Blue Flame
Joe Jackson Band Lyrics
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But they're not much compared to your house
Fifty feet high, with barbed wire
Guards on the top, aiming rifles at your lovers one by one
And friends, too
I've come with hands above my head
I'm damned if I'll try to break your door down
I'll still be armed with the memory of one evening when you smiled
At something
Sadness spreads like a black stain
But I know by now that's not all there is
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
And love's not something you decide to do
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
You tell me women get you down
And as for men, they're all bastards
I wonder what world you call home
And I wish I could learn their language just enough to make you laugh
Just one time
Yes, it was nice to see you, too
Although I'm never sure you mean it
I pick up the tab and you won't thank me
Not that I mind, but in my dreams it's all so different - we even kiss
Imagine this
Bitterness is a black hole
But you know by now you got more to give
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
And love's not something you decide to do
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
Impossible to love if love was not for some strange reason there
The Joe Jackson Band’s Blue Flame is a melancholic song that talks about the complexities of relationships, the emotional barriers we put up, and the difficulties of truly loving someone. The lyrics describe the singer's attempt to reach out to someone who has built an impenetrable wall around herself, something that she appears to have been doing for a long time. Though the singer acknowledges that he too has walls around him, they pale in comparison to those of the person he's singing to.
The walls surrounding her are “fifty feet high, with barbed wire,” and her guards are armed with rifles, ready to shoot anyone who attempts to enter. The singer speaks about his desire to be with this person but doesn't want to break down her walls forcefully. He thinks back to one evening when she smiled, a cherished memory that drives him to keep trying to reach her. However, he knows that it won't be easy to love her, given her aversion to love, and he wonders if it is even possible to love her if the love is not already innate in her.
The central image in the song is that of the blue flame, a metaphor for the beauty and rarity that lies within her, obscured by her walls. The singer believes that if only he could get past the defenses she has set up, he could start a fire that could light up her whole being. The song ends on a sad note, as the singer ponders whether he and the subject of his affections will ever be together in a meaningful way.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got some walls around me, too
I'm not perfect either, and I understand that we all have our walls and barriers
But they're not much compared to your house
But I recognize that your defenses are much stronger and more impenetrable than mine
Fifty feet high, with barbed wire
Your walls are intimidating and seemingly impenetrable, with no easy way to get past them
Guards on the top, aiming rifles at your lovers one by one
Your defenses are so strong that anyone who tries to get close to you will be met with hostility and aggression
And friends, too
Not just lovers, but even your friends are kept at arm's length and treated with suspicion
I've come with hands above my head
I approach you with humility and without any aggression or hostility
I'm damned if I'll try to break your door down
I won't try to force my way in or break through your walls
If you ever come out, just call me
I'm always here for you, and I'll be ready to connect with you if and when you're ready to come out from behind your defenses
I'll still be armed with the memory of one evening when you smiled
Even if you don't want to or can't let me in, I'll always cherish the memory of that one moment when we connected and you let your guard down
At something
Even if it was just a small thing, that moment meant a lot to me and I hold onto it dearly
Sadness spreads like a black stain
It's easy to let negative emotions like sadness and despair take over and color everything around us with darkness
But I know by now that's not all there is
But even though things may seem bleak, I believe that there's always hope and that there's more to life than just darkness and despair
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
Despite your defenses and negativity, I see something special and unique inside of you that's worth exploring and cherishing
And love's not something you decide to do
I know that love isn't a decision you can make, but something that comes naturally and spontaneously
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
I know that it would be difficult for anyone to love you if that spark of love wasn't already there, but I believe it is
You tell me women get you down
I know that you have bad experiences with women and that they've hurt you in the past
And as for men, they're all bastards
And you don't have much trust or faith in men either, seeing them as all being selfish and cruel
I wonder what world you call home
