FIRE 
Official studio version
I'm driving in my car, I turn on the radio
I'm pulling you close, you just say no
You say you don't like it, but girl I know you're a liar
'Cause when we kiss, oh, fire
Well late at night, I'm taking you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you don't love me, but you can't hide your desire
When we kiss, oh, fire
You had a hold on me right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumping acting like a fool
Your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool
Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
You can bet their love they couldn't deny
Your words say split, but your words they lie
When we kiss, oh, fire, fire
You had a hold on me right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumping acting like a fool
Your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool
Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
You can bet their love they couldn't deny
Your words say split, but your words they lie
When we kiss, oh, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire, [fades out]
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Info
FIRE is a song written by Bruce Springsteen. It was originally recorded during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town sessions. The song was officially released for the first time in a live version on the Live/1975-85 box set in 1986. See the live 16 Dec 1978 version for more details.
A studio version of FIRE was released on The Promise in 2010. The above lyrics are for that official studio version of FIRE as released in 2010.
Bruce Springsteen's FIRE was most notably covered and released by Robert Gordon and by The Pointer Sisters. See Robert Gordon's cover version and The Pointer Sisters' cover version for more details.
Not to be confused with The Jimi Hendrix Experience song FIRE that Bruce Springsteen covered live.
Writing and Recording
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Apparently, Bruce Springsteen wrote FIRE a few days after he and Steven Van Zandt saw Elvis Presley perform live at a 28 May 1977 concert in Philadelphia, PA. He wrote it in a way that he thought could be recorded by his idol Elvis, and the vocal on the 1977 studio version sounds a lot like Bruce trying to sing like Elvis as he previously tried to do with Roy Orbison on the album version of THUNDER ROAD. According to Clinton Heylin's 2012 book E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Springsteen said "I sent [Elvis] a demo of it but he died before it arrived." Springsteen frequently introduced the song on the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour with "this was on Robert Gordon's second album."
Circulating Studio Versions
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The Promise
The Promise is a Bruce Springsteen album that was released on 16 Nov 2010 as part of The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set, and separately as a 2-CD set. The album was also issued on a limited edition 3-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
Bruce Springsteen -- The Promise
The Promise is a collection of 22 previously-unreleased songs from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions. Depending on their level of completion back in 1977-1978, some were only remastered, some were overdubbed with 2010 vocals or music, and some were completely re-recorded in 2010. The album was mixed by Bob Clearmountain.
- RACING IN THE STREET is an alternate take to the version found on the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album.
- THE PROMISE is a different version from the one found on 18 Tracks.
- CANDY'S BOY and COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) are early versions of CANDY'S ROOM and FACTORY.
- BECAUSE THE NIGHT, FIRE, and TALK TO ME are songs that Springsteen donated to other artists.
- BECAUSE THE NIGHT, RENDEZVOUS, and FIRE were previously released by Springsteen in live versions.
- THE WAY is a hidden/bonus track and has been circulating on bootlegs in a slightly different mix.
- GOTTA GET THAT FEELING, SOMEDAY (WE'LL BE TOGETHER), WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET, AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, and CITY OF NIGHT have been circulating on bootlegs in different versions and under different titles.
- OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, ONE WAY STREET, and SPANISH EYES have been circulating on bootlegs in different versions.
- THE BROKENHEARTED is known from the 1978 tour rehearsals.
- SAVE MY LOVE, IT'S A SHAME, THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES), and BREAKAWAY are songs that have never circulated or been documented.
Other Official Releases
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Other versions of FIRE were also officially released.
The live 01 Jul 1978 version of FIRE was released on the Berkeley, July 1, 1978 official live download in 2021.
The live 20 Sep 1978 version of FIRE was released on the Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ September 20, 1978 official live download in 2017.
The live 08 Dec 1978 version of FIRE was released on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010.
The live 05 Nov 1980 version of FIRE was released on The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set in 2015.
The live 29 Dec 1980 version of FIRE was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 12/29/80 official live download in 2019.
The live 05 Jun 1981 version of FIRE was released on the Wembley Arena June 5, 1981 official live download in 2018.
The live 06 Aug 1984 version of FIRE was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena August 6, 1984 official live download in 2020.
The live 22 Nov 2005 version of FIRE was released on the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005 official live download in 2019.
Audio recordings for all
The River Tour 2016 shows were officially released on
live.brucespringsteen.net. These include two versions of FIRE.
- 17 May 2016 at Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- 05 Jul 2016 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
Audio recordings for all the
Summer '17 Tour shows were officially released on
live.brucespringsteen.net. These include one version of FIRE.
