The 10 Best Songs About Fire
Every song is an emotion and memory encapsulated in three minutes and paired with music. Lyrics are poetry, and some songs are so powerful they need memorization and playlist overplay. Many words evoke a feeling, but some are used to pull more emotions from the right music. For example, fire is a word used in many capacities; it works in Pop, Country, Grunge, and Classic Rock. These are ten songs that use the word fire to create meaningful pieces of music.
10. Mama’s Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
I wish I could be just a little less dramatic Like a Kennedy when Camelot went down in flames.
Who doesn’t like a good breakup song? Lambert doesn’t do weak woman songs. A lot of her songs channel the sugar and sass of Loretta Lynn. This song is a campy and cynical tribute to the worst things women do when experiencing a breakup and all the crazy things done in the name of a broken heart. Traditional Southern women try to keep a perfect face, so they don’t go against their upbringing. A large portion of the song discusses trying and failing to do this. The chorus ties the music together, mocking this fake image.`
9. We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
Stormfront was one of Joel’s most influential albums in the 80s. The entire song uses fire as a metaphor. The lyrics are 50 years of American history, with iconic pop culture references too numerous to count. As a result, the lyrics steer political some of the song. However, the chorus and 80s pop music keep the song on track and make it a great addition to a decade’s greatest hits playlist.
8. Standing Outside the Fire – Garth Brooks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGTLerCCZWY&t=2s
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire
It’s tough to decide what’s more powerful, the lyrics or the video. Adversity is the theme of this song; it resonates with people who don’t give up. According to Country-Thang, A piece is not just about the music; the lyrics also need to impact the listener’s lives. This song is the first track on Garth Brooks’s 1994 album In Pieces. The lyrics are about overcoming insurmountable odds at all costs. Additionally, it’s one of two songs on the album that focus on fire.
7. Blank Space – Taylor Swift
So it’s gonna be forever
Or it’s gonna go down in flames
In 2016 Swift interviewed with metro.uk.com explaining the meaning of this song. They wrote about Taylor Swift’s tumultuous love life and how it affected her music. Love and relationships go wrong, and often. Misadventures in love are built into Swift’s career. Blank Space chronicles another example. Every woman who’s ever seen someone knows he’s terrible for her and still decides to give it a shot anyway gets these lyrics, a tribute to the opening days in a relationship when someone says it’s not you, and it is.
6. Lake of Fire – Nirvana
They go to the lake of fire and fry
See ’em again ’til the fourth of July
Nirvana was the group that represented the full artistry of Grunge. Unfortunately, they were a band that ended too soon. This recording was a live performance at 1993s MTV Unplugged. The Meat Puppets originally recorded this song, although Nirvana’s version is what more people remember. Cobain’s style shines, and his emotion is evident. The lyrics are a haunting journey about someone who died, and those still alive are struggling because of unresolved issues.
5. Dancing in The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
You can’t start a fire
You can’t start a fire without a spark
According to International Financial Times, This famous song remains one of the highlights of Bruce Springsteen live shows. Typically, he brings someone on stage to dance with him, similar to the iconic video that helped make Courtney Cox famous. This song is on almost every 80s playlist and showcases the best of Springteen’s style. The lyrics have a significant impact on someone overcoming everyone’s perceptions about them.
4. Bullet With Butterfly Wings-The Smashing Pumpkins
Hold you up to the flames
And what do I get
The lyrics of the song disrupt the human thought process, which lends itself to the blame we put on society. The symbolism of the vampire relates to the drain we feel in society. The Smashing Pumpkins was one of the biggest acts in the 90s. The Song Bullet with Butterfly Wings is a guitar and drum-heavy and illuminates our struggles in life. Billy Corgan’s voice shines and pairs seamlessly with the music fades and intense guitar riffs.
3. The Distance – Cake
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
They called attention to the unique musical competition. Some people keep trying to win battles they’ve already lost. Cake’s song from Fashion Nugget details one of those useless battles. If another group had tried these lyrics hand, it would have turned out depressing. Yet, Cake has one of the most distinct sounds using instruments like Mariachis. Using these elements, they make a sing-along still popular after fifteen years.
2. Love the Way You Lie – Eminem (Featuring Rihanna)
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well, that’s alright because I like the way it hurts
When a toxic relationship ends, it’s painful; if you can’t lose feelings for the person, it’s worse. This song details codependency at its worse. Rhianna and Eminem’s duet creates the two sides involved in a battle of letting it end. Too many people suffer from relationships that nearly kill them because they are scared of being alone.
1. I’m the Only One – Melissa Etheridge
But I’m the only one
Who’ll walk across the fire for you
And I’m the only one
Who’ll drown in my desire for you
Melissa Etheridge is one of the most prolific chart-toppers during the 90s. The way she plays guitar in her songs is as passionate as the lyrics she writes. This song is another example. The refrain highlights powerful vocals about someone pleading with their love to choose them. Etheridge has a voice that captures raw emotion highlighted by her gritty voice.