Sometimes I find myself wondering what kind of life you've led and what experiences have made you so guarded and defensive
And I wish I could learn their language just enough to make you laugh
I wish I could understand you better and connect with you in a more meaningful way, even if it's just making you laugh
Just one time
Even a brief moment of connection would mean the world to me
Yes, it was nice to see you, too
Even though you can be distant and aloof, I appreciate any time I get to spend with you
Although I'm never sure you mean it
But sometimes I get the sense that you're just going through the motions and don't truly care about our interactions
I pick up the tab and you won't thank me
I don't mind paying for things and being generous, but it can be frustrating when you don't even acknowledge my efforts
Not that I mind, but in my dreams it's all so different - we even kiss
Sometimes I imagine a different reality where we're more connected and intimate, even though I know that may not be possible
Imagine this
It's just a fantasy, but it's still enjoyable to picture a world where we're closer and more connected
Bitterness is a black hole
Holding onto anger and resentment can consume us and drag us down into darkness
But you know by now you got more to give
But I believe that you have more within you than just negativity and defensiveness, and that you're capable of giving and receiving love
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
Despite your defenses and negativity, I see something special and unique inside of you that's worth exploring and cherishing
And love's not something you decide to do
I know that love isn't a decision you can make, but something that comes naturally and spontaneously
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
I know that it would be difficult for anyone to love you if that spark of love wasn't already there, but I believe it is
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pedro Franco
Blue Flame
I've got some walls around me, too
But they're not much compared to your house
Fifty feet high, with barbed wire
Guards on the top, aiming rifles at your lovers one by one
And friends, too
I've come with hands above my head
I'm damned if I'll try to break your door down
If you ever come out just call me
I'll still be armed with the memory of one evening when you smiled
At something
Sadness spreads like a black stain
But I know by now that's not all there is
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
And love's not something you decide to do
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
You tell me women get you down
And as for men, they're all bastards
I wonder what world you call home
And I wish I could learn their language just enough to make you laugh
Just one time
Yes, it was nice to see you, too
Although I'm never sure you mean it
I pick up the tab and you won't thank me
Not that I mind, but in my dreams it's all so different - we even kiss
Imagine this
Bitterness is a black hole
But you know by now you got more to give
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
And love's not something you decide to do
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
Impossible to love if love was not for some strange reason there
Songwriters
JACKSON
Robin Borïk
Finally somebody posted this, thank you! It is one of the most beautiful songs I know. More people should know it.
Mary S
My favorite Joe Jackson song, and beautiful song quality. Thanks, I'm so glad I found it here because I'm in Egypt, and I left the CD back in the US.
MC4t5
are you serious...why are there no comments on this? This song is AMAZING
JC R
Great artist all along since the debut album and another great song...
krnhersh
Love this......beautiful.....sad...touches me to the bone .......love that voice of his....feels so familiar.......
LiterallyAMeme
Thank you, thank u, thank u....I just needed this finesse tonight. So beautiful and rare.
Pedro Franco
Blue Flame
I've got some walls around me, too
But they're not much compared to your house
Fifty feet high, with barbed wire
Guards on the top, aiming rifles at your lovers one by one
And friends, too
I've come with hands above my head
I'm damned if I'll try to break your door down
If you ever come out just call me
I'll still be armed with the memory of one evening when you smiled
At something
Sadness spreads like a black stain
But I know by now that's not all there is
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
And love's not something you decide to do
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
You tell me women get you down
And as for men, they're all bastards
I wonder what world you call home
And I wish I could learn their language just enough to make you laugh
Just one time
Yes, it was nice to see you, too
Although I'm never sure you mean it
I pick up the tab and you won't thank me
Not that I mind, but in my dreams it's all so different - we even kiss
Imagine this
Bitterness is a black hole
But you know by now you got more to give
There's a blue flame inside of you so beautiful and rare
And love's not something you decide to do
You'd be so hard to love if love was not just there
Impossible to love if love was not for some strange reason there
Songwriters
JACKSON
JC R
Great song…
Willy Wassink
Beautiful...
K Robinson
Very nice.