Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr; February 1, 1948 - August 6, 20… Read Full Bio ↴Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr; February 1, 1948 - August 6, 2004) was an American funk and soul musician from Buffalo New York, who worked as a singer, keyboardist, bassist, record producer, arranger, and composer during his long career. One of the most popular artists on the Motown label during the late 1970s and early 1980s, James was famous for his wild brand of funk music and his trademark cornrow braids. As time went on, James was given the unofficial title The King of Punk-Funk.

After dropping out of high school and joining the US Naval Reserve, he eventually went AWOL to concentrate on music. He fled to Canada in 1964 and started using the name Ricky Matthews. In Toronto, he led various incarnations of The Mynah Birds, some of which included Neil Young and Bruce Palmer (who would go on to form Buffalo Springfield) and Nick St. Nicholas (later of Steppenwolf). After scoring a deal with Motown, the band was swindled by their manager and the label discovered James was on the lam, and the band split up.

After serving time for desertion, James tried to rekindle the Mynah Birds, but eventually found a role as a writer and producer at Motown, using the name Terry Johnson on tunes for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and The Spinners. He moved to California in 1969 and formed Salt 'n' Pepper (not to be confused with Salt-N-Pepa) and worked with a number of bands (Heaven and Earth, Great White Cane, and Stone City Band) before returning to Motown, where he developed the gritty funk sound that would bring him hits and notoriety. "Super Freak" in 1981, from the Street Songs album, was his biggest hit. During this period, he also helped launch the careers of R&B singer Teena Marie and the Mary Jane Girls as well as producing Eddie Murphy's hit, Party All the Time.

After remaining moderately successful through the 80s, his popularity waned in the 90s and he succumbed to drugs, having frequent run-ins with the law, one of which resulted in a prison term. After an unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1997 and suffering a stroke, James retired. He died in 2004 from heart failure with multiple contributing factors.

Fire And Desire
Rick James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wow
It's really good to see you again, baby
And I must admit you're looking very, very, very nice these days
I guess life must be treating you well
Oh, me?
Well, I've just been doin' the same ol' thing I've always been doin', you know
I've got a new lady now
And it's a little different then it was when I was with you

You know, I think back to when we met
The way I used to be and the cold way I used to act
But more than that, I think of how you changed me with your love and sensitivity
Remember when I used to

Love them and leave them
That's what I used to do
Use and abuse them
Then I laid eyes on you, it was pain before pleasure
That was my claim to fame
With every measure, baby
Tasted teardrop stains, yeah
I was cold as ice long ago, baby, baby
I wasn't very, very, very nice, you know
Sugar, sugar, sugar
Then I kissed your lips and you tuned on my fire, baby
And you burned me up within your flame
Took me a little higher
Made me live again, you turned on my fire, baby
Then you showed me what a love could do
Fire and desire, baby
Feel it comin' through
And I thank you, baby

Oh, how I thank you, baby
You taught me so much and you showed mw so much and love and insensitivity
That since you've been gone I don't think I've ever felt this way before
You know it's funny how a man can change so quickly from a cold-blooded person
Thinkin' he's God gift to women
Remember how I used to do that?
I must have been crazy then
Remember when you used to

Love them and leave them
Oh, that's what I used to do
Use them and abuse them, whoa
Then I laid eyes on you
It was pain before pleasure
Oh, that was my claim to fame
With every measure
Tasted your teardrop stains, yeah
You were cold as ice long ago baby, baby
I-I wasn't, I-I wasn't very nice, I know, whoo!
Sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar
Then I kissed your lips and you
(You turned on) turned (you turned on) on
(You turned on my fire) my fire, baby
Then you showed me what a love could do
Fire and desire (fire and desire)
Feelin' good to you (feelin' good to you)
You turned on my fire (fire), baby (oh, baby)
And you burned me up within your flame (you burned me, you burned me)
Fire and desire (fire and desire)
And we're both to blame, both to blame

You know
I guess I think we both said a little too much today (no, ooh)
After all, Tee, you're kind of with somebody else
I'm kind of livin' with somebody
But please do me a favor just before you go (what is it, baby?)
Just put your arms around me and hold me like you used (I want to hold you tight)
Tell me "Rick" (oh, oh) "everything is gonna be alright"
(Everything, everything, everything is gonna be alright) put your arms around me
Put your arms around me (ooh)

Oh, baby
Oh, baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Fire and Desire" by Rick James is a ballad about the love and passion between two people. The song starts with Rick James talking to his former lover and telling her that he has a new lady now, but he still remembers how their love was hot and passionate. He talks about how he used to be cold and use women, but when he met her, she changed him with her love and sensitivity. He reminisces about how their love was intense and how she turned his fire on, making him experience a new level of passion and love. He ends the song by asking her to hold him one last time and tell him that everything is going to be alright.

