Album: Energy (1978)
Charted: 34 2
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Songfacts®:

  • This smoldering song was written by Bruce Springsteen, who at the time was embroiled in litigation with his former manager, which kept him from recording his own songs. His friend Robert Gordon was the first to record it, releasing it on his 1978 album Fresh Fish Special. The song became a hit when the Pointer Sisters recorded it later in 1978 at the suggestion of their producer, Richard Perry, their version hitting #2 in the US.
  • Springsteen wrote this for Elvis Presley, his idol growing up. He sent Elvis a demo of it in 1977, but Presley died soon after. The song would have fit well for Elvis, as it's about a passionate lust a couple has for each other.
  • Springsteen sometimes writes from the perspective of a man burning with desire, which can come off a bit predatory. In this song, the girl is saying no, but he's not accepting that answer because her kiss tells a different story. When sung from the girl's point of view, these concerns are allayed - The Pointer Sisters make it clear they are welcoming these advances:

    My words say split, but my words they lie
    'Cause when we kiss, ooooh, fire


    Another Springsteen song with a similar theme is "Because The Night," which became a big hit for Patti Smith.
  • While many people who heard this song knew it had hit potential, Springsteen did not release it until 1986, as he was more concerned with the continuity of his albums than making hit records. Springsteen's version was included on his boxed set, Live 1975-1985. It was released as a single when the set came out, reaching #46 in the US.
  • Springsteen considered using this on his albums Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978) and The River (1980), but decided it did not fit the mood of either album.
  • Radio stations sometimes inserted their station name into the Pointer Sisters version of this song after the line, "You turn on the radio." For example:

    I'm riding in your car
    You turn on the radio...

    98.3, The Pulse!

    You're pulling me close...
  • The Pointer Sisters scored with upbeat, danceable songs like "I'm So Excited" and "Jump (For My Love)," but their biggest hits were "Fire" and another slow-burning, lusty song: "Slow Hand." That one was written by John Bettis and Michael Clark, and became a country hit for Conway Twitty after The Pointer Sisters released their version.

Comments: 19

  • Rob G from San Francisco The Pointer Sisters made a few different versions of the first line "Ridin on your car..." to words referring to the local radio station playing the song. Being from Oakland, California they made that different version for KFRC-AM, which was the #1 pop station at the time.
  • Harry Steels from Coventry, Uk8th June 2020 RIP Bonnie Pointer
  • Buster from TorontoSpringsteen's best song in my opinion.

    As an avid songwriter, I always thought it was inspired by the song "Fever" as the lyrics state: You give me fever - when you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight.

    In "Fire":When we kiss Ohhh, fire!

    Also the swinging bass line and tempo are similar. The fact that he wrote this for Elvis, who also recorded Fever in the style of Peggy Lee's version, makes me believe it was strongly influenced by this great hit by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 16th 1978, the Pointer Sister performed "Fire" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #32 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and ten weeks later on February 18th, 1979 it peaked at #2* {for 1 week} and spent 23 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #1 in Belgium, New Zealand, and the Netherlands...
    Between 1973 and 1987 the sisters had twenty-seven Top 100 records, seven made the Top 10 with two** reaching #2, their other #2 record was "Slow Hand" for 3 weeks in 1981...
    June Pointer passed away on April 11th, 2006 at the young age of 52...
    May she R.I.P.
    * The week it was at #2 on the Top 100, the #1 record for that week was "Da Ya Think I’m Sexy" by Rod Stewart
    ** They also had two records peak at #3; "He's So Shy" for 3 weeks in 1980 and "Jump (For My Love)" for 2 weeks in 1984.
  • Eb from Fl Keys, FlWrong lyrics above:
    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
    Hmmm, fire

    Well late at night, I'm takin' you home
    Well I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
    You say you don't love me, girl you can't hide your desire
    And when we kiss
    Ohhh, fire, fire

    You had a hold on me right from the start
    It's a grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
    My nerves all jumpin' actin' like a fool
    Your kisses they burn, but your heart stays cool

    Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
    But baby you can bet their love they didn't deny
    Your words say split, but your words they lie
    'Cause when we kiss
    Hmmm, fire, fire
    Burnin' in my soul, it's out of control
    Fire
  • Oscar from Barcelona, SpainThat Ramones song was Hungry Heart
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny"Fire" is a popular title for a song; Pointer Sisters made it No 2 with it, two other different records titled "Fire" also made it to the two top spots. The Ohio Players' "Fire" peaked at No. 1 in 1975 and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown took "Fire" to No. 2 in 1968!!!
  • Brian from Warrington, PaI can really relate to this song. It reminds of my ex-wife (whom I love). The relationship was/is very full of "Fire" that burns so deep but there is some element that gets in the way. I think this lyric kinda sums it up - "Well your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool"
  • Juan from Bilbao, SpainCraig, I think the song you're talking about is 'Hungry heart'. Bruce met Joey Ramone in NJ and Joey asked him to write a song for the Ramones. Bruce came up with 'Hungry heart' but his manager convinced him it was too good to give out, so he kept it for himself.
  • Wayne from Seattle, WaYo Dennis from AK... I know what you mean in principle. But it's sad when we are forced to define ourselves by actions of the freaks in society. Bruce was singing about the mating dance, not about some stalker's twisted agenda. And of course you know this, but still I needed to point out that Bruce is coming from a place that is pure... maybe a time of more innocence.. flirting, teasing, "he chased her until she caught him"...that sort of thing.
  • The Last Dj from Hell.a., CaJohnny Cash covered this tune. CASH is KING.
  • Dennis from Anchorage, AkThe truth is, men shouldn't sing this song. A man singing these words sounds like a date rapist. I don't think for a moment that that is what Bruce had in mind, but the effect is still a little creepy, and a lot of listeners will be disturbed by it (mistakenly, but still disturbed).
  • Michael from Sterling Heights, MiThere is a very good live version of this song from Neil Young's annual Bridge Benefit Concert. It is available on some bootlegs. It has Bruce on acoustic guitar and Danny Federici on accordion. I know it was also played on MTv in the mid-80's (back when they played music videos).
  • Sara from St.john's, CanadaI do love Fire by The Boss and I was wondering if that song can be found on any album other than Live 1975-1985? Thanks.
  • Bill from Southeastern Part Of, FlThe Austrian rocker Kurt Ostbahn did a cover of this song - Feuer - sung in German.
  • Craig from Madison, WiI had heard that Springsteen had considered giving this song to the Ramones. Whether it's true or not, it's a nice thing to think about. The two strongest protectors of American Rock in the 70's working together to save the world.
  • Ace from Marion, WvIn no way am I demeaning "The Boss", but to me, this is another perfect example of a Springsteen song that was covered and surpassed the original. I think the Pointer Sisters redefined this song, as did Manfred Mann's Earth Band with "Blinded By The Light". Their version KILLED Springsteen's original.
  • Frank from Pittsburgh, Parobert gordon covered this too
  • Pete from Nowra, AustraliaRobin williams did a great cover of this using the voice of Elmer Fudd
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