She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards.
Her first album Touch was released in September 28, 1988, recorded in 1987-1988, Vancouver, Canada. The album received both critical and commercial success and included the hit song Vox. During this period she co-operated with Tom Ferris and Dean Russel of Moev, who discovered her as a singer. She contributed backing vocals their 1990 album Head Down and embarked on her first national concert tour as an opening act for The Grapes Of Wrath, another Tom Ferris's band.
Her second album Solace (1991) was a real breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles The Path of Thorns (Terms) and Into the Fire and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada.
In 1994 her third album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy quietly became Sarah's international breakthrough, scaling the charts in a number of countries. In the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years.
Sarah's fourth album Surfacing, released in 1997, brought her international success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Still in the spotlight from the album, Sarah launched the highly popular Lilith Fair tour, which helped launch the careers of several well-known female artists.
Her next record Afterglow came out in 2003; it contained the singles Fallen, Stupid, and World On Fire. It was her first album of new material in six years. Sarah took a few years furlough to start a family with her husband and drummer, Ashwin Sood.
Her Holiday album Wintersong came out in October 2006. The album consists of eleven new recordings of well known Christmas songs as well as seasonal favorites interpreted by Sarah. The title track Wintersong is an original work of Sarah.
McLachlan's first studio album of original material in seven years, Laws of Illusion, was released on June 15, 2010. It features 10 new songs in addition to the previously released tracks "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up on Us. The first single Loving You Is Easy was released on April 23, 2010. It was followed by Forgiveness, released on June 30, 2010.
World on Fire
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're not alone in this story's pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I'll try to hold it in, yeah, I'll try to hold it in
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
I watch the heavens but I find no calling
Something I can do to change what's coming
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
I don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
Hearts break, hearts mend
Love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash
Still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold
Is closing in on us
We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take the less we become
The fortune of one man means less for some
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
In Sarah McLachlan's song World on Fire, the lyrics reflect the despair that many feel in the world's difficult times. It speaks to the pain that individuals experience as they try to navigate the chaos and confusion of contemporary society. In the first stanza, McLachlan acknowledges that hearts are being worn down in the "dark ages" of the modern era, and that people are not alone in facing the struggles of the world. She speaks to the tension between life and death as the "light" falls among both the living and the dying, and acknowledges the difficulty in trying to "hold it in," as the weight of the world's problems becomes overwhelming.
The chorus of the song is a call to action in the face of insurmountable problems. McLachlan uses the metaphor of the world being on fire, representing the many challenges individuals face in daily life. She recognizes that while it may feel like it's more than she can handle, she must still try to do her part. The line "tap into the water" references the idea of going deep within oneself to find strength and resilience, and then using that strength to "bring more" to the table than one would think is possible. The hope is to create change, even if on a small scale.
In the last stanza, McLachlan speaks to the importance of staying connected to others during difficult times. She recognizes the hurt that love can cause, and that visions and plans can fall apart or crash. At the same time, there remains a kernel of hope, as people continue to seek salvation for their souls, even as the "cold" of the world seems to be closing in on them. The final lines suggest that there is a dire need for people to come together, to work against the toxic effects of individualism and inequality in society. In all, the lyrics of World on Fire reflect a deep anxiety about the world's future, but also a call to action for people to come together in solidarity for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts are worn in these dark ages
People are emotionally exhausted during difficult times
You're not alone in this story's pages
You are not the only one experiencing this struggle
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
Hope is scarce in a world where life and death seem to blur together
And I'll try to hold it in, yeah, I'll try to hold it in
I will try to remain composed despite overwhelming circumstances
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
The world is in chaos and I feel powerless to change it
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
I will do what I can to contribute to solutions for these problems
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
I will push myself to do more than what is expected
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
I will contribute what skills and resources I have to the cause
I watch the heavens but I find no calling
I look to a higher power for guidance but feel lost
Something I can do to change what's coming
I am searching for a way to alter the future
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
I need emotional support during times of distress
I don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone
I fear abandonment and isolation in times of crisis
Hearts break, hearts mend
We experience emotional pain and recovery repeatedly
Love still hurts
Even in times of turmoil, love can be both a source of comfort and pain
Visions clash, planes crash
Conflicting beliefs can lead to destructive consequences
Still there's talk of saving souls, still the cold is closing in on us
Despite efforts to save individuals, a larger sense of detachment and apathy is present
We part the veil on our killer sun
Our actions reveal the destructive nature of humanity
Stray from the straight line on this short run
We deviate from established paths on our limited journey through life
The more we take the less we become
We lose ourselves in our quest for power and material gain
The fortune of one man means less for some
Individual prosperity can come at the cost of others
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Pierre Marchand, Sarah McLachlan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@venusnode6
Beautiful, deep and hearttaking lyrics Sarah!
Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I'll try to hold it in, yeah, I'll try to hold it in
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
I watch the heavens but I find no calling
Something I can do to change what's coming
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
I don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
Hearts break, hearts mend
Love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash
Still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold
Is closing in on us
We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take the less we become
The fortune of one man means less for some
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
@juancamacho5746
Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I'll try to hold it in, yeah I'll try to hold it in
The world is on fire, it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water, try to bring my share
I'll try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
I watch the heavens but I find no calling
Something I can do to change what's comin'
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
I don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone
The world is on fire, it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water, try to bring my share
I'll try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
Hearts break, hearts mend, love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash, still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold is closing in on us
We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take, the less we become
The fortune of one man means less for some
🎸🎸
The world is on fire, it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water, try to bring my share
I'll try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
The world is on fire, it's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water, try to bring my share
I'll try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able
@mm-xk5wi
It's from her Afterglow album from 2003. The video was released in 2004. It's now 20 years old and completely relevant. Not to mention BRILLIANT!!!
@GoombaPants
This is not just a great song.... it's also a great MESSAGE. And it might be 10+ years old now, but damn that just makes the message hit even harder.
@Jess-sm7vh
I think the same... the way the world is at this present moment, is terrifying! This song should be listened to, by every single person alive, RIGHT NOW! ❤
@kellyeggers25
To me this is Sarah at her best. Hair down, barefoot, playing her guitar, singing about things greater than herself. She is one of the most beautiful humans on the planet.
@Krummers1
Yes, she is :)
@cyngar16
Kelly Eggers yes !!!!
@ameliareaganwright2758
Kelly Eggers Amen!
@marcob4630
TRUE !
@kevinritchie9227
Amen!
@whoaChrissy
I love how Sarah uses her music to bring awareness and shed light to the fact that people can do their part to help. She's an advocate for all. Such a beautiful soul and voice. We need more artists like her..