History
First incarnation
Formed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the existing Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original line-up comprised Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums), and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass). The Animals' moderate success in their hometown and a connection with The Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964, in time to be grouped with the British Invasion. They performed fiery versions of the staple rhythm and blues repertoire (Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Nina Simone, etc). Signed to the Columbia Graphophone subsidiary of EMI, a rocking version of the standard "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (retitled Baby Let Me Take You Home) was their first UK hit single.
It was followed in June 1964 by the huge transatlantic hit "House of the Rising Sun". Burdon's howling vocals and the dramatic arrangement created arguably the first folk rock hit. Whether the arrangement was inspired by Bob Dylan's version of the song (which in turn was inspired by folk singer Dave Van Ronk) or by blues singer Josh White's (who recorded it twice in 1944 and 1949) or by singer/pianist Nina Simone (who recorded it in 1962 on At The Village Gate, predating Dylan's interpretation) remains a subject of dispute, as does whether all five Animals deserved credit for the arrangement and not just Price.
The Animals' two-year chart career, masterminded by producer Mickie Most, featured singles that were intense, gritty pop covers such as Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me and the Nina Simone number Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. In contrast their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues, with Hooker's Boom Boom and Ray Charles' I Believe to My Soul being notable examples. Burdon's powerful, deep voice and the use of keyboards as much or more than guitars were two elements that made the Animals' sound stand out.
By May 1965 the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left due to personal and musical differences as well as a fear of flying on tour; he went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with the Alan Price Set. Mickey Gallagher filled in for him on keyboards for a spell, until Dave Rowberry replaced him and was on hand for the hit working-class anthems We Gotta Get Out of this Place and It's My Life. Around that time, an Animals Big Band even made a one-time appearance.
Many of The Animals' hits had come from Brill Building songwriters recruited by Most; the group, and Burdon in particular, felt this was too restrictive. As 1965 ended the group switched to Decca Records and producer Tom Wilson, who gave them more artistic freedom. In early 1966 MGM Records, their American label, collected their hits onto The Best of The Animals; it became their best-selling album in the U.S. In February 1966 Steel left and was replaced by Barry Jenkins; a leftover cover of Goffin-King's Don't Bring Me Down and the powerful hard rock tune See See Rider were the last hits as The Animals.
By this time their business affairs "were in a total shambles," according to Chandler (who would go on to manage Jimi Hendrix), and the group disbanded. Even by the standards of the day, when artists tended to be financially naïve, the Animals made very little money from their successes, eventually claiming mismanagement and theft on the part of their manager Mike Jeffery.
Second incarnation
A group with Burdon, Jenkins, and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs alias Antion (guitar/piano), and Danny McCulloch (bass) was formed under the name Eric Burdon and the New Animals (or sometimes just Eric Burdon & the Animals) in October 1966, and changed direction. The hard-driving blues was transformed into Burdon's version of psychedelia, as the former heavy-drinking Geordie (who later said he could never get used to Newcastle, "where the rain comes at you sideways") relocated to California and became a spokesman for the Love Generation, but also a former heavy metal act and one of the upcoming stars of the genre such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple..
Some of this group's hits included "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" (a tribute to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival), and the anti-war "Sky Pilot". There were further changes to this line-up: George Bruno (a/k/a Zoot Money, keyboards) was added in April 1968, and in July 1968 Andy Summers [sic] (guitar)—later of The Police—replaced Briggs and McCulloch.
By 1969 these Animals had dissolved, and Eric Burdon joined forces with a Latin group from Long Beach, California called War.
The first hit under Eric Burdon & War was the funky/chill-out song Spill the Wine. The Group with 8 members disbanded in July 1971.
Later incarnations
The original Animals line-up of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler, and Steel briefly reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in 1968, for an album in 1977 and again for an album and tour (supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards and Steve Grant on guitar) in 1983. Chandler died in 1996.
In the 2000s Burdon has toured with a new set of musicians under the name "Eric Burdon and the Animals". Periodically during the 1990s and 2000s Valentine, Steel, and Dave Rowberry toured under the name "(Hilton Valentine's) The Animals" and Valentine and Steel under the name "Animals II". Rowberry died in 2003. As of 2005 "Animals & Friends" was also active, consisting of Steel and Mickey Gallagher; this group frequently play gigs on a Color Line ship that travels between Scandinavia and Germany.
Legacy
The original Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Their influence can be heard in artists as varied as The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Canned Heat, David Johansen, Joe Cocker, Fine Young Cannibals, Iggy Pop, Mando Diao and many, many more.
Ring of Fire
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Aaaa...)
Love is a burnin' thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire,
I fell into your ring of fire
I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
And the flames got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
The ring of fire
The taste of love is sweet
When souls like ours meet
I fell for you like a little child,
Oh, and the flames got wild
I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns ,burns, burns
That ring of fire
The ring of fire
(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)
I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
(Aaaa...) Well...burn
Let me burn in your ring of fire
(Aaaa...) Look out, baby
And the flames get higher and higher and higher, yeah
(Aaaa...) Let me burn in your ring of fire
God knows I'm burnin', baby
(Aaaa...) And the flames get higher
And the flames get higher
(Aaaa...) And the flames get higher and higher and higher, yeah
In the ring of fire
(Aaaa...) In the burnin' ring of fire
Burnin' ring of fire
(Aaaa...) The fire that burns is the fire that learns
(Aaaa...) Oh, burnin' right now,baby,
Burnin' up in the ring of fire, yeah
(Aaaa...)Well, I'm burnin', baby
Said, I'm burnin', baby
The Animals' song "Ring of Fire" is a love song inspired by the passionate and consuming nature of love. The lyrics describe the experience of falling deeply in love with someone and the intense emotions that come with it. The metaphor of the "burnin' ring of fire" represents the all-encompassing passion and desire that comes with love, and how it can both excite and consume those who fall into it. The lyrics also touch on the idea that love is a learning experience, that it can be painful at times, but ultimately leads to growth and transformation.
Throughout the song, the singer describes their experience of falling into the "burnin' ring of fire" and how they became consumed by the flames of love. They describe the taste of love as sweet when two souls, like theirs, meet. The experience is likened to falling as a little child, where the flames are wild and untamed, and the singer finds themselves burning up in the ring of fire, unable to escape its grip.
The repetitive nature of the chorus, where the lyrics "I fell into that burnin' ring of fire, I went down, down, down, and the flames, they got higher" are repeated over and over, emphasizes the all-consuming nature of love and the feeling of being lost in its passionate flames. The song ends with the singer begging to be allowed to burn in the ring of fire, acknowledging the pain that comes with love but willing to embrace it nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is a burnin' thing
Love is intense and passionate
And it makes a fiery ring
Love can create a bond that is strong and unbreakable
Bound by wild desire,
Driven by strong emotions and attraction
I fell into your ring of fire
I became engulfed in your love and passion
I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I became deeply involved in this intense, passionate relationship
I went down, down, down
I became more deeply and passionately involved
And the flames got higher
My emotions and passion intensified
And it burns, burns, burns
My passion and desire continue to grow and consume me
That ring of fire
The intense, passionate love and desire we share
The taste of love is sweet
Love can be pleasurable and alluring
When souls like ours meet
When two people deeply connect and share intense feelings
I fell for you like a little child,
I fell deeply in love with you, like a child experiencing something for the first time
Oh, and the flames got wild
Our passion and desire became even more intense and consuming
That ring of fire
The intense, passionate love we share
Let me burn in your ring of fire
I want to fully experience and embrace our love and passion
And the flames get higher and higher and higher, yeah
Our love and desire continue to grow and intensify
The fire that burns is the fire that learns
Our intense love and passion is teaching us important lessons about ourselves and each other
Oh, burnin' right now,baby,
Burnin' up in the ring of fire, yeah
Well, I'm burnin', baby
Said, I'm burnin', baby
I am consumed by passion and desire for you, and it feels intense and all-consuming
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: June Carter, Merle Kilgore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@salemtargaryen123
LYRICS
(Ahhh)
(Ahhh)
Love is a burning thing
It makes a fire ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into your ring of fire
I fell into your burning ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames got higher
And it burns burns burns
In the ring of fire, ring of fire
The taste of love is sweet
When souls like ours meet
I fell for you like a little child
Oh, and the flames got wild
I fell into that burning ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames, they got higher
Yeah, it burns burns burns
In the ring of fire, ring of fire
(Ahhh)
(Ahhh)
(Ahhh)
I fell into that burning ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames got higher
And it burns burns burns
Ring of fire, ring of fire
Well I fell into that burning ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns burns burns
That ring of fire, that ring of fire
(Ahhh)
(Well it burns)
(Let me burn your ring of fire)
(Ahhh)
(And the flames)
(And the flames get higher and higher and higher)
(Ahhh)
(Let me burn in your ring of fire)
(It is burning, baby)
(Ahhh)
(The fire that burns is the fire that loves)
(Ah, burning ring of, baby, burning in the ring of fire)
(Well I burn away)
(Save your burning baby)
(Ahhh)
(And the flames get higher)
(And the flames get higher)
(And the flames get higher)
@miloskreculj6818
Love is a burnin' thing
It makes a fire ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell in to your ring of fire
I fell in to that burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
The taste of love is sweet
When souls like I always meet
I fell for you like a little child
Ohhh, and flames got wild
I fell into that burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
Ahh, ahh, ahhh
I fell into that burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
@shifteng
In my opinion the best version of this song, Eric stamps his own style on it. I bought this in 1968, still love it.
@andrevanniekerk2207
Never heard this version. I agree, love it!
@xanderskylar4831
a tip : you can watch movies at flixzone. Been using them for watching lots of of movies lately.
@sauljase5801
@Xander Skylar Yup, have been using flixzone for years myself =)
@fifi9943
Alex Orange you 'd better listen this of Wall of Voodoo, maybe you 'll change your opinion
@shifteng
@@fifi9943 yes I have listened to it good because its wild
@johanmarais3417
Legend, Animals deserve much more fame and respect than they actually got - Johan Marais South Africa
@DavidSmith-qs4je
Johnny must of been so proud when he heard this version it’s insane
@janeewalker
And don't forget the writer, June Carter Cash !
@mustangsally1058
Thats actually what I'm thinking. This is the first time I'm haring this and its blowing me away!