Fire in Freetown
K´naan Lyrics


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There is no way to write it there is no way to fight it
And I kick and scream but you got me despite it
And I got my pride so I begin to hide it
Like a fire in a free town you begin to lighten it

Aha aha aha
Sidii hogasha roobka
Ah ah aha you shine down upon me
Aha aha aha Sidii hogasha roobka aha aha aha you shine down upon me

By some higher order you keep getting bolder
By god or by country you kill like a soldier
By some widdle you sung little but scream mighty stronger
Like fire in free town you old magic spoiler.

Aha aha aha
Sidii hogasha roobka
Ah ah aha you shine down upon me
Aha aha aha Sidii hogasha roobka aha aha aha you shine down upon me

You place pins in my ribs and ask me to lie down
My pain is your pleasure but pleasure is all mine
You lend me your false ear and I lend you my false lines
Like fire in free town I'm fueled by your gold mine

Aha aha aha
Sidii hogasha roobka
Ah ah aha you shine down upon me
Aha aha aha Sidii hogasha roobka aha aha aha you shine down upon me

She pulled out her match and she burned down my home
Fire fire
She know it to touch me to turn me to stone
Fire fire
She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn
Fire fire
She pulled out her match and she burned down my home
Fire fire
She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn
Fire fire
She know it to touch me she know it I know
Fire fire
She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn




Fire fire
She pulled out her match and she burned down my home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to K’naan’s song Fire in Freetown are a complex mix of emotions—recognition, anger, pain, and even admiration. The refrain focuses on the metaphor of a fire that burns bright and is impossible to put out, similar to a powerful force that is both revered and feared. The opening lines “there is no way to write it, there is no way to fight it” suggest a sense of defeat, a feeling of being overshadowed by an overwhelming force. Even the strongest instincts of pride and self-preservation cannot resist this unstoppable fire—which could be a metaphor for any number of things, such as the power of nature, time, or human lust and desire.


The next verse adds more layers to the metaphor, suggesting that this fire is fueled by a higher order or purpose (“by god or by country”), and that it has a destructive side to it (“you kill like a soldier”). The line “you old magic spoiler” suggests a kind of begrudging admiration for the power of this force, while acknowledging that it can also do great harm. The third verse focuses on the dynamic between two people—one who inflicts pain on the other for pleasure, and one who willingly participates in this exchange. The reference to a “false ear” and “false lines” suggests a kind of emotional dishonesty or manipulation, where both parties are contributing to the fire that consumes them.


Throughout the song, the refrain “Sidii hogasha roobka…you shine down upon me” adds a haunting and beautiful melody to the background, contrasting with the harshness and grittiness of the verses. The use of repetition and powerful imagery makes for a song that is both emotionally charged and intellectually stimulating, leaving the listener to ponder the nature of this unstoppable force and the ways in which we all contribute to it.


Line by Line Meaning

There is no way to write it there is no way to fight it
I cannot put into words or actions what I'm experiencing.


And I kick and scream but you got me despite it
I resist, but you always overpower me.


And I got my pride so I begin to hide it
I try to mask my humiliation.


Like a fire in a free town, you begin to lighten it
You bring me relief like water to a thirsty town.


By some higher order, you keep getting bolder
Some supernatural force seems to be empowering you.


By god or by country, you kill like a soldier
You act ruthlessly, as if following orders from a higher power.


By some widdle, you sung little but scream mighty stronger
Despite being unassuming, you have an undeniable impact.


Like fire in free town, you old magic spoiler.
You seem to have an uncanny ability to disrupt and change things.


You place pins in my ribs and ask me to lie down
You harm and control me, forcing me to submit.


My pain is your pleasure but pleasure is all mine
You delight in causing me pain, but I also derive pleasure from feeling alive.


You lend me your false ear and I lend you my false lines
We both present ourselves dishonestly to each other.


Like fire in free town, I'm fueled by your gold mine
I'm drawn to you because I benefit from our relationship, even though it's harmful.


She pulled out her match and she burned down my home fire fire
She destroyed everything I held dear.


She know it to touch me to turn me to stone fire fire
She has the ability to freeze me with a single touch.


She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn fire fire
She swept into my life and caused chaos.


She pulled out her match and she burned down my home fire fire
She destroyed everything I held dear.


She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn fire fire
She swept into my life and caused chaos.


She know it to touch me she know it I know fire fire
She knows how to hurt me and I'm aware of it.


She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn fire fire
She swept into my life and caused chaos.


She pulled out her match and she burned down my home
She destroyed everything I held dear.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN WEST, GERALD EATON, KEINAN WARSAME

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@adanmaalim6350

There's no way to write it, there's no way to fight it
And I kick and scream but you got me despite it
And I got my pride so I begin to hide it
Like fire in freetown you begin to light it

Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me

By some higher order you keep getting bolder
By God or by country you kill like a soldier
By some widdle you sung little but scream mighty stronger
Like fire in freetown you old magic spoiler

Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me

You place pins in my ribs and ask me to lie down
My pain is your pleasure but pleasure is all mine
You lend me your false ear, I lend you my false lines
Like fire in freetown I'm fueled by your gold mine

Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me

Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me
Aha, aha, sidii hogasha roobka
Aha, aha, you shine down upon me

There's no way to write it, there's no way to fight it
And I kick and scream but you got me despite it
And I got my pride so I begin to fight it
Like fire in freetown you begin to light it

Fire, fire, fire, fire
She pulled out her match and she burned down my home
Fire, fire
She always come find me, she know where I roam

Fire, fire
She know where to touch me to turn me to stone
Fire, fire
She come like a storm and she rained on my lawn

Fire, fire
She know where to touch me to turn me to stone
Fire, fire
She always come find me, she know where I roam

Fire, fire
She pulled out her match and she burned down my home



All comments from YouTube:

@Kail1Kain2love2

I love this song. My grandma was in Sierra Leone when the rebels came in, but she left w/ my granpa way before the war became bad. I have a adopted sister who just got reunited with her family (they were separated during the war) they will luv this song.

@YourGirlIsis

WTF WHY IS K'NAAN SO AMAZING?! There's no way I can live with myself if i don't buy his CD. Support great artists like K'naan!

@Somalilander

There is no way to write it there is no way to fight it And I kick and scream but you got me despite it And I got my pride so I begin to hide it Like a fire in a free town you begin to lighten it.. Aha aha aha Sidii hogasha roobka ( like a rain) Ah ah aha you shine down upon me Aha aha aha Sidii hogasha roobka aha aha aha you shine down upon me By some higher order you keep getting bolder By god or by country you kill like a soldier By some widdle you sung little but scream mighty..

@ermygang

u can never get enough of this song.

@Iloveliness

I been a fan of K'naan since 2004~ glad that more people are finally getting familiar with his talent and music!

@bezzatheone

This guy is an inspiration, i love him and EVERY song he's released, not one ive even had to think about, all of them just WOW... Long Live K'naan, keep it up your amazing

@abdulhakimabdela2716

Knaan is so underrated,that deserves a big recognition

@CushiticSomalianMale

The Somali bit says you shine like 'the coming of the rain' - its a rough translation but its a romantic quotation about a woman being as beautiful, in smell and illumination, as when its about to rain. Thank you K'naan for being a teacher about things I never had the pleasure of knowing.

@LotBountyHunter

beautiful music, knaan im proud of him....somali talent!

@juniorjabbi909

k'naan is crazy puts on tha best live shows seriously he talks about real stuff and hes not selling out for sales hes keeping it 100 and still sellin

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