The band originated with vocalist Stephen Holt (vocals) and guitarist Graham Lambert. Another uncredited founding member, was basist Glenn Chesworth. His partnership with the band lasted only a couple of years. The band emerged alongside The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays from the indie scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bassist, Martyn Walsh, and drummer, Craig Gill, joined in 1984. Playing garage rock, they were joined by keyboardist, Clint Boon, who changed their sound based around harmonic (and often psychedelic) keyboards and jangly guitars.
After a couple of singles on a local indie label, Holt left the group and was replaced by Tom Hingley. The band were propelled to fame after being 'discovered' by the Radio 1 DJ John Peel and had their greatest chart success in the UK with a single entitled This is How it Feels, which is a song about loneliness and unemployment.
At the time of their initial success, the band earned some notoriety for their squiggly-eyed cow 'Cool as Fuck' T-shirts; a student at Oxford Polytechnic was prosecuted on obscenity charges for wearing one. One of their roadies, Noel Gallagher, went on to great success with the band Oasis. The band is named after an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which included the venue Swindon Oasis.
They reworked their single Find Out Why as the theme tune to early 90's kids TV show 'The 8:15 From Manchester'. Another release I Want You was used by Sony to advertise their in-car entertainment systems on this advert ; an early example of advertising agencies co-opting and promoting non-mainstream music to add kudos to mainstream brands (a trend that has increased significantly).
After the release of their 4th studio album, Devil Hopping, they started to record new, more darker-sounding demos in 1995 which their label, Mute Records rejected. An amicable split followed but they re-formed in 2003 for a tour and new compilation. For the next several years, they played gigs on and off, until Hingley could no longer give his 100% commitment so original vocalist, Stephen Holt, rejoined in March 2011.
Fire
Inspiral Carpets Lyrics
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Night closes in as you step outside, the gates of hell are yawning wide
I touched fire, I touched fire, I touched fire, I touched fire
My god has gone, like a dying swan
My river of tears washed the memory downstream
Our world is small, unkind and cruel, we twist and turn in the whirlpool
Getting ready to burn, we're getting ready to burn
I touched fire (in a flaming sky)
I touched fire (see the fire with me)
I touched fire (see the fire die)
My bird has flown into the sky and spread its wings and taken flight
Night closes in as you step outside, the gates of hell still yawning wide
I touched fire (in a burning city)
I touched fire (in a flaming sky)
I touched fire (see the fire with me)
I touched fire (see the fire die)
Getting ready to burn (getting ready to burn)
Give me money to burn (give me money to burn)
Getting ready to burn
I touched fire (in a burning city)
I touched fire (in a flaming sky)
I touched fire (see the fire with me)
I touched fire (see the fire die)
I touched the fire (in a burning city, in a flaming sky)
I touched the fire (see the fire with me, see the fire die)
Fire, fire, fire
The lyrics of Inspiral Carpets' song "Fire" contain several themes, including loss, emptiness, and the inevitability of destruction. The opening line "My god is dead, left a hollow space, and in my bones an unmarked grave" suggests that the singer is experiencing a profound sense of loss and despair. The image of an unmarked grave adds to the sense of emptiness and finality.
The second stanza introduces the idea of impending doom, with the "gates of hell" waiting to swallow up the singer. The repetition of "I touched fire" reinforces the idea that the singer is flirting with danger and destruction. The line "Our world is small, unkind and cruel, we twist and turn in the whirlpool" speaks to the idea that we are all trapped in a cycle of suffering and pain, unable to escape our fate.
The chorus of "Fire" is a call to action, with the singer urging the listener to join in the destruction. The line "getting ready to burn" suggests that the singer is willing to embrace the chaos and destruction that is coming. The final repetition of "fire, fire, fire" is a haunting reminder of the power and danger of this force.
Overall, "Fire" is a powerful song that captures the sense of uncertainty and fear that many people feel in times of crisis. The lyrics suggest that destruction is inevitable, and that sometimes the best we can do is embrace it and try to find meaning in the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
My god is dead, left a hollow space, and in my bones an unmarked grave
The singer feels a great loss as their belief system no longer exists, leaving them an empty feeling that is carried within them.
Night closes in as you step outside, the gates of hell are yawning wide
The singer gives a foreboding warning that there is danger around them, symbolizing the possibility of death.
I touched fire, I touched fire, I touched fire, I touched fire
The singer repeats their experience of danger and pain, feeling the need to drive the message home.
My god has gone, like a dying swan
The artist emphasizes the feeling that they have lost something precious and irreplaceable, much like watching something die.
My river of tears washed the memory downstream
The artist expresses how they tried to move past their pain, using tears to cleanse themselves and let their bad memories fade away.
Our world is small, unkind and cruel, we twist and turn in the whirlpool
The singer expresses how they perceive their surroundings, as a whirling and unforgiving environment that makes it difficult to move forward.
Getting ready to burn, we're getting ready to burn
The singer hints at an upcoming event or decision that may lead to destruction or self-destruction.
Give me money to burn (give me money to burn)
The artist expresses the desire to have resources to help them through their upcoming troubles, even if it means using those resources in a destructive way.
My bird has flown into the sky and spread its wings and taken flight
The artist is acknowledging that something they cherished is now gone, and they have released the memory like a bird to the sky, allowing it to move away.
Getting ready to burn
The artist reiterates the sense of impending doom and the need to brace oneself for the worst.
I touched the fire
The singer repeats their previous experience of pain and danger, highlighting that it has left a lasting impact.
Fire, fire, fire
The artist ends with a strong emphasis on the message of destruction and danger, leaving the listener with an ominous feeling.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Mute Song Limited
Written by: Clinton David Boon, Thomas William Hingley, Craig Douglas Gill, Graham Paul Lambert, Martyn John Walsh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind