Beginning in 1987 in London, England, Bill Drummond (alias King Boy D) and Jimmy Cauty (alias Rockman Rock) released hip hop-inspired and sample-heavy records as The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu and, on one occasion (the British number one hit single "Doctorin' the Tardis"), as The Timelords. As The KLF, Drummond and Cauty pioneered the genres "stadium house" (rave music with a pop-rock production and sampled crowd noise) and "ambient house". The KLF released a series of international top-ten hits on their own KLF Communications record label, and became the highest internationally selling UK band of 1991. The duo also published a book, The Manual, and worked on a road movie called The White Room.
From the outset, they adopted the philosophy espoused by esoteric novels The Illuminatus! Trilogy, gaining notoriety for various anarchic situationist manifestations, including the defacement of billboard adverts, the posting of prominent cryptic advertisements in NME magazine and the mainstream press, and highly distinctive and unusual performances on Top of the Pops. Their most notorious performance was at the February 1992 Brit Awards, where they horrified the formal audience with a hardcore thrash version of "3 A.M. Eternal" (performed with the justifiably named Extreme Noise Terror) that also included Drummond spraying the crowd with blanks from an automatic rifle and the post-performance announcement, "The KLF have left the music industry." Topping their already extreme actions, Cauty and Drummond delivered the carcass of a dead sheep -- plus eight gallons of blood -- to the lobby of the hotel after-party. In May 1992 the duo deleted their entire back catalogue.
With The KLF's profits, Drummond and Cauty established the K Foundation and sought to subvert the art world, staging an alternative art award for the worst artist of the year and burning a million pounds sterling. Although Drummond and Cauty remained true to their word of May 1992βthe KLF Communications catalogue remains deletedβthey have released a small number of new tracks since then, as the K Foundation, The One World Orchestra and most recently, in 1997, as 2K. Cauty has provided remixing services for bands as diverse as Hawkwind and Placebo, under the name Scourge of the Earth.
The KLF catalogue remained absent from digital platforms until January 1, 2021, when an 8-track compilation of their 7" hit singles 1988-1991 - Solid State Logik 1 was released on streaming platforms, marking the 1st installment of a series called Samplecity Thru Trancentral.
Build a Fire
The KLF Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open the beans, gather wood for the fire
I hum this tune, to all the girls I've known
Should I care, about the chances I've blown?
Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire
Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire
They're gonna build a fire
When daylight breaks, I'll be down that road
Rockman 'an me, with a lighter load
We'll stop for lunch, in some taco bar
Lee Marvin on the jukebox, 'Wanderin Star'
Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire
Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire
The lyrics of The KLF's song "Build a Fire" talk about taking a rest after a journey, lighting a fire, and enjoying the moment. The first two lines of the song are a reference to the idea of taking a break and letting the engine cool down, while the following lines describe the gathering of wood for the fire, and the hum of a tune being sung to all the girls the artist has known. The lyrical hook "Build a Fire" suggests the primal human tendency of gathering around a fire in the wilderness or a new environment and making friends or finding emotional and social warmth. The songwriter questions whether it is his responsibility to worry about the opportunities he's missed in life.
The verses of the song continue with the description of the journey the singer takes with a friend, with the artist and Rockman travelling with a lighter load in the morning. They stop for lunch at a taco bar and listen to Lee Marvin's classic track, 'Wanderin Star', on the jukebox. The song concludes with the repetition of the chorus: "Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire," with its captivating and inviting tone reminding the listener of the importance of going through the journey of life with a sense of ease.
Overall, the song encourages the listener to pause, relax and appreciate life's moments, and even if they make mistakes, there is still something ahead to be happy about.
Line by Line Meaning
Pulled up to rest, let the engine cool awhile
Stopped the car, allowed the engine to cool before continuing to drive
Open the beans, gather wood for the fire
Prepare food and collect firewood for warmth and cooking
I hum this tune, to all the girls I've known
Reflecting on past romances and serenading them mentally
Should I care, about the chances I've blown?
Questioning the importance of missed opportunities in the past
Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire
Emphasizing the necessity and inevitability of creating a fire for survival
When daylight breaks, I'll be down that road
Planning to continue traveling when the sun rises
Rockman 'an me, with a lighter load
Traveling companion and I, with fewer belongings
We'll stop for lunch, in some taco bar
Intending to take a break and eat at a Mexican restaurant
Lee Marvin on the jukebox, 'Wanderin Star'
Referring to a song playing in the restaurant
Build a fire, they're gonna build a fire
Reiterating the importance of fire-building for survival
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Francis Cauty, William Ernest Drummond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesucrista
Me lleva directamente a mi adolescencia en la radio
Simon Spiers
This track half way through the album as like an interlude. Its a great song, one of my favourites.
TheMrSwilly
Couldnt have put it better :)
Nick Rose
still as good as it was back then!
Kaiser Basileus
This one's underrated.
DEATH BY ROBOTS(argentina)
es re twin peaks q buen album este .....lo escuche en su momento pero no le preste demasiada atencion
Juraj BeΔka
the sound of solitude...
Charlie Media
WOW WHAT A BANGER FOR AFTER RAVEING ALL-NIGHTERS ...LAW 0/
David Ryan
Classic !
Goran H
recreated angelo badalamenti bass line from twin peaks