Robertson's work with the Band was instrumental in creating the Americana music genre. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Band, and into Canada's Walk of Fame, with the Band and on his own. He is ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He wrote "The Weight", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and "Up on Cripple Creek" with the Band and had solo hits with "Broken Arrow" and "Somewhere Down the Crazy River", and many others. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters.
Robertson collaborated on film and TV soundtracks, usually with director Martin Scorsese, beginning in the rockumentary film The Last Waltz (1978) and continuing through dramatic films including Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Casino (1995), Gangs of New York (2002), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Silence (2016), The Irishman (2019), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
Robbie Robertson died in Los Angeles on August 9, 2023, at the age of 80, after a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
Sweet Fire Of Love
Robbie Robertson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't we fear the storm
Didn't we move the earth
Didn't we shoot for the sky
And didn't we catch the fire
And didn't we call upon the spirits
And didn't we fall together
Days on the run
Nights in hiding
Hoping that you were the
Healing inside me
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
I'm not afraid anymore
Sweet, sweet fire
I'm not alone
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
I'm not the same anymore
Sweet, sweet fire
Sweet fire of love
Sweet fire of love
Didn't we cross new waters
Didn't we mix new blood
Didn't we build brand new bridges
Didn't we hold back the flood
Broken idols by the side of the road
Fate didn't fall on the side of the law
Here she comes a-shining like a light
Here she comes salvation in the night
Days on the run
Nights in hiding
Hoping that you were the
Healing inside me
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
I'm not afraid anymore
Sweet, sweet fire
I'm not alone
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
I'm not the same anymore
Sweet, sweet fire
Sweet fire of love
Sweet fire of love
Didn't we shine like silver
Didn't we bear the cross
Didn't we bring down the hammer
Didn't we beat on the drum
Didn't we
Days on the run
Here she comes a-shining like a light
Nights in hiding
Here she comes salvation in the night
Hoping that you were the
I'm givin' up the ghost
Healing inside me
I'm givin' up the ghost
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
I'm not afraid anymore
Sweet, sweet fire
I'm not alone
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
I'm not the same anymore
Sweet, sweet fire
Sweet fire of love
Sweet fire of love
The song "Sweet Fire Of Love" by Robbie Robertson is a tale of passion and love, as well as a rallying cry to rise above adversity. The lyrics suggest two lovers who face challenges together, and presumably come out the other side stronger for it. The opening lines "Didn't we break the silence, Didn't we fear the storm" indicate that the couple faced a daunting obstacle, but they overcame it. The lines "Days on the run, Nights in hiding, Hoping that you were the Healing inside me" imply that they sought refuge in each other's company during difficult times. The singer appears to have given up something to pursue a new love(the lines "I'm givin' up the ghost"), but ultimately feels that it was worth it. The chorus draws on the idea of sweet fire, which seems to represent the passion that the couple shares. It is this sense of fierce devotion that allows them to conquer any setback that life throws their way.
The song is filled with references to overcoming adversity, and the lines "Broken idols by the side of the road, Fate didn't fall on the side of the law" hint at a struggle to overcome external opposition. The lines "Didn't we cross new waters, Didn't we build brand new bridges" suggest that they took bold steps in order to find happiness. The lines "Here she comes salvation in the night" are particularly evocative, conjuring up images of hope emerging from darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't we break the silence
Didn't we break free from the shackles of silence that held us back?
Didn't we fear the storm
Didn't we fear the storms of life and yet brace ourselves to face them head-on?
Didn't we move the earth
Didn't we leave a mark on this world through our endeavors?
Didn't we shoot for the sky
Didn't we set our goals high and strive to achieve them?
And didn't we catch the fire
And didn't we find and capture the passion that fueled us?
And didn't we call upon the spirits
And didn't we seek guidance and inspiration from spiritual entities?
And didn't we fall together
And didn't we support each other through thick and thin and stand together even when we fell?
And didn't we die for love
And didn't we make sacrifices and undergo hardships for the sake of love?
Days on the run
Days of evading the obstacles and challenges of the world
Nights in hiding
Nights of seeking refuge from the dangers and fears of the night
Hoping that you were the healing inside me
Wishing that the love of another would be the cure to the pain inside
Breathe in the sweet fire of love
Immerse in the passion and warmth of love
I'm not afraid anymore
I am confident and empowered
Sweet, sweet fire
Love is sweet, thrilling and irresistible
I'm not alone
I have the love and support of another
I'm not the same anymore
Love has transformed me into a better and different person
Didn't we cross new waters
Didn't we venture into uncharted areas and territories?
Didn't we mix new blood
Didn't we amalgamate and blend the cultures and ideas of different people?
Didn't we build brand new bridges
Didn't we connect with new people and create new opportunities?
Didn't we hold back the flood
Didn't we prevent calamities and hold together even in turbulent times?
Broken idols by the side of the road
The things we once held precious have lost value
Fate didn't fall on the side of the law
Destiny didn't hold us back and allow us to be limited by laws and order
Here she comes a-shining like a light
Here comes hope elightening the path
Here she comes salvation in the night
Here comes a savior during the darkest of times
I'm givin' up the ghost
I am letting go of the past and moving on
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVID EVANS, LAURENCE MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON, ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind