the end of the Chess years though, she went into more rock-based songs. She recorded for many other labels, and continued to release albums, such as 1978's Deep In the Night on Atlantic Records.
Despite a dry period during the early to mid 1980s, James got back on track and began to record music again. She received accolades for her 1981 rendition of Randy Newman's "God's Song". Her 1988 album Seven Year Itch proved this comeback capability; the album showed more of her soul side. In 1989, she recorded the song "Avenue D" with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the Robert Wise film Rooftops. She also performed with the Grateful Dead for two shows in 1982. In the 1990s she continued to record and perform. Her albums widely varied in styles and genres. Her 1992 album, The Right Time, was another soul album that was released by Elektra Records. She also began to record more jazz, which became the style for many of her 1990s albums.
Drug-related and romantic problems interfered with her career, but James managed to maintain a career throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Later in life, she struggled with obesity, experiencing mobility and knee problems. In 2003, she underwent gastric bypass surgery.
In 2011, a vocal sample from Etta's "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was used in "Levels" by Avicii. "Levels" became a monster EDM hit, making Etta's "sometimes I get a good feeling" one of the most recognizable samples in 21st century music.
She died on 20th January 2012.
Jump Into My Fire
Etta James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Straight to my soul
Supernatural touch
That makes my blood boil
He's a four-alarm lover
Sent from I don't know
The furnace door open
My fever rises, lightning flashes
He comes in the night
Gone, in a cloud of smoke, hey, hey
I said, jump into my fire
Walk right into the flame
I've got some red hot lovin'
Cookin' in my oven
If you can stand the heat in this place
I told him to jump into my fire
Run right into the flames
Just keep your hands to yourself
Don't be sweet-talkin' no one else
After lovin' me, your heart will never be the same
He said, woman, if you want my love
You have to show, what you're made of
Don't come on to me
If you can't pay the price all night
Hold on honey now, wait a minute, baby
Don't be in myself, just wait
See I'm woman enough
To handle your stuff
Any hour, night or day
I said, jump into my fire
Walk right into the flame
I've got some red hot lovin'
Cookin' in my oven
If you can stand the heat in this place
I told him to jump into my fire
Run right into the flames
Just keep your hands to yourself
Don't be sweet-talkin' no one else
After lovin' me, your heart will never be the same
I said, now jump into my fire
Walk right into the flame
I've got some red hot lovin'
Cookin' in my oven
If you can stand the heat in this place
Hey, come on in, jump into my fire
Run right into the flames
Just keep your hands to yourself
Don't be sweet-talkin' no one else
After lovin' me, your heart will never be the same
You so bad, come on and jump
Jump
Come on, come on, come on and jump into my fire
Walk right into the flame
I've got some red hot lovin'
Cookin' in my oven
If you can stand the heat in this place (come on and jump)
In "Jump Into My Fire," Etta James sings about a passionate and intense love affair. The lyrics describe a magnetic attraction between two individuals, with the singer emphasizing the captivating qualities of her lover. The lines "He's got eyes that burn, straight to my soul" and "Supernatural touch that makes my blood boil" highlight the deep connection and chemistry they share.
The song further explores the overwhelming nature of their relationship. The furnace metaphor represents the intensity and heat of their love. Thunder crashes, fever rises, and lightning flashes signify the emotional and physical effects experienced when they are together. The lover appears mysteriously, coming in the night and disappearing in a cloud of smoke. This adds an element of excitement and unpredictability to their affair.
