Ghostfire formed in 2007 and released their first demo, Drunk Lullabies in 2008.
Through energetic live performances around London, they gained attention and cultivated interest from the steampunk subculture. In 2009 they were invited to headline the very first Asylum Steampunk Festival in Lincoln. In anticipation of this they renamed one of their songs. Originally called 'Calibernus', the song discusses the sword Excalibur and her links to the earth, prominently mentioned in the legends of King Arthur. To honour steampunks attending the festival it was re-christened The Last Steampunk Waltz. The Waltz was a hit, steampunks got up and waltzed and the rest is history.
In the following years there were further releases, gigs and lineup changes. Ghostfire retired from public life in 2015.
In 2021, original members Steven Sheridan (vocals), Andii Valo (guitar) and Alan Mogg (drums) reconnected during the long winter lockdown. Finding that the passion, fire and energy was still there, the trio decided to reform the band. Advances in both digital recording technology and the internet meant that songs could be written, recorded and released remotely, with no lockdown rules being breached. Many songs were recorded and Ghostfire's comeback single, Five Points West of Hell was released on July 12th, 2021. Follow-up track, 'Neptune's Call' was released in September with 'Dead Jack' coming out on Halloween. The final track of 2021, 'The Feast of Yule' is due out on December 27th.
Exciting things are being planned for 2022 so watch this space.
Fire In The Hole
Ghostfire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sails on the Water
Guns on the deck
Fire in the Hole
Songs of the long nines
They never falter
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
Bet my friends don't follow me
Outward bound for liberty
Freedom and prosperity
I took my leave of English soil
Bid farewell to swill and toil
Danced just like a soul set free
Evermore the sea
Drums on the wind
Sails on the Water
Guns on the deck
Fire in the Hole
Songs of the long nines
They never falter
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
Bid farewell to English cheer
Found my home in grog and beer
Sailed upon the oceans grand
Sailing for a better land
I sold my soul and burned the ash
Tell 'em we'll defy the lash
Turned my face towards the breeze
Evermore the seas
Drums on the wind
Sails on the Water
Guns on the deck
Fire in the Hole
Songs of the long nines
They never falter
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
Set my feet on pirate sand
Sold by fate a winning hand
Stole a life of luxury
Villainy and piracy
I cut a path to sin and shame
Deep across the spanish main
Cast away morality
Far across the sea
Drums on the wind
Sails on the Water
Guns on the deck
Fire in the Hole
Songs of the long nines
They never falter
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
Follow quick into the fight
Cannons blaze in evil night
Found my match and sailed no more
Cursed english manowar
I climbed the stairs with all contempt
Bound by rope of english hand
Danced just like a soul set free
Never more the sea
Drums on the wind
Sails on the Water
Guns on the deck
Fire in the Hole
Songs of the long nines
They never falter
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
Drums on the wind
Sails on the Water
Guns on the deck
Fire in the Hole
Songs of the long nines
They never falter
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
The lyrics of Ghostfire's song "Fire in the Hole" paint a vivid picture of maritime adventure, betrayal, and eventual defeat. The song's protagonist sets his sights on the sea, bidding farewell to the constraints of his home country and venturing out for freedom and prosperity. The drums and sails on the wind, guns on the deck, and songs of the long nines (referring to particularly long cannons used on ships) symbolize the excitement and danger of his voyage.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes a pirate, reveling in a life of luxury and villainy. He cuts a path of sin and shame across the Spanish Main, casting away morality and abandoning himself to the sea. But eventually, he meets his match in the form of a cursed English man-of-war. The singer climbs the stairs with contempt, bound by the rope of an English hand, and dances for the final time as a free soul before meeting his defeat.
Overall, "Fire in the Hole" is a tale of adventure, freedom, and eventual loss. It celebrates the bravery and excitement of a life lived at sea, but also warns of the dangers of betrayal and overconfidence.
Line by Line Meaning
Drums on the wind
The sound of drums can be heard in the wind, signaling the start of a journey.
Sails on the Water
The sails of a ship are visible on the water as it sets sail on its journey.
Guns on the deck
There are weapons on the deck of the ship, indicating that the journey may not be wholly peaceful.
Fire in the Hole
There is a sense of excitement and danger on this journey, as evidenced by the phrase 'fire in the hole.'
Songs of the long nines
The crew sings shanties about the powerful and lengthy cannons aboard the ship, a sign of their pride and confidence in their weaponry.
They never falter
The cannons and the crew never waver from their purpose, even in the face of danger or adversity.
Away, look away, and the bells how they toll
The ship is departing, and the bells are ringing to signal its departure. The crew is urging others to look away and not interfere with their journey.
Set my sights upon the sea
The artist is turning their attention to the open sea, looking for adventure and freedom.
Bet my friends don't follow me
The artist is taking a risk by pursuing their own path, even if it means leaving their friends behind.
Outward bound for liberty
The artist is leaving behind the oppression of England in pursuit of freedom and autonomy.
Freedom and prosperity
These are the ultimate goals of the singer's journey, as they seek to make a better life for themselves.
I took my leave of English soil
The artist is leaving behind their old life in England and starting anew on the open sea.
Bid farewell to swill and toil
The singer is saying goodbye to the drudgery of daily life in pursuit of adventure and excitement.
Danced just like a soul set free
The singer feels unburdened by their old life and is free to enjoy the moment.
Evermore the sea
The sea represents a continual journey and adventure for the singer.
Bid farewell to English cheer
The artist is leaving behind the joviality of their old life, but they are not sad to see it go.
Found my home in grog and beer
The artist has found a new identity and sense of belonging among their fellow sailors, demonstrated by the mention of grog and beer.
Sailed upon the oceans grand
The singer has taken to the open sea and is exploring new horizons.
Sailing for a better land
The singer is on a quest for a better life and is willing to travel far to find it.
I sold my soul and burned the ash
The artist has given up their old life and identity in pursuit of something new.
Tell 'em we'll defy the lash
The artist is defying the expectations and limitations of their old life, and is encouraging others to do the same.
Turned my face towards the breeze
The artist is embracing the new opportunities and experiences that the open sea has to offer.
Evermore the seas
The sea represents a never-ending source of adventure and discovery for the singer.
Set my feet on pirate sand
The artist has landed on land that is home to pirates, suggesting a new source of danger and excitement on their journey.
Sold by fate a winning hand
The singer is taking advantage of opportunities that have come their way, even if they are a product of chance.
Stole a life of luxury
The singer has seized opportunities that come with a life of piracy.
Villainy and piracy
The singer is living a life that is considered immoral or illegal by many, but is thrilling and rewarding to them.
I cut a path to sin and shame
The artist has embraced a life of wrongdoing in pursuit of their own interests and desires.
Deep across the spanish main
The artist has traveled far and wide, seeking excitement and success anywhere they can find it.
Cast away morality
The singer has abandoned any sense of right and wrong in pursuit of their desires and goals.
Far across the sea
The sea represents an endless source of adventure and opportunity for the singer.
Follow quick into the fight
The artist is eager and ready to engage in combat, signaling their confidence and bravery.
Cannons blaze in evil night
The ship is under attack, and the cannons are firing in the dark of night to repel the invaders.
Found my match and sailed no more
The artist has found a worthy opponent and is no longer traveling aimlessly, but is instead locked in a fierce combat.
Cursed english manowar
The singer is fighting a powerful English vessel and may not be able to overcome it easily.
I climbed the stairs with all contempt
The artist is approaching the enemy ship with a sense of disdain and defiance, unafraid of the danger.
Bound by rope of english hand
The singer has been captured and tied up by the English, signaling a turning point in their journey.
Danced just like a soul set free
Even in defeat, the singer refuses to lose their sense of freedom and independence.
Never more the sea
The singer's seafaring days are likely over, as they are now captured by the enemy and unable to sail free.
Contributed by Matthew K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.