The World's On Fire
Thee Sixpence Lyrics


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The world (the world)
Is on fire tonight (tonight)
And this flame that glows (flame that glows)
Is too hot for me to fight (to fight)
Dancing flames (dancing flames)
Twisting, turning out of sight (turning out of sight)
Smoke-filled eyes (smoke-filled eyes)
Crying, "Hold me, hold me tight" (me tight)

Tears of joy
And sad, smiling faces
Oh, make the sparkle above the brightly night

The world (the world)
Is on fire tonight (tonight)
And the flame that flows (flame that flows)
Is too hot to grow so bright (so bright)
Blazing arms (blazing arms)
With a heavy appetite (appetite)
The swirling flames (swirling flames)
Blinding everyone in sight (in sight)

Sweat-filled traces
In common places
The price we pay to hear this type of fight

Fire
Fire




Fire
We're on fire tonight

Overall Meaning

The song "The World's On Fire" by Thee Sixpence is a powerful representation of the chaos and turmoil that exists in the world. The song begins by drawing attention to the physical reality of flames and fire which suggest that the world is burning with both passion and destruction. The singer acknowledges that the flames are too hot for him to fight, suggesting that the world's problems are too big for an individual to solve. The dancing flames that are twisting and turning out of sight and the smoke-filled eyes that are crying out for someone to hold them tight are powerful images that convey helplessness and despair.


The song also seems to suggest that amidst the chaos and turmoil, there are still moments of joy and happiness. The tears of joy and sad, smiling faces create a sparkle above the brightly lit night implying that despite everything happening in the world, people are still looking for moments of happiness and celebration. The repetition of the phrase "we're on fire tonight" towards the end of the song perhaps signifies that humans are at their most passionate and driven when they are faced with adversity, although it could also signify that people are slowly losing themselves to the violence and destruction around them.


Line by Line Meaning

The world (the world)
The entire planet we live on


Is on fire tonight (tonight)
It is metaphorically burning up and in chaos in the current moment


And this flame that glows (flame that glows)
The cause of this chaos and destruction


Is too hot for me to fight (to fight)
It is beyond our control and we cannot do anything about it


Dancing flames (dancing flames)
The movement of the flames that seem to have a life of their own


Twisting, turning out of sight (turning out of sight)
Moving in a way that is unpredictable and unmanageable


Smoke-filled eyes (smoke-filled eyes)
The result of the fire that is causing people to cry


Crying, 'Hold me, hold me tight' (me tight)
Those affected by the fire are in distress and seeking comfort to feel safe


Tears of joy
Some people are happy about the fire and taking pleasure in its destruction


And sad, smiling faces
Others are unhappy but smiling to try and mask their emotions


Oh, make the sparkle above the brightly night
The light and flames from the fire are lighting up the sky, causing a beautiful but eerie shine


And the flame that flows (flame that flows)
The flow of the fire that spreads and consumes everything in its path


Is too hot to grow so bright (so bright)
The intensity of the flame is so high that it cannot burn any brighter or hotter


Blazing arms (blazing arms)
The flames are visually described as having arms that extend outwards


With a heavy appetite (appetite)
The fire is never fully satisfied and always wants to consume more


The swirling flames (swirling flames)
The movement of the fire in a circular motion that creates a vortex


Blinding everyone in sight (in sight)
The brightness of the flames make it impossible to see anything else


Sweat-filled traces
People are sweating due to the heat from the fire


In common places
The fire is happening in areas where people frequently gather and visit


The price we pay to hear this type of fight
The inevitable outcome of people's desire to see destruction and have entertainment is experiencing the detrimental effects of it


Fire
Directly referring to the fire


Fire
Directly referring to the fire


Fire
Directly referring to the fire


We're on fire tonight
The repetition of the word "fire" emphasizes the magnitude and intensity of the flames while also highlighting the song's title




Contributed by Wyatt V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

zante z

Thee Sixpence was a garage/psych band that was formed in 1965, released some songs in 1965-1967 before recording Incense And Peppermints , later they became the band Strawberry Alarm Clock. This is a 1997 compilation called Step By Step with their 1965-67 singles.

francescopaolo avena

But it's the same band played Fortune teller and My flash on you? it seems to listen to Doors.... and not to a 60's garage punk band!! Paul

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