Line by Line Meaning
He's got eyes that burn
His intense gaze pierces deeply into my innermost being
Straight to my soul
His eyes have an uncanny ability to connect directly with the essence of who I am
Supernatural touch
His touch possesses a mystical quality that defies explanation
That makes my blood boil
His touch ignites a passionate and fervent response within me
He's a four-alarm lover
He is a lover who arouses intense desire and passion
Sent from I don't know
He seems to come from a mysterious and unknown origin
The furnace door open
The door of desire is wide open
Thunder crashes
The intensity of our passion is like a roaring storm
My fever rises, lightning flashes
My excitement and desire escalate rapidly, electrifying the atmosphere
He comes in the night
He arrives under the cover of darkness
Gone, in a cloud of smoke, hey, hey
He disappears as suddenly as he appeared, leaving only a mysterious trace
I said, jump into my fire
I implore him to embrace the intensity of our passion
Walk right into the flame
Fully immerse yourself in the all-consuming heat of our love
I've got some red hot lovin'
My love burns with intense passion and desire
Cookin' in my oven
My love is being cultivated and prepared, ready to be enjoyed
If you can stand the heat in this place
If you are capable of enduring the intensity of our relationship
I told him to jump into my fire
I explicitly invited him to embrace the intensity of our love
Run right into the flames
Fully surrender yourself to the fiery passion and desire between us
Just keep your hands to yourself
Remain faithful and committed to our relationship
Don't be sweet-talkin' no one else
Do not flirt or engage romantically with others
After lovin' me, your heart will never be the same
Once you experience the depth of love we share, your heart will be forever transformed
He said, woman, if you want my love
He expressed that in order to earn his love and affection
You have to show, what you're made of
I must demonstrate my true character and worthiness of his love
Don't come on to me
Do not pursue me romantically
If you can't pay the price all night
If you are not willing to invest yourself fully in our relationship
Hold on honey now, wait a minute, baby
Take a moment, my dear, and hold on
Don't be in myself, just wait
Do not rush or become impatient, simply be patient and wait for what's to come
See I'm woman enough
Recognize that I possess the strength and resilience to handle any situation
To handle your stuff
I am capable of dealing with your emotions and challenges
Any hour, night or day
I am always available and ready to support you, regardless of the time
You so bad, come on and jump
You are so irresistibly enticing, please take the leap and embrace our love
Come on, come on, come on and jump into my fire
I urge you, with increasing enthusiasm, to fully embrace the intensity of our love
Hey, come on in, jump into my fire
Welcome and immerse yourself in the passionate flames of our love
Just keep your hands to yourself
Remain faithful and committed to our relationship
Don't be sweet-talkin' no one else
Do not flirt or engage romantically with others
After lovin' me, your heart will never be the same
Once you experience the depth of love we share, your heart will be forever transformed
You so bad, come on and jump
You are so irresistibly enticing, please take the leap and embrace our love
Jump
Embrace the excitement and intensity of our love
Come on, come on, come on and jump into my fire
I urge you, with increasing enthusiasm, to fully embrace the intensity of our love
Walk right into the flame
Fully immerse yourself in the all-consuming heat of our love
I've got some red hot lovin'
My love burns with intense passion and desire
Cookin' in my oven
My love is being cultivated and prepared, ready to be enjoyed
If you can stand the heat in this place (come on and jump)
If you are capable of enduring the intensity of our relationship, I implore you to embrace it fully
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny Cobb, Jana King-Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jordan Metzmeier
Best song ever. Can't believe it has not reached even 10,000 views yet. My favorite part is her voice/emotion at 1:30.
Helen Sywyj
I love this song - I have this CD - my favorite Etta James CD RIP Etta - your music will live on forever.
hotfirewoman1
My favorite "Etta" album/cd. I agree with everything everyone says on this page!
smartalek1
This album is phenomenal; every single track a winner. Definitely worth spending the modest few ducats to own it free'n'clear. Plus, w/ Ms James still very much with us, she's more than earned our patronage, no?
joysblues
Weee ha. Thanks a lot for posting. How did i miss THIS one? I've been a big Etta fan, and, as a blues singer, covered a lot of her tunes thru the years. She totally floats my boat.!
RetroJenny
Boy, Etta would put anyone on fire with this song! Hot stuff!!!
G. Bullard
"Woman enough to handle yo stuff"... One of my favorites of hers... I adore Etta - have for many, many years. "After lovin me your heart will never be the same.."
rock Oberlin
To nite is first time I ever heard this song. " I love the beat and the way she sings the song.'-- rock
Marilyn Taylor
One of the best let's- get- it- on songs sung by a woman, from a woman's point of view. You'd never know a man wrote it! Thank you poster and the incomparable Etta.
Anne MCINNIS
Lome me some Etta! Rest in peace!