“I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen
Succinctly put, this track is based on the intimate desire of the singer for a particular woman. And based on certain parts of “I’m on Fire” and particularly the music video, it would appear that she already belongs to somebody else.
This song is not wordy but adequately and indistinguishably gets the point across. The Boss is looking for an angle in which to pry this lady away from her current lover. And his appeals to and longings for this woman are purely sensually-based. But in the meantime, his nights are torturous as he burns with “desire”. And this is no ordinary desire. It is a “fire” which he has concluded only she can “cool”.
Facts about “I’m on Fire”
- “I’m on Fire” originally came out on 4 June 1984 as part of Springsteen’s classic album, Born in the U.S.A. Later it was released by Columbia Records as the fourth single from that project on 6 February 1985.
- The music video to “I’m on Fire” was the first in which the Boss solely acted, as opposed to it featuring performance footage. It went on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1985.
- The clip was directed by American film director and actor John Sayles.
- Bruce Springsteen along with Max Weinberg (drummer) and Roy Bittan (pianist) created this song out of a sudden burst of inspiration.
- That said, Springsteen is the sole writer of this track.
- In addition to penning this song, he produced it with assistance from Little Steven and Chuck Plotkin along with Jon Landau.
Chart Performance
“I’m on Fire” proved to be a great success, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It made it to number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and number one in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was the fourth amongst seven top US-based 10 hits from Springsteen’s hit album Born in the U.S.A.
Did Springsteen release “I’m on Fire” as a single?
Yes, he did. It was the fourth single he released from Born in the U.S.A.
Seems the lady was coming on to him. Lonely rich girl, hubby gone, needs a stud.
It’s about a child! What does that tell you!
A WOMAN??? hey LITTLE GIRL IS YOUR DADDY HOME? He’s a child rpist
Taken literally? Yes.
However, in this case? It’s flirtatious language; he’s using to put the desire on his part.
Moreover, it further heightens the theme of the song being lust, not love.
How does that work? If it is about a child it is lust and not love? Would it somehow be OK if it was about love? This song is about grooming. Period.
When he dies the truth will surface
Exactly. He paid hish money on more than one occasy
Sounds like a pedoph-le. If it’s an adult why did he ask her if her daddy was home?
Saville, Weinstein all over. Not to forget Epstein
Get a grip. Just watch the video and you understand that the song is about the lust for the high class woman that drops the car off.
‘Baby’ and ‘Daddy’ are just a ways of speaking and not to be understood literally. Yes, ‘daddy’ can mean ‘father,’ but we also use the word to indicate when someone is the boss, in charge, a protector, or doing a good job.
It’s about a car. The video was made to suggest a women for more universal appeal. A lot of songs you think you understand ain’t about what you think.
Taken literally? Yes.
However, in this context, it’s flirta-tious language; he placing the lu-st on his part, not her’s.
Moreover, it further heightens the theme of lu-st not love.
The song is about a man in love/lust with another man’s wife. The music video clearly expresses this and the terms such as baby, little girl, and daddy were VERY common flirtatious lingo of the period and fuck I’ve heard 20 year olds talk to each other like that.
People who think this is about pedoph*lia are completely retarded.
Agree
Don’t forget. The woman comes in every week. She sees his desire and she likes it. So it’s not all Bruce. Also, pedophilia is ridiculous. No one would make a song or video about that. Or people higher up allow that to be made. It’s kinky talk. Got to educate idiots so they don’t blatantly slander someone.
Sounds legit. Totally not creepy to choose the term “little girl” when writing the lyrics as people like you clearly know that is slang for an of age woman. Obviously no one is going to choose an under-aged girl when producing the video as that would be offensive. Me? I can see where those who have suffered from child abuse could be disgusted with the lyrics…
Hey little girl, is your daddy home?
Did he go and leave you all alone? Mhmm
I got a bad desire
Oh, oh, oh, I’m on fire
the way i see it, based on both the lyrics/music video.
Both him and the rich girl met somewhere in town – they ended up having a one night stand which left the two of them longing for more. The thing is, the girl is married to an older gentleman – bags full of money, gives her access to that desirable lifestyle, but he doesn’t have that passionate burning love for her, due to the age gap.
Now our guy is just your average joe, working his ass off fixing up cars – no money, no social status, but he gives her that one thing she could never have with her husband – burning desire/love.
She knows the two of them can’t be together, but she can’t seem to stay away from our guy – hence the ‘almost weekly’ visits to the garage. She loves our guy deeply and passionately, but she’s not willing to give up on her current life, knowing all to well that despite him being a devil in the sack and despite his true feelings for her, our guy can’t provide the same way her older, wealthier husband can.
Our guy is thus tormented by the situation on a daily basis. Simple as!
What album is extended version of I’m on fire on by Bruce?