Disco Inferno

Album: Disco Inferno (1976)
Charted: 16 11
Play Video
  • (Burn baby burn)
    (Burn baby burn)
    (Burn baby burn)
    (Burn baby burn)

    To my surprise, one hundred stories high
    People getting loose y'all, getting down on the roof
    Folks are screaming, out of control
    It was so entertaining when the boogie started to explode
    I heard somebody say

    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

    Satisfaction came in a chain reaction (Burnin')
    I couldn't get enough, so I had to self-destruct
    The heat was on, rising to the top
    Everybody going strong, and that is when my spark got hot
    I heard somebody say

    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down y'all
    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

    Up above my head
    I hear music in the air
    That makes me know
    There's a party somewhere

    Satisfaction came in a chain reaction (Burnin')
    I couldn't get enough, so I had to self-destruct
    The heat was on, rising to the top
    Everybody going strong, and that is when my spark got hot
    I heard somebody say

    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

    (Burn baby burn)
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
    (Burn baby burn) disco inferno
    (Burn baby burn) burn that mother down Writer/s: Leroy Green, Tyrone Kersey
    Publisher: Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

  • Tommy Kaferstein from Staten Island N.y. To me you left out my favorite line ...
    “ I wonder if you understand what I’m talking about, I ain’t talking about burning down no buildings, coming from the soul , just can’t stop ....
  • Melinda from AustraliaMegamix from London, that was a funny comment.
    Yup we all remember carrying on crazy with our sometimes synchronised disco moves to this all encompassing song.
    I love how it has that tumbling start. It’s really unusual. Unique.
    Pity that it’s eventual amazing success, came right near the very end of Disco.
    The world discovered this song when it was included on the Saturday Night Fever album. That everyone on the planet bought in 1977.
    Where did Disco groups go after 1979?.
    Well sadly nowhere.
    New Wave and early 1980’s synth pop bands had already started to form.
    The 80’s Generation Xers. And Punks. Who either claimed truthfully or untruthfully to hate Disco. We’re dominating pretty quickly.
    But really if you think about it, 80’s Pop Synth bands like Depeche Mode for example, were really just another generation of ‘a spin on disco’. But they would rather have died than admit it. They were far too busy being tragically cool, political and/or immature to give former artists any compliments. For influence.
    Disco was honest.. almost silly fun. That’s why people loved it.
    Something 1980’s music lacked I used to think.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 27th 1977, "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps entered Billboard's Hot top 100 chart at position #90; it stayed on the chart for nine weeks, peaking at #53...
    Then the following year on February 12th, 1978 it re-entered the Top 100 at #82; and twelve weeks later on May 21st, 1978 it peaked at #11 {for 2 weeks} and spent a grand total of 29 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #9 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    And on January 30th, 1977 it peaked at #1 {for 6 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart...
    Between 1972 and 1983 the 11-member group had fifteen records make the R&B Singles chart; with two making the Top 10, their other Top 10 record was "Hold Back the Night", at #10 in 1975.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyInteresting fact; stayed in the Top 100 for 29 straight weeks but just couldn't make the Top Ten, it peaked at #11!!!
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiThis is a good song! I didn't know that it came from The Towering Inferno.
  • David from Youngstown, OhA solid disco/soul band from Philadelphia. Outside of Disco Inferno, probably their best song was That's Where the Happy People Go, an extremely catching 1976 song. In the song, the singer used to live a lonely existence until he "eased on down to the disco" because "that's where the happy people go." The correct name of the band is the Trammps (two Ts). They first performed in beat-up clothing to go with the name of the band. But they cleaned up their image, wore those classic red suits popular during the disco era and received some success. Disco Inferno was released as a single at about 4 minutes long. The complete 10-minute-plus song ends the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It adds extra music and a talking part that includes the great line, "I hope you know what I'm talking about. I'm not talking 'bout burning down a building."
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesEither by design or default, 'Disco Inferno' was in the UK chart at the same time as Hudson-Forde's Top 20 hit entitled 'Burn Baby Burn'. In 1998/1999, Disco had a mini-revival of sorts in the UK, and 'Disco Inferno' was sampled on 'Burning', a 1998 UK Top 20 hit for 1990s English dance duo BABY BUMPS. Fortunately, the rock and rap revival in 2000/2001 put an end to this so-called new wave of Disco...
  • Megamix from London, EnglandUK Comedian Peter Kay mentioned this song in character as fire officer Keith Laird when he said he had received a letter from someone who had said..."One hundred stories high People gettin' loose y?all gettin' down on the roof" and "Folks were screamin' - out of control" and "when the boogie started to explode I heard somebody say Burn baby burn"! Using this (quite oblivious to its source) to demonstrate the danger of fire.
  • Tim from Charlotte, NcThis is one of the best songs ever to dance to.
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrDisco is a joke, thank God it's over.
  • Pete from Philadelphia, PaThe tramps were originally called the Volcanoes in the early sixties. There hit song was called Storm Warning. Pete from Philly
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.