Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.
She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.
Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.
Fire and Ice
Joan Armatrading Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About you
Can't love everything everything
That you do
No baby don't wanna find anybody else
Nobody could ever find another lover
Never find another lover like you
But something keeps us tied together
We fight
Fire and ice
Black is white
Night is day
That's how we treat each other
But I don't wanna go anywhere
Without you
I could never find
Loving as tempestuous
You say hot
I say cold
But oh when the fight is over
You say yes
I say yes
And we dive underneath the covers
And I don't wanna go anywhere
Without you
I don't wanna go anywhere
Without you
I don't wanna I don't wanna go anywhere
Without you
I say left
You say right
Before the night is over
I say yes
You say yes
And we dive underneath the covers
I don't wanna go anywhere
Without you
I don't wanna go anywhere
Without you
No baby don't wanna find anybody else
Never find another lover
Not another lover ever gonna make me happy
Like you make me happy
You make me happy
You make me happy
Joan Armatrading's song Fire and Ice is an ode to the ups and downs of a tempestuous relationship. The lyrics depict a love-hate dynamic between two people who seem incompatible but are inexplicably tied together. The lines "Like oil and water we don't mix, but something keeps us tied together" encapsulate this sentiment. The singer acknowledges that they can't love everything their partner does, but they still don't want to go anywhere without them. The lyrics "I don't wanna go anywhere without you" are repeated several times, emphasizing the need for the other person's presence despite the constant fighting.
The chorus of the song features the lines "We fight, Fire and ice, Black is white, Night is day, That's how we treat each other". Here, the singer is acknowledging the polarizing nature of their relationship. They fight like fire and ice: fire represents passion, while ice represents the coldness that can come with disagreements. The lyric "Black is white, Night is day" reinforces the idea that they are completely opposite but still attracted to each other. Despite the back-and-forth nature of their relationship, they still find solace in each other's arms, as shown by lines "And we dive underneath the covers" and "Not another lover ever gonna make me happy / Like you make me happy".
Overall, "Fire and Ice" is a complex portrayal of a relationship that exists in gray areas. The partners fight and disagree often, but they can't seem to stay away from each other. Their passion for each other is what keeps them tied together, despite their differences.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna know everything
I don't need to know everything about you
About you
about your life, thoughts and memories
Can't love everything everything
I cannot love everything you do, say or think
That you do
the actions you take in your life
No baby don't wanna find anybody else
I don't want to find another lover
Nobody could ever find another lover like you
I cannot find another lover like you
Never find another lover like you
I won't find another lover that can compare to you
Like oil and water we don't mix
We are very different and have difficulties blending together
But something keeps us tied together
Despite our differences, we still have an unbreakable connection
We fight
We argue and disagree
Fire and ice
Our relationship is hot and cold or passionate and lukewarm
Black is white
Our differences are very stark and noticeable
Night is day
Our worldviews and experiences are completely different
That's how we treat each other
That's how we interact with one another due to our differences
But I don't wanna go anywhere
I don't want to be anywhere
Without you
Without having you by my side
I could never find
I can't ever imagine finding
Loving as tempestuous
A love that is as unstable, tumultuous, and intense as ours
You say hot
You express your passion in a very emotional way
I say cold
I am more reserved or controlled in expressing my passion
But oh when the fight is over
But when the argument is finished
You say yes
You agree with me and make amends with me
I say yes
I also agree with you and we make amends
And we dive underneath the covers
We make love or have sex
I say left
I take one direction or approach to a problem
You say right
You take another direction or approach to a problem
Before the night is over
Before the day is finished
Not another lover ever gonna make me happy
No other lover can make me as happy as you do
Like you make me happy
The way you make me feel happy and loved
You make me happy
You bring joy and contentment to me, and I appreciate it very much
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dearmissedessa
She has always an impact on my life. Her voice and music is encompassing
GSSkipper
As a youth I attended a show that she gave during one of the Notting Hill Street Carnivals in the '70's. Her music made a profound impact upon many of the mixed emotions that I was experiencing at the time. Her portrayal of almost all the types of relationship that she obviously had lived through has helped me throughout my life. Now I thank Google and all the guys that are allowing me to relive those emotions and to introduce my family in Brazil to her almost unknown wisdom and pure talent.
Kevin Clepps
She is very musically gifted, Joan Armatrading
gugulia
thanks duran. in my view she,s one of the greatest contemporary musicians, and yes, should have had a much greater audience. and thank god after a break she,s back.
Kay Hinton
You have been the backdrop to my entire life and I intend to see you again real soon wherever you are perrforming Miss Armatrading . WONDERFUL MUSIC. MASSIVELY TALENTED LADY.
gugulia
i don,t think she,s the one that could fill a stadium but that doesn,t matter for her, for me or anyone else that likes real music and value. she,s very special. and you can consider yourself lucky to hear her live. thanks for commenting
sasattaa2486
Nice song I love it so much.... great video too...
JusLiveMylyfe
I like it, sounds like a mesh up of 3 songs...
gugulia
absolutely agree. i personally didn,t have the chance to listen to her live. thanks a lot for commenting
gugulia
thanks a lot...;)) i love her music.