Alongside "Hit the Lights," "Jump in the Fire" is one of Metallica's first original songs, having been included on Ron McGovney's '82 Garage demo, an unreleased recording. The original lyrics, which dealt with sex, were penned by Dave Mustaine. However, much like the events surrounding "The Four Horsemen," new lyrics were written by James Hetfield upon Mustaine's departure from Metallica. These new lyrics revolve around people being damned to Hell and therefore "jumping in the fire."
Jump in the Fire
Metallica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The summons bell will chime
Tempting you and all the earth
To join our sinful kind
There is a job to be done and I'm the one
You people make me do it
Now it is time for your fate and I won't hesitate
To pull you down into this pit
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
With hell in my eyes and with death in my veins
The end is closing in
Feeding on the minds of man
And from their souls within
My disciples all shout to search out
And they always shall obey
Follow me now my child not the meek or the mild
Do just as I say
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
Jump by your will or be taken by force
I'll get you either way
Trying to keep the hell fire lit
I am stalking you as prey
Living your life as me I am you you see
So reach down grab my hand walk with me through the land
Come home where you belong
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
Come on jump in, yeah!
Metallica’s song “Jump in the Fire” involves dark and introspective lyrics that suggest a descent into the pits of hell. The song's narrator is the devil himself, inviting the listener to join in the sinful kind living in the depths of hell. The devil commands the audience to follow him, and while performing their appointed task, he insists the listener do the same. According to the song, keeping the hellfire burning requires stalking and feeding on the minds and souls of men, and the devil insists that the listener be a participant in this process. Throughout the song, he suggests that there is no alternative to joining his followers and walking with him through the land, ultimately returning with him to where you belong. The lyrics are compelling, powerful, and invoke dark imagery and symbolism that effectively creates the illusion that the listener is being lured into the depths of hell itself.
The song was released as a track on Metallica’s first official album, “Kill ‘Em All,” under the name “Jump in the Fire.” The initial release of the album was limited, but it became a massive commercial success, catapulting heavy metal music into the mainstream. The song features shredding guitar work, fast-paced drumming, and harsh vocals that add to the song's menacing tone. The song's multilayered composition and powerful lyrics made it an instant hit with Metallica fans, and the group quickly became known as one of the founding bands of the thrash metal genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in the depths of my fiery home
I am in the depths of hell
The summons bell will chime
The bell calls everyone to join the sinful kind
Tempting you and all the earth
Encouraging you to join us
To join our sinful kind
To be one of us
There is a job to be done and I'm the one
I have to do something
You people make me do it
You are the reason I have to do it
Now it is time for your fate and I won't hesitate
It is time for me to punish you and I won't waste any time
To pull you down into this pit
To drag you down to hell with me
With hell in my eyes and with death in my veins
I am full of evil and death
The end is closing in
The end of the world is coming
Feeding on the minds of man
Taking control of people's minds
And from their souls within
Taking control of people's souls
My disciples all shout to search out
My followers search for new victims
And they always shall obey
They will always follow my orders
Follow me now my child not the meek or the mild
Follow me, but only if you are strong
Do just as I say
Do what I tell you to do
Jump by your will or be taken by force
Either come willingly or I will force you
I'll get you either way
I will get you no matter what
Trying to keep the hell fire lit
Keeping the flames of hell burning
I am stalking you as prey
I am hunting you down
Living your life as me I am you you see
You will become like me
So reach down grab my hand walk with me through the land
Take my hand and we'll go to hell together
Come home where you belong
Come to hell, where you belong
Come on jump in, yeah!
Come on, join me in hell!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE MUSTAINE, JAMES ALAN HETFIELD, LARS ULRICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nino Amora
on No Remorse
im a dieharn fan of metalica