The lyrics of "Fire and Desire" convey deep emotions of love, passion, and regret. It talks about how love can change a person and turn them into a better version of themselves. The song also highlights the fact that a person's actions can hurt others, but they can always find redemption if they open themselves up to love.

Line by Line Meaning

Wow
An expression of wonder and amazement at seeing the person again

It's really good to see you again, baby
Expressing happiness at meeting the person again

And I must admit you're looking very, very, very nice these days
Complimenting the person's appearance and acknowledging that they look good

I guess life must be treating you well
Wondering if life has been treating the person well

Oh, me?
Turning the attention to oneself

Well, I've just been doin' the same ol' thing I've always been doin', you know
Stating that nothing much has changed in their personal life

I've got a new lady now
Informing the person that they have a new partner now

And it's a little different than it was when I was with you
Acknowledging that their current relationship is different from the one they shared with this person

You know, I think back to when we met
Recalling the time when they first met the person

The way I used to be and the cold way I used to act
Reflecting on their past behavior towards women

But more than that, I think of how you changed me with your love and sensitivity
Appreciating the person for the positive impact they had on them

Remember when I used to
Bringing up their past behavior

Love them and leave them
Referring to their past habit of having short-term relationships

That's what I used to do
Reiterating their past behavior

Use and abuse them
Acknowledging that their past behavior was not fair to the women they dated

Then I laid eyes on you, it was pain before pleasure
Describing the transition from their past behavior to falling in love with the person and admitting that it wasn't easy for them

That was my claim to fame
Referring to their past behavior as their way of life

With every measure, baby
Referring to their past actions with women and how they chose to live their life

Tasted teardrop stains, yeah
Referring to the hurt that they have caused to the women in their past relationships

I was cold as ice long ago, baby, baby
Admitting that they used to be emotionally unavailable in past relationships

I wasn't very, very, very nice, you know
Acknowledging their past behavior and expressing regret for it

Sugar, sugar, sugar
Expressing affection towards the person

Then I kissed your lips and you turned on my fire, baby
Remembering the moment they fell in love with the person and how it changed them

And you burned me up within your flame
Describing the passion and intensity of their feelings for the person

Took me a little higher
Describing how being in love with the person elevated their mood and spirit

Made me live again, you turned on my fire, baby
Attributing their emotional growth and development to their relationship with the person

Then you showed me what a love could do
Acknowledging the person for teaching them the true meaning of love

Fire and desire, baby
Describing the passion and intensity of their relationship

Feel it comin' through
Describing the physical sensations of their love

And I thank you, baby
Expressing gratitude towards the person for their positive impact on their life

You taught me so much and you showed me so much and love and insensitivity
Acknowledging the person for showing them love and vulnerability, and teaching them valuable lessons

That since you've been gone I don't think I've ever felt this way before
Admitting that they still have strong feelings for the person and miss them deeply

You know it's funny how a man can change so quickly from a cold-blooded person
Reflecting on how falling in love can transform a person

Thinkin' he's God gift to women
Acknowledging their past self-centered behavior towards women

Remember how I used to do that?
Bringing up their past behavior to contrast with their current self

I must have been crazy then
Admitting that their past behavior was irrational

Oh, how I thank you, baby
Expressing gratitude towards the person again

It was pain before pleasure
Remembering the challenges of transitioning from their old way of life to a serious relationship

Fire and desire
Describing the passion and intensity of their relationship

Feelin' good to you
Expressing that being in love feels right

And we're both to blame, both to blame
Acknowledging that both parties share responsibility for the end of their relationship

I'm kind of livin' with somebody
Revealing that they are in a committed relationship with someone else now

But please do me a favor just before you go
Asking the person for a final favor before they leave

Just put your arms around me and hold me like you used
Asking the person for a hug to remember the good times they shared