Disco Inferno
Saturday Night Fever Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn!
Burnin'!
To mass fires, yes! One hundred stories high
People gettin' loose y'all gettin' down on the roof - Do you hear?
(The folks are flaming)Folks were screamin' - out of control
It was so entertainin' - when the boogie started to explode
I heard somebody say
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno!
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down
Burnin'!
Satisfaction (uhu hu hu) came in the chain reaction
(Burnin') I couldn't get enough, (till I had to self-destroy)so I had to
Self destruct, (uhu hu hu)
The heat was on (burnin'), rising to the top, huh!
Everybody's goin' strong (uhu hu hu)
And that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno!
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down, yoh!
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno!
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down
Burnin'!
Up above my head I hear music in the air - I hear music!
That makes me know there's (somebody)a promise somewhere
Satisfaction came in a chain reaction - Do you hear?
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self destruct,
The heat was on, rising to the top
Everybody's goin' strong
That is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno! (Aah yeah!)
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno, yeah!
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down x2 Burnin'!
MUSIC TURN AROUND (12 bars)
I just can't stop
When(till) my spark gets hot
Just can't stop
When my spark gets hot
MUSIC TURN AROUND (24 bars)
Burning, burning, burning, burning 6X (24 bars)
The Trammps' Disco Inferno is a celebratory anthem of the disco era, with a sound reminiscent of the 70s, and lyrics that encapsulate the partying, the dancing, and the enjoyment that characterised the scene. The song begins with a chanting of "Burn baby burn!" - the iconic phrase that came to define the Disco Inferno song, and that became a rallying cry of sorts for disco enthusiasts. The lyrics then go on to describe the high-energy party rocking the top of a one hundred-story building, with people "gettin' loose" and "gettin' down on the roof." The boogie in question soon explodes into a "burning" mass of flames with "folks screamin' - out of control," creating a chaotic yet entertaining atmosphere. The chain reaction of the dance brings satisfaction and a spark of excitement to the singer's life, with the song's chorus serving as a nod to the inferno-like intensity and fun of the disco scene.
Disco Inferno, however, is not merely a song about dancing and partying, but a reflection of the social and political conditions of the time. The lyrics reveal the racial tensions and the poverty that existed in the United States in the 1970s. The mention of a hundred-story building alludes to the high-rise public housing that was prevalent in urban areas across the country, oftentimes in dilapidated and unsafe conditions. The Trammps' portrayal of a burning disco inferno, then, serves as a metaphor for the working-class Black and Latinx communities who found solace and joy in the disco scene amidst the decline of the economy and the rise of gang violence and drug addiction. The song's upbeat and celebratory tone, therefore, is not just an expression of entertainment, but also a means of resistance and a celebration of marginalised communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn! Burn baby burn!
Urging the DJs to play and the people to dance to the music without any pause
Burnin'!
The excitement and energy on the dance floor
To mass fires, yes! One hundred stories high
The intensity of the passion and heat in the atmosphere
People gettin' loose y'all gettin' down on the roof - Do you hear?
The people being unbridled in their revelry and expressing themselves on the dance floor
(The folks are flaming)Folks were screamin' - out of control
The people were caught up in the fervor of the music, completely surrendering themselves to the beat
It was so entertainin' - when the boogie started to explode
The excitement of the crowd when the night was just starting to heat up
I heard somebody say
The DJ or someone in the crowd urging everyone to let loose
Burn baby burn! - Disco inferno!
Asking everyone to keep dancing and enjoying the music
Burn baby burn! - Burn that mama down
Asking the crowd to let loose and care for nothing else
Burnin'!
The excitement and fire in the air
Satisfaction (uhu hu hu) came in the chain reaction
People enjoying the music and dancing till they couldn't afford to stop
(Burnin') I couldn't get enough, (till I had to self-destroy)so I had to Self destruct, (uhu hu hu)
People dancing continuously without caring for their own health or fatigue, because they were enjoying it too much
The heat was on (burnin'), rising to the top, huh!
The heat of passion in the dance floor was at its peak
Everybody's goin' strong (uhu hu hu)
Everyone is in the mood to revel and enjoy the music
And that is when my spark got hot
The moment when everyone is caught up in the frenzy of the music, submitting to it completely
Up above my head I hear music in the air - I hear music!
The music was so loud and engulfing that it seemed to be reverberating in the air
That makes me know there's (somebody)a promise somewhere
The promise of a wild and memorable night that was just beginning to come true
MUSIC TURN AROUND (12 bars)
An instrumental portion of the song plays, allowing people to dance and revel without interruption
Burning, burning, burning, burning 6X (24 bars)
The excitement, energy and heat on the dance floor continues to increase and people enjoying the music and losing themselves completely
Writer(s): Tyrone G Kersey, Leroy Green
Contributed by Emily E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Barbara Ives
I was there at the disco's in the 70's and this movie is amazingly accurate. They really did the research. We DID have lights under the floor, disco balls and everyone dressed up. The music was off the hook uplifting and fun. We used to dance until we got blisters.
Centrist Stacker
Lines went around the block to see this movie.
Selena_ QUEENtanillaperez
Well ofc it was accurate it was made in the 70s it was released in 1977😭😭
Arfan Eka Diandra
well they had source material, which was a fictional story from an english writer, which was actually based off the mod subculture
Braxel D
No wonder y’all where skinny and healthy.
Chri Olli
Wow, very beautiful 😍
CyberLionGT
Disco Inferno...a timeless classic👌
leepicciotto
Scenes in this movie are as iconic as Coca-Cola. No dance movie has ever worked as well or fired on all cylinders like this since. The music, camera work, lead actor and choreography were a perfect storm. Everything after has been cringe worthy or at best so bad it's good.
Counsel Of Light
That's true, I took the camera work for granted all these years
Jesse Burleson
Pay attention kiddies. This is an iconic scene. 70's film making on a grand scale. John Badham is a director possessed. The camera work is divine