When the Night's on Fire
Mike Oldfield Lyrics


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(I was hoping) Could you be my inspiration?
Whatever should become in the candlelight.
(I was dreaming) Was it my imagination?
Tomorrow never comes in the candlelight.

[Chorus 1]
When the night's on fire,
Do you need love's arms to hold you?
It's a flame, there burns no finer.
When you see one bird,
There's another one watching over,
And the two can fly much higher.
I was listening to the wind that walks the hours.
I never would have heard, in the candlelight.
I was hoping, would you shelter me from showers?
I believe every word in the candlelight.

[Chorus 1]

[Chorus 2]
When the night's on
Fire and you burn,
Like a flame that's burning in the rain,
Do you need somewhere to turn?
When you see one bird,
It's the two that fly higher;
And a second in heaven's worth a whole life's.
Trouble and trial.
Trouble and trial.

[Chorus 2]

When's the night's on fire,
Do you need love's arms to hold you? (When the night's on fire)
When you see one bird fly,
There's another one watching over. (When the night's on fire)
When the night's on fire.
It's a flame, there burns no finer. (When the night's on fire)




When you see one bird fly,
It's the two that fly much higher. (When the night's on fire)

Overall Meaning

The song "When the Night's on Fire" by Mike Oldfield is a romantic ballad that speaks about inspiration and the power of love. The opening lines are addressed to someone the singer is hoping can be his inspiration and become a flame in the candlelight. The verse alternates between wishing for inspiration and questioning the reality of what he is feeling. The first chorus then answers this by stating that love is a flame that burns brighter than any other, and it provides comfort and guidance, even in the darkest of times. The second verse expresses gratitude for what the singer has in their life and hopes to find shelter from any future storms. The second chorus is a more straightforward declaration of faith in the power of love over any trouble or trial in life.


The theme of the song is love and its power to inspire, comfort, and guide us through difficult times. The candlelight symbolizes the hope and warmth that love brings to our lives, even in the darkest of moments. The metaphor of the birds flying higher together conveys the idea that we can achieve more when we have someone by our side.


Line by Line Meaning

Could you be my inspiration?
Asking someone to provide inspiration for him.


Whatever should become in the candlelight.
Not worrying about what the future holds and living in the present moment.


Was it my imagination?
Questioning whether something is real or fake.


Tomorrow never comes in the candlelight.
Acknowledging that time becomes irrelevant when living in the present moment.


When the night's on fire, Do you need love's arms to hold you?
Questioning if someone needs emotional support during challenging times.


It's a flame, there burns no finer.
Acknowledging the intensity and rareness of love.


When you see one bird, There's another one watching over, And the two can fly much higher.
Believing that having support and love from others can help one achieve greater heights.


I was listening to the wind that walks the hours.
Being aware and mindful of the passage of time and the changing of the seasons.


I never would have heard, in the candlelight.
Realizing that one must be present and connected to the world in order to truly experience it.


I was hoping, would you shelter me from showers?
Asking someone to protect and care for him in times of need and hardship.


I believe every word in the candlelight.
Being present and fully engaged in a moment, believing and trusting what one experiences.


When the night's on Fire and you burn, Like a flame that's burning in the rain, Do you need somewhere to turn?
Recognizing the pain and hardships that can come with life and asking if one needs a support system during these times.


And a second in heaven's worth a whole life's. Trouble and trial.
Believing that even a brief moment of happiness or love is worth all the struggles and hardships faced in life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKE OLDFIELD

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

@majorskepticism7836

I am holding in my hand the ceedee of Islands I bought in the 80’s. It’s the early one with The Wind Chimes Part One and Part Two both on track 1, not like the later release that broke them into two tracks. The cover shows an island in a sea of barely visible hands in the water. Mike Oldfield on the back in a white t-shirt.

I ordered this album as soon as I heard the gamelan bells on Wind Chimes. I had to wait some time for it to come in. It may not be the first release, but I did get it in a record store in Louisville, Kentucky in 1987 or 1988.  
On the back is “CDV2466”

Track 7. When The Nights on Fire 6:40
Vocals by Anita Hedgerland
Produced by Mike Oldfield

1987 Virgin Records Ltd.



All comments from YouTube:

@5ourgang

I’m just overwhelmed!!! Oldfield is the greatest music creator of our times. It moves the spirit and soul like no other composer I know about. Other artists come close but listening through their body of work, usually disappoints. How in the h... did I not discover Mike until this year I’ll never know. Oldfield fan forever

@davidp679

Not sure if this was a first draft for Islands but I prefer this to that. That guitar solo!

@Rog-Nature-vs-Nurture

Love it :)

@egopiegopi

preciosa la mejor de disco original

@JoseManuel-jj6uj

The album "Islands", where this emotional song appeared, was not liked by Oldfield's purist fans. That new age air and the excessive use of the technology turned it into an album without the punch of the previous ones. Now with the passing of the years it is considered a good album, and it is that this musician had us badly accustomed. Now with his absence we are going to realize what he meant to music.

@johnnywalker7961

who is singing that song ?

@theangelofdeath1986

JOHNNY Walker sally oldfield

@dingomusiktheater

No, it's not Sally Oldfield. It's Anita Hegerland!
She's also singing "Innocent" and "Pictures in the dark", as a little girl she sang together with Roy Black "Schön ist es, auf der Welt zu sein"!

@firstfill5072

THIS VERSION is far superior to the bonnie Tyler version on the islands album....what was mike thinking of by holding this back....

@HubertKlebensberger

What do you mean with "holding this back"? - This is an original track of the "Island" album ;-)

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