- 16 Feb 2017 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Live History: on-tour
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In preparation for the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour, FIRE is known to have been practiced on 19 May 1978 at Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, during the only known/confirmed private rehearsal prior to the tour's start.
In preparation for Springsteen On Broadway, FIRE was performed during both of the tour's known private rehearsal shows that took place in June 2021 in New York City, NY.
FIRE was performed 30 times during Springsteen On Broadway (268 dates, October 2017 to December 2018 and June to September 2021). On this tour, the song was played on acoustic guitar with special guest Patti Scialfa on shared lead vocals, except on 20 Aug 2021 when she Scialfa was absent and Springsteen let the crowd sing along.
Live History: off-tour
FIRE was performed off-tour on 13 Oct 1986 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA, during the first annual Bridge School Benefit. The song was played in an acoustic arrangement featuring Bruce Springsteen on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Nils Lofgren on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, and Danny Federici on accordion. The live 13 Oct 1986 version of FIRE was first released on the Video Anthology / 1978-88 home video in 1989.
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Covers
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At least 14 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's FIRE.
Jawadde -- "Vrijen / Oh Marietje"
7" single - Ariola (100 761) - Holland, 1979
FIRE is a Dutch adaptation titled "Vrijen".
Ostbahn-Kurti & Die Chefpartie -- Ostbahn-Kurti & Die Chefpartie
LP - Ariola (206 695) - Austria, 1985
CD - Ariola (256 695) - Austria, 1989
Includes three Bruce Springsteen covers: FIRE, HEARTS OF STONE, and POINT BLANK. FIRE is a German adaptation titled "Feuer".
The Songrise Orchestra -- The Music Of Bruce Springsteen - 17 Instrumental Hits
CD - Hits 'N' Hits (3831CD) - UK, 1995
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It was reissued in 2011 by the Pyramid Music label as a download-only digital album titled Greatest Hits From The Superstars - Born In The USA credited to Gary Tesca Orchestra. It was again reissued in 2014 by the Bringins Music label as a download-only digital album titled Memories Are Made Of These - The Best Of Bruce Springsteen credited to Twilight Orchestra.
Richard De Groot -- Man At The Top: Medley Of Springsteen Songs
CD EP - Roulette Records (RR001) - Holland, 1997
This EP contains a cover of MAN AT THE TOP plus two versions (electric and acoustic) of a medley consisting of 8 Springsteen covers: BECAUSE THE NIGHT, BORN IN THE U.S.A., BORN TO RUN, DANCING IN THE DARK, FIRE, FOR YOU, MAN AT THE TOP, and THUNDER ROAD. Also included is a CD-ROM track containing interactive material.
De Miekes -- Vuur
CD EP - CNR Music (2103069) - Belgium, 2000
FIRE is a Dutch version titled "Vuur".
Solo -- Canciones De Bruce Springsteen
CD - no label (no catalog number) - Spain, 2003
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. FIRE is a Spanish adaptation titled "Ardes".
Various artists -- If I Were The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen
CD - Castle (CMQCD1422) - UK, 2006
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. FIRE is performed by Shakin' Stevens. The song was originally released in 1979 as a single in Europe.
Mark Wright -- Real World: The Bruce Springsteen Project
CD - Revolver (REV XD 271) - UK, 2008
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
By The Way -- The Springsteen Sessions
Digital EP - no label (no catalog number) - Switzerland, 2012
This is a free download-only digital live Bruce Springsteen tribute EP recorded on 05 Nov 2011 at Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche in Bäretswil, Switzerland.
Spirit -- A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
Digital album - Rapier Music (unknown catalog number) - UK, 2014
This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Lorenzo "FullG" Bianchi -- Via Emilia Shuffle
CD - no label (no catalog number) - Italy, 2016
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Various artists -- The Boss Project: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen
Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - Canada, 2016
This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. FIRE is performed by Belinda Bruce and John Wood.
BeautyHeads -- TheBossCovers
Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2017
This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. FIRE is titled "BossCover" on this release.
Heaven Is Shining -- Born In The USA
Digital album - Rosenklang (unknown catalog number) - Germany, 2021
This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Credits
Thanks Chris Prondzinski for the help on this page.
Available Versions
List of available versions of FIRE on this website:
FIRE [Official studio version]
FIRE [Outtake version]
FIRE [Live 19 May 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 23 May 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 07 Jul 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 09 Aug 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 19 Sep 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 30 Sep 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 15 Dec 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 16 Dec 1978 version]
FIRE [Live 31 Dec 1980 version]
FIRE [Live 13 Oct 1986 version]
FIRE [Live 02 Nov 2002 version]
FIRE [Robert Gordon's cover version]
FIRE [The Pointer Sisters' cover version]
Page last updated: 16 Sep 2019
