McCorkle was born in Berkeley, California. She studied modern languages at the University of California, Berkeley. McCorkle began singing professionally after hearing recordings of Billie Holiday in Paris in the late 1960s. She nearly became an interpreter at the European Commission in Brussels, but moved instead to London in 1972 to pursue a career in singing. While in the UK, she made two albums which, although well received, enjoyed only limited circulation.
In the late 1970s, McCorkle returned to the United States and settled in New York City, where a five-month engagement at the Cookery in Greenwich Village brought her to wider public attention and elicited rave reviews from critics.
During the 1980s, McCorkle continued to record; her maturing style and the darkening timbre of her voice greatly enhanced her performances. In the early 1990s, two of the albums McCorkle made for Concord Records, No More Blues and Sábia, were enormously successful and made her name known to the wider world. She was recorded by the Smithsonian Institution which at the time made her the youngest singer ever to have been included in its popular music series. McCorkle played Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher and Alice Tully Halls five times and Carnegie Hall three times, and was featured soloist with Skitch Henderson and the 80-piece New York Pops in a concert of Brazilian music.
Thanks to her linguistic skills, McCorkle translated lyrics of Brazilian, French, and Italian songs, notably those for her Brazilian album Sabia. McCorkle also had several short stories published and, in 1991, began work on her first novel. She published fiction in Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and non-fiction in the New York Times Magazine and in American Heritage, including lengthy articles on Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, Irving Berlin and Mae West.
McCorkle suffered for many years from depression and cancer, and took her own life at age 55 by leaping off the balcony of her highrise Manhattan apartment. She was alone in her home at the time. The police immediately entered her home after identifying her body and found no foul play. Suicide was ruled the cause of death.
I Don
Susannah McCorkle Lyrics
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I would rather be with you an hour
For the things that one can buy
Are not worth a lover's sigh
I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
In my heart I have but one desire
I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me
I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
Susannah McCorkle's "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" is a love song that speaks to the power of deep connections and values. The singer in the song asserts that they do not have any desire for material possessions or societal power; instead, their only wish is to be with the person they love. They recognize that the superficial things that one can buy or achieve in the world do not compare to having a true romantic connection. The song emphasizes the idea that love is the most valuable and precious thing in life. Their desire is not to conquer or dominate the world, but to ignite a flame of love and connect with their partner on an intimate level.
Furthermore, the lyrics suggest that the singer has already achieved a sense of fulfillment and has no ambition for any worldly acclaim. They are content with simply being with the one they love, even if it means giving up everything else. The song presents the idea that true happiness comes from love and that seeking anything else is ultimately meaningless.
"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" has a timeless message that has resonated with listeners for decades. It speaks to the importance of prioritizing love and deep human connections above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't ever care to rise to power
I have no desire to gain authority or control over others.
I would rather be with you an hour
I cherish being with you, even if it's only for a brief period of time.
For the things that one can buy
Material possessions and wealth.
Are not worth a lover's sigh
They are unimportant compared to the love and affection of a significant other.
I don't want to set the world on fire
I do not have grand ambitions to change the world or make a significant impact on a large scale.
I just want to start a flame in your heart
All I want is to ignite a spark of passion and love within you.
In my heart I have but one desire
My heart only longs for one thing.
And that one is you, no other will do
I want only you, and no one else can take your place.
I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I no longer have any interest in seeking recognition or fame from the world.
I just want to be the one you love
All I want is to have your love and affection.
And with your admission that you feel the same
If you confess that you feel the same way, my goal will be fulfilled.
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me
If you love me back, my dream will come true.
I don't want to set the world on fire
Again, I have no grand aspirations to change the world or make a big impact.
I just want to start a flame in your heart
All I desire is to ignite a passion and love within you.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDREW MARCUS FRAMPTON, BEN ADAMS, STEPHEN ALAN KIPNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind