Songfacts®:

• In this song, Jesse Colin Young uses fire on the water as a metaphor for a love that won't last. It's addressed to a girl who comes creeping his way when she needs some loving; he's letting her know that tonight will be alright, but their fire will burn out fast.
• Jesse Colin Young wrote this song with Michael McDonald, who released his first solo single, "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," the same year (1982). When he appeared on the Songfacts Podcast, Young told the story of how the song was written. "I hadn't met Michael, but I loved his music," he said. "I just showed up. They give you an address - I wonder how we did it without having cell phones - and you show up at his address. He came and welcomed me, and he had a nice, wonderful set-up for writing in his house with a beautiful keyboard sound coming over the sound system. He was moving so fast musically. Once we got the idea of what is something that is quintessential, that doesn't work, we settled on 'Fire On The Water.' The song just came, and I played very little [laughs]. He was moving so fast. It was wonderful."
• Jesse Colin Young is best known as the lead singer of The Youngbloods, who had a hit in 1967 with "Get Together." "Fire On The Water" is part of his solo album The Perfect Stranger.
• One of the backing singers on this song is Timothy B. Schmit, whose band the Eagles had recently broken up. The musicians are:
  
  Bass: Michael Porcaro
  Drums: Carlos Vega
  Claves: Michael J. Jackson (tracks: A4)
  Electric Piano: Bill Cuomo
  Guitar: Buzzy Feiten
  Synthesizer: Bill Cuomo
  String Arrangement: Marty Paich
• If you're looking for a Yacht Rock deep cut, this is the song for you. It has that smooth, mellow feel with meticulous musicianship, as well as a songwriting credit from Michael McDonald, the king of the genre.