Queen and Paul parted ways amicably in 2009, with Paul remarking that he would like to get back together in the future to raise money for charity. Paul has since reunited with Bad Company, and they toured in 2010. Over the years, he's also successfully toured and released albums with his own group centered around him. Paul is ranked number 55 on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". His work has been long influenced by American blues and rock n roll, and he helped play a role in the 70s arena rock and hard rock scenes both in the U.K. and the U.S.
Fire and Water
Paul Rodgers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta heartache coming my way
I don't wanna say goodbye
Baby but look at the tears in my eye
I don't wanna say goodbye
Mama but look at the way you've made me cry
Every day that's nice
And I know fire and water
Must have made you a bad daughter
Ooh, got what it takes
To make a poor man's heart break
Poor man's heart break, yeah
Lover you turn me on
But quick as a flash your love is gone
Baby I'm gonna leave you now
But I'm gonna try and make you grieve somehow
Fire and water
Must have made you a bad daughter
Ooh, got what it takes
To make a poor man's heart break
A poor man's heart break
And my heart is breaking, ooh, oh yeah
I don't wanna say goodbye, baby
But look at the tears you've made me cry
Every day that's nice
You show you've got a heart that's made of ice
And I know fire and water
Must have made you a bad daughter
You've got what it takes
To make a poor man's heart break
Fire, fire and water
Must have made you a bad daughter
Baby, you've got what it takes
To make a poor man's heart break
Heart break
Huh, baby in my heart it's breaking
Oh, my heart is breaking
Oh listen
Recorded by Free. Written by Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers. Length 3:58
Appears on the 1970 studio album 'Fire And Water' and on the compilations 'The Free Story' and 'Chronicles'
'Chronicles' also includes a live version of the track.
Performed only three times, at the concerts in Dublin, Belfast, and the second Tokyo concert.
Live Versions with Queen:
1. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version (3:46) (on 'Super Live In Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics:
The lyrics of Paul Rodgers's song "Fire and Water" are about a tumultuous and painful relationship. The singer is in love with a woman who is emotionally unavailable, and every day he wakes up to a heartache. He doesn't want to say goodbye, but he can't bear to be with her anymore. He sees the tears in his eyes from crying and blames her for making him feel that way. He accuses her of having a heart made of ice, and suggests that fire and water must have made her a bad daughter. He acknowledges that she has what it takes to make a poor man's heart break, and he knows that his heart is breaking because of her.
The lyrics use fire and water as metaphors for the contrasting emotions in the relationship. Fire represents the passion and desire that the singer feels for the woman, while water represents the emotional distance and coldness that she exhibits. The lyrics suggest that the woman's behavior is a result of her upbringing or past experiences, hinted at by the line "fire and water must have made you a bad daughter." The singer acknowledges that he is a poor man whose heart is breaking, but he also knows that he needs to leave the relationship in order to save himself.
Overall, the lyrics of "Fire and Water" use vivid imagery and poetic language to convey the pain and confusion of a difficult relationship. The song is a powerful expression of heartbreak and the struggle to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Every single day
Each day is a challenge with another heartache coming my way
I gotta heartache coming my way
My life is difficult and full of sadness
I don't wanna say goodbye
I don't want to end this relationship
Baby but look at the tears in my eye
But you have caused me a lot of pain
Mama but look at the way you've made me cry
You, my mother, have hurt me deeply
Every day that's nice
When things seem good, you reveal your cold heart
You show you've got a heart that's made of ice
Your heart is cold and unwilling to love
And I know fire and water
I understand that your upbringing and experiences have made you who you are
Must have made you a bad daughter
Those experiences may have ruined your ability to love and caused you to hurt others, including your family
Ooh, got what it takes
You have the power to hurt me and make my heart suffer
To make a poor man's heart break
You can break the heart of a man without wealth or status
Lover you turn me on
I am attracted to you and your love
But quick as a flash your love is gone
But your love disappears quickly and without warning
Baby I'm gonna leave you now
I have to end this relationship
But I'm gonna try and make you grieve somehow
I want you to feel the pain that you have caused me
And my heart is breaking, ooh, oh yeah
My heart is in agony
Fire, fire and water
The combination of your past and present selves make you destructive
Baby, you've got what it takes
You have what it takes to destroy a man's heart
To make a poor man's heart break
It is easy for you to hurt someone who is not rich or powerful
Huh, baby in my heart it's breaking
My heart is in intense pain because of you
Oh, my heart is breaking
My heart is in agony
Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thom Vogan
How is it possible for Paul Rogers to sound even better now than ever
Gid Dree
You AIN'T NEVA Lie 💪
bobrat
He doesn't use a monitor.
Stephen Rice
Hard work , practice and knowing his limits
George Elkin
I'm stunned as well ... and with such an ease and detail 👏💪
Don Johnson
Because Paul looked after himself didn't smoke or drink
joel simms
One of the best rock voices ever.
Jim Atkins
THE best voice ever, if I may be so bold!
Chuck H
Absolutely! And he has the longevity too!!
Darren Storey
The best