Flamethrower

Album: Freeze Frame (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Released as a single from the very successful Freeze Frame album, this song didn't crack the pop charts, but it did make #25 R&B. It was written by their keyboard player Seth Justman, who explained to NME when asked about "Flamethrower": "It's not just about a woman, it's about a woman factory worker and how she lets loose at night. It's about a certain spirit that's in everybody. In the middle of that song the spirit in the body has taken over. It's not just a hot chick in hot pants. It's a woman who punches the clock every day at 8 and 5 and when she leaves she does something with her life, whatever she has to do to punch the clock the next day and not go crazy. That punch clock is in everyone; there's something inside everyone that makes you want to go on and get better and stronger."
  • Luther Vandross and Cissy Houston are among the backup singers on this track.

Comments: 1

  • Mr. T from Boston MaThis song is Funky! Great breakdown and exiting dynamics throughout!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?