Fire Of Heaven On An Alter Of Earth
Matisyahu Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion

Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion

Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man-made
Capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane
Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Babylon's buildings raise like flames
Drowning in their champagne
Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
Soul stain blowing up
In your own domain
Fire crackers ooh and aah
But they never maintain

Fires burning
Flames are dancing
Don't burn the house down
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground

Fire descends from on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion

Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion

One pair of eyes
But see two different things
One person cries but the other one sings
You walk around like everybody owes you something
Take what you get, thank God for all that life brings
The poor man has it all but not content with anything
While the rich man's hands are empty but he's sitting like a king

Fires burning
Flames are dancing
Don't burn the house down
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground

Backpacks's getting heavy, moving at a steady pace
Carryin' bricks on your shoulders and lead around your waist
Making way, run in haste
There is no time to taste what you ate
We should be grateful Got a plateful
Fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain

Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion





Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion

Overall Meaning

In "Fire Of Heaven On An Alter Of Earth," Matisyahu expresses the importance of humility and sacrifice as a means of reaching Mount Zion, a symbol of spiritual enlightenment. The lyrics depict a contrast between false pride and genuine humility, as a fire that is made by humans versus one that is bestowed from heaven. The line "burn the sacrifice of pride" calls for renunciation of ego and self-importance in order to create an altar of earth that will invite the descent of the heavenly fire, which is represented by a lion. This symbol suggests both power and divine spirit, emphasizing the need for a higher power.


The song also explores the idea of duality, with the line "one pair of eyes but see two different things." This highlights the importance of perspective, as it affects how one interprets and responds to life experiences. Additionally, Matisyahu touches on the idea of materialism and how it can be a form of false pride, as the rich man has nothing but the poor man is content with it all. Overall, the lyrics suggest that spiritual enlightenment and the acquisition of true wealth lie in cultivating an attitude of gratitude, humility, and sacrifice.


Line by Line Meaning

Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Powerful flames from above take on the form of a mighty lion


Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
Get rid of your selfishness and make the journey to a higher spiritual realm


Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
You are easily bothered and always looking for shortcuts


Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man-made
You put in effort to create something, but it lacks true passion and authenticity


Capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane
You take advantage of trends and hype to skyrocket to success


Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
You crave an instant and intense high, like a drug, without putting in the necessary work or patience


False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Being overly prideful will only lead to your downfall and you're not even benefiting from it


Babylon's buildings raise like flames
The wealth and power of Babylon grows, but it’s short-lived


Drowning in their champagne
People are living lavishly and indulging in excess, but it’s not making them truly happy


Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
Your actions have led to a dangerous and destructive situation


Soul stain blowing up
A negative energy from within is causing problems


In your own domain
You're causing chaos and harm in your own environment


Fire crackers ooh and aah
People are easily entertained by flashy things, but it doesn't last long


But they never maintain
These things don’t have any lasting or meaningful impact


Fires burning
Flames are alive and active


Flames are dancing
The fire is moving and grooving, with a life of its own


Don't burn the house down
Don't cause destruction or harm to your own home or environment


Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground
A true spiritual connection with a higher power can only be found in humble and grounded places


One pair of eyes
Two people can be looking at the same thing


But see two different things
But interpret and perceive it completely differently


One person cries but the other one sings
People can react differently to the same situation, either in sorrow or joy


You walk around like everybody owes you something
You have a sense of entitlement and expect things to be handed to you


Take what you get, thank God for all that life brings
Be grateful for what you have, even if it's not exactly what you expected or desired


The poor man has it all but not content with anything
Someone with very little material possessions can still feel fulfilled in life


While the rich man's hands are empty but he's sitting like a king
Someone with great power and wealth can still feel empty and unsatisfied


Backpack's getting heavy, moving at a steady pace
You're carrying a burden, but still making progress


Carrying bricks on your shoulders and lead around your waist
You're weighed down by heavy emotions and commitments


Making way, run in haste
Keep moving forward, even if it means going quickly


There is no time to taste what you ate
You don't have time to appreciate what you have, you're always moving on to the next thing


We should be grateful, got a plateful
We should appreciate what we have, even if it's not much


Fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain
Fire can be both destructive and beautiful




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: JOSHUA WERNER, MATTHEW MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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