Matt Berry (born 1974 in Bromham, Bedfordshire) is a British actor, writer … Read Full Bio ↴Matt Berry (born 1974 in Bromham, Bedfordshire) is a British actor, writer and musician known for his deep, booming voice and a grand, rather roguish but charming manner. When not creating numerous indelible characters on a variety of British and American TV shows, multi-instrumentalist Matt Berry spends his time re-creating the sounds of the obscure albums he collects on songs that blend gentle British folk, wistful psychedelia, and rambling prog rock. Teaming with the venerable Acid Jazz label, Berry released a series of albums that explored pastoral folk-rock (2013's Kill the Wolf), new age synthesizer music (2014's Music for Insomniacs), country-rock (2020's Phantom Birds), and spot-on psychedelia (2021's Blue Elephant.) No matter the stylistic route he chooses, Berry plays it straight, and his surprisingly tender vocals, skills at a variety of instruments, and knack for a hook make it clear that he's not just an actor dabbling in music as a hobby.

Bonfire
Matt Berry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They all came to see the bonfire
Dressed in ribbons they looked splendid
Fetch the wood, lock the stable
Clear the field, make a circle
There'll be smoke, and lots of magic
Cinder, too, and acrobatics

They all came to see the flames fly

To the moon, they dance in the sky
A gift to those for watching over
Marks the end of October
There'll be smoke and lots of magic
Cinder, too, and acrobatics

Fetch the wood, lock the stable
Clear the field, make a circle
A gift to those for watching over
Marks the end of October

They all came to see the bonfire
Dressed in ribbons they looked splendid

Overall Meaning

The song "Bonfire" by Matt Berry is about the annual tradition of lighting a bonfire to celebrate the end of October. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of people coming together to prepare for the event. The gathering is festive, with people dressed in ribbons and excitedly preparing for the event by gathering wood, clearing the field, and creating a circle around the bonfire. The atmosphere is full of anticipation, smoke, magic, and acrobatics, with the flames of the bonfire shooting up to the sky.

The chorus repeats the phrase "A gift to those for watching over, marks the end of October," which suggests that the bonfire is not only a celebration but also a way of thanking those who have protected or watched over the community throughout the year. The lyrics in the song are simple, but the imagery is powerful, evoking a sense of community, celebration, and tradition.

Line by Line Meaning

They all came to see the bonfire
A group of people gathered to witness a bonfire

Dressed in ribbons they looked splendid
The people dressed in colorful clothes looked beautiful

Fetch the wood, lock the stable
Procure enough wood and secure the stable for the bonfire

Clear the field, make a circle
Prepare the area by cleaning it and marking a boundary circle

There'll be smoke, and lots of magic
Expect a magical and smoky atmosphere

Cinder, too, and acrobatics
People would display acrobatics and cinder would be present in the atmosphere

They all came to see the flames fly
The people came to see the flames reach high up in the sky

To the moon, they dance in the sky
The flames would reach up to the moon and flicker like a dance

A gift to those for watching over
The bonfire was a way to express gratitude towards those who had watched over us

Marks the end of October
This event signified the ending of the month of October

Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.