Impellitteri is a heavy metal band from USA formed and led by guitar virtuo… Read Full Bio ↴Impellitteri is a heavy metal band from USA formed and led by guitar virtuoso Chris Impellitteri in 1987. Since then, the band has released numerous albums to critical praise, mainly due to Chris Impellitteri's speed/shred style of playing. The band's style is often compared to Racer X, while Chris' is compared to Yngwie Malmsteen.

Chris Impellitteri formed Impellitteri in 1987 together with Rob Rock as vocalist. That year, they released an EP called the black album. The selftitled EP was well-received, and Impellitteri regrouped, this time with Graham Bonnet as lead singer, and release the full-length album Stand In Line in 1988.

After some touring and label deals, Impellitteri returned (again with Rob Rock on vocals) with Grin and Bear It in 1992. The following year, they released another EP titled Victim of the System. In 1994, they released Answer To The Master.

In 1996, Impellitteri released Screaming Symphony, which has become one of the most acclaimed albums of the band. In 1997 they released yet another EP titled Fuel For The Fire, in preparation for their next full-length album. The next year, they released another of their most acclaimed works: Eye of the Hurricane. They followed it in 2000 with Crunch.

Shortly after, Rock decided to pursue a solo career so Impellitteri recruited Graham Bonnet again, and started working on his next album. In 2002, they finally released System X. That year, they also released a compilation of hits called The Very Best of Impellitteri.

The union with Bonnet would be short-lived as they parted ways some time after, and Impellitteri recruited Curtis Skelton, finally releasing Pedal To The Metal in 2004, one of their most aggressive albums to date.

Chris Impellitteri is currently working with an LA band (as a member, not leader) and has announced that they will release a new album soon.

Chris Impellitteri has been ranked together with Deicide drummer Steve Asheim and bassist Adrian Davison as perhaps the fastest musicians on their respective instruments.

The band is currently on hiatus as Chris recently joined a Los Angeles band, and is working with them on a new album.

City
Impellitteri Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Long John Silver's got his head in the clouds
Sleeping on the concrete and he's thinking out loud
When's the man gonna bring the candy cane
Selling dreams in the city lights
A stranger's kiss is the dead man's bite
It's a shame when their falling threw the cracks

When the sun goes down,

That's when the night rages on
When the thrill is gone,
That's when you've got to hang on

The city's on fire,
Taking life upon demand,
Passing through the dirty hands
The city's on fire,
And it's time to take it back from the man
Across the tracks

A street smart talker with a gun in his hand,
A big John Wayne out to fight for the land
Life's a dare when you're running with the pack
Another day and another crime,
One more deal and now you're doing time,
Never learn when you fight the American way

When the sun goes down,
That's when the night rages on
When the thrill is gone,
That's when you've got to hang on

The city's on fire,
Taking life upon demand,
Passing through the dirty hands
The city's on fire,
And it's time to take it back from the man
Across the tracks
The city's on fire,
You know you've lost control
When you're selling off your soul
The city's on fire,
Stepping closer to the grave,
You can't afford to look away

solo

pre-chorus

chorus 2

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Impellitteri's "City's on Fire" paint a bleak picture of urban life in America. The song depicts a city rife with danger, where people are constantly struggling to survive and where the power is in the hands of corrupt authorities. The first verse introduces the character of Long John Silver, who is portrayed as a dreamer living in poverty. He longs for the "candy cane" that will bring him happiness, but it seems like an impossible dream. The song then takes a darker turn, as it describes the deadening effect of city life on those who get caught up in its hustle and bustle. The second verse introduces a street smart talker with a gun in his hand, who is willing to fight for his patch of land no matter what the cost. He proves to be just another casualty of the city, ending up in jail for his misdeeds.

As the song progresses, the chorus repeats the refrain "the city's on fire," suggesting both the literal and metaphorical destruction of the urban environment. The singers implore the listener to hang on when the thrill is gone, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, hope and determination can still persevere. In the final verse, the tone shifts again, as the lyrics take on a cautionary tone. City life is portrayed as a corrosive force that can strip away one's soul and lead them closer to the grave. The song ends on a somber note, with a final guitar solo underscoring the sense of loss and despair that has been building throughout.

Line by Line Meaning

Long John Silver's got his head in the clouds
A person has unrealistic dreams and is not living in reality.

Sleeping on the concrete and he's thinking out loud
This person is homeless and is vocalizing their thoughts.

When's the man gonna bring the candy cane
Asking when someone will bring something sweet or desirable, possibly a metaphor for something unattainable.

Selling dreams in the city lights
People in this city are selling promises of success and happiness.

A stranger's kiss is the dead man's bite
Being intimate with someone can be deadly, especially a stranger.

It's a shame when their falling threw the cracks
People who are struggling are often overlooked and not receiving the support they need.

When the sun goes down,
After dark

That's when the night rages on
The city becomes more chaotic and dangerous.

When the thrill is gone,
When excitement fades away and reality sets in.

That's when you've got to hang on
When things get tough, you need to persevere.

The city's on fire,
The city is in chaos and danger.

Taking life upon demand,
People in the city are willing to take lives for what they want.

Passing through the dirty hands
People are passing dangerous items or money to each other.

And it's time to take it back from the man
It is time for the people to resist those in power.

Across the tracks
The other side of the city where the lower-class people live.

A street smart talker with a gun in his hand,
A savvy person who is not afraid to use violence to get what they want.

A big John Wayne out to fight for the land
Someone who believes they are fighting for their rights or defending their territory, like the famous actor John Wayne.

Life's a dare when you're running with the pack
Being part of a group can be risky and thrilling.

Another day and another crime,
Crime is a constant occurrence in the city.

One more deal and now you're doing time,
Getting caught doing something illegal means going to jail.

Never learn when you fight the American way
Violence and aggression as a way of life in America encourages people to keep fighting even when they should stop.

You know you've lost control
Things have become so chaotic that no one is in charge anymore.

When you're selling off your soul
Someone is sacrificing their dignity and values to survive or make money.

Stepping closer to the grave,
Living in such dangerous circumstances puts you at risk of dying.

You can't afford to look away
People can't ignore the problems of the city and pretend everything is okay.

solo
Instrumental break in the song.

pre-chorus
The build-up before the chorus of the song.

chorus 2
The main refrain of the song.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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