Born and raised in Washington, DC, YahZarah started singing at the age of 7 in her church choir. Her love for performance began after winning a youth talent search at the Kennedy Center at age 10. After years of honing her talent in churches, talent shows and local concerts, she entered high school at DC’s prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Upon graduation in 1997, she was accepted to North Carolina Central University in Durham on a full scholarship to the school’s jazz program.
In 1998, she left NC Central and began touring as a background singer for Erykah Badu. While touring, YahZarah contributed background vocals and vocal arrangements to Badu’s platinum-selling “Mama’s Gun” LP, and was featured in the video for the album’s lead single, ‘Bag Lady.’ In 2001, she left the Mama’s Gun tour and released her debut album “Hear Me” on the KEO Music label. A follow up LP, 2003’s “Blackstar,” was issued on the Three Keys label and reached #44 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
2004 found YahZarah reuniting with longtime collaborator and fellow NC Central classmate Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange) for a series of crucial guest appearances. With the release of The Foreign Exchange’s debut album “Connected,” YahZarah was featured on the lead single “Sincere.” The following year she appeared on Little Brother’s “Minstrel Show” LP (Atlantic Records), and was featured on the debut single “Lovin It.” She later contributed two vocal performances to The Foreign Exchange’s GRAMMY-nominated “Leave It All Behind” LP in 2008. That same year, she released an EP of new material entitled “The Prelude.” To support the EP, she toured nationally and internationally with artists such as Chaka Khan, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Rahsaan Patterson, and R. Kelly.
YahZarah’s latest album “The Ballad Of Purple Saint James,” is scheduled for release in May 2010 on the Foreign Exchange Music label.
Four Alarm Fire
Yahzarah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find [That's right] to play...
Oo-oooh, oooh oooh oooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (x3)
Ooooh, hehhh hehhh
Four alarm fire, somebody put me out
'Cuz baby, I'm burning up, ooh, ooh
'Cuz baby, you fill me up, oooh, oohh huhh uhh-huhh uhhh
Yeah, I see you looking
Hey, tryin' to pull things
Hey, you got me cooking
Yeah, do your damn thang
Work, I know you wanna work it out
Work, I know you wanna work it out
Baby work, I know you wanna work it out
Work, do your damn thang
Ooooh, my body, my mind, my Lord
They just lost to the one
That sure 'nuff put the shit down and give me what I want, oooh
You found a sanctuary deep inside me
Don't resist it, they ain't going away, hey-eyyy, oooh, ooh
Yeah, I see you looking
Hey, tryin' to pull things
Hey, you got me cooking
Yeah, do your damn thang
Work, I see you wanna work it out
Work, I see you wanna work it out
Baby work, I see you wanna work it out
Work, do your damn thang
[Oo-oooh] Ooo-oooh, oooh, yeah yeah yeah yeahhh yeahh
[Oo-oooh] Ooooh, ooohhh
[Oo-oooh] Oooohhh oooh
[Oo-oooh] Ooooh, hey-eyyy hehhh
If you want it, come and get
You won't have to play these games
Stand up if you need it (Stand up)
Ooh, if you want it (if you, if you really want it)
Hey, if you got to have it [Ooooh, oooh]
Oooh, let me know
Stand up (stand up) and do the duty, oooh, oooh, ooh
Yeah, I see you looking
Hey, tryin' to pull things
Hey, you got me cooking
Yeah, do your damn thang
Work, I know I know you wanna
Work, I know you gonna, gonna
Baby work, do ya, do ya wanna
Work, do your damn thang
Ooooh, oooh, oooh
Oooohh, oooh, ooohhh
Ooooh, oooh, ooh, oooh
Do ya, do ya, do your damn thang
I know ya gonna, gonna
I know ya gonna, oooh
I know ya gonna, gonna
I know ya gonna, gonna
I know ya gonna, gonna
Gonna, gonna, gonna
Know ya gonna, gonna
Do your damn thang
Work, work, work, work
Work, work, work, work
[Fade]
The song "Four Alarm Fire" by Yahzarah is about a woman who is passionately in love with her partner and compares her love to a fire that is consuming her. She expresses her desire to be saved by her partner who is the only one who can put out the fire that is burning inside her. The chorus "Four alarm fire, somebody put me out,'Cuz baby, I'm burning up" refers to the intensity of her love for her partner, which is consuming her.
The song is also about the female narrator's desire to be acknowledged by her partner. In the second verse, she says "Yeah, I see you looking, hey tryin' to pull things, hey, you got me cooking" which suggests that she is aware of her partner's attraction towards her and wants him to take action. The lyrics "Stand up if you need it (Stand up), Ooh, if you want it (if you, if you really want it), Hey, if you got to have it" suggest that she wants her partner to make a move and not play games with her emotions.
Overall, "Four Alarm Fire" is a passionate love song that explores the intensity of romantic love and the desire for validation and acknowledgement from a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
All I need [Sing it, Bryces], all I need [Yo, sing that ass]
I don't need much, just someone to play with
To find [That's right] to play...
Looking for someone to have fun with
Four alarm fire, somebody put me out
I'm burning with desire and need someone to save me
'Cuz baby, I'm burning up, ooh, ooh
I am overwhelmed with lust and passion
Only you can save me, I'm going up in flames
Only the person I desire can fulfill me
'Cuz baby, you fill me up, oooh, oohh huhh uhh-huhh uhhh
You give me everything I need and make me feel complete
Yeah, I see you looking
I know you want me
Hey, tryin' to pull things
You're trying to make a move on me
Hey, you got me cooking
You're getting my attention and making me hot
Yeah, do your damn thang
Go for it, do what you need to do to make it happen
Work, I know you wanna work it out
I know you want to pursue me
Work, do your damn thang
Go ahead and make your move
Ooooh, my body, my mind, my Lord
I am completely consumed by my desire
They just lost to the one
Everything else fades in comparison to what I want
That sure 'nuff put the shit down and give me what I want, oooh
The person I desire will give me everything I desire
You found a sanctuary deep inside me
You've found a special place in my heart
Don't resist it, they ain't going away, hey-eyyy, oooh, ooh
Don't hold back, my feelings won't disappear
If you want it, come and get
If you want me, make your move
You won't have to play these games
You don't have to hide your desire, be open about it
Stand up if you need it (Stand up)
Be confident and go after what you want
Ooh, if you want it (if you, if you really want it)
If you truly desire me, I'm yours
Hey, if you got to have it [Ooooh, oooh]
If you're desperate for me, let me know
Oooh, let me know
Communicate your feelings to me
Do ya, do ya, do your damn thang
Go ahead and make your move
I know ya gonna, gonna
I know you'll do what it takes to get me
Gonna, gonna, gonna
You'll keep trying no matter what
Know ya gonna, gonna
You're determined to get me
Work, work, work, work
Keep pursuing me
Work, work, work, work
Don't give up
Contributed by Ellie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
M. R.
Been listening to this song this whole day! This is so powerful, it lifts me up… music is the best substance on 🌍!!!
Asil Reyom
Been looking for this song for YEARS!!!
M. R.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥‼️