The lyrics evoke a sense of urgency and longing, employing fire as a powerful metaphor for both the fervor of romantic love and the burning need for spiritual awakening.
This duality of meaning reflects the band's ability to intertwine personal and universal themes, making the song resonate on multiple levels.
The repeated invocation of fire conjures images of warmth and destruction, suggesting that while passion can ignite creativity and connection, it can also lead to chaos and loss if left unchecked.
The sense of immediacy in the lyrics emphasizes the fleeting nature of these intense emotions, urging listeners to embrace their feelings and seek deeper connections with both the divine and one another.
By juxtaposing the elemental force of fire with the intricacies of human relationships, U2 crafts a compelling narrative about the need to harness and channel one’s passions positively. Ultimately, "Fire" serves as both a celebration of love's intensity and a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unrestrained desire, making it a powerful reflection on the complexities of the human experience
Calling, calling
The sun is burning black
Calling, calling
It's beating on my back
With a fire
With a fire
Calling, calling
The moon is running red
Calling, calling
It's pulling me instead
With a fire, fire
But there's a fire inside and I'm falling over
There's a fire in me when I call out
I built a fire, fire
I'm going home
Calling, calling
The stars are falling down
Calling, calling
They knock me to the ground
With a fire, fire
But there's a fire inside when I'm falling over
There's a fire in me when I call out
There's a fire inside when I'm falling over
I built a fire, fire
I'm going home
Fire song lyrics by U2
The sun is burning black
Calling, calling
It's beating on my back
With a fire
With a fire
Calling, calling
The moon is running red
Calling, calling
It's pulling me instead
With a fire, fire
But there's a fire inside and I'm falling over
There's a fire in me when I call out
I built a fire, fire
I'm going home
Calling, calling
The stars are falling down
Calling, calling
They knock me to the ground
With a fire, fire
But there's a fire inside when I'm falling over
There's a fire in me when I call out
There's a fire inside when I'm falling over
I built a fire, fire
I'm going home
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The song peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, marking it as one of the band's first entries into the top tier of the British music scene.
In the United States, "Fire" was not as prominent on the charts, only reaching number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Despite this, the track received considerable airplay on college radio, contributing to U2’s growing reputation in the alternative and rock music circles of the time. Its live performances, particularly during the early 1980s, helped solidify U2’s reputation as an electrifying live act, further cultivating a dedicated fan base.