by · Published · Updated

Succinctly put, this track is based on the intimate desire of the singer for a particular woman. And based on certain parts of “I’m on Fire” and particularly the music video, it would appear that she already belongs to somebody else.

');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();

This song is not wordy but adequately and indistinguishably gets the point across. The Boss is looking for an angle in which to pry this lady away from her current lover. And his appeals to and longings for this woman are purely sensually-based. But in the meantime, his nights are torturous as he burns with “desire”. And this is no ordinary desire. It is a “fire” which he has concluded only she can “cool”.          

');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(typeof window.cf !== 'undefined')c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="//";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)}; })();
Lyrics of "I'm On Fire"

Facts about “I’m on Fire”

  • “I’m on Fire” originally came out on 4 June 1984 as part of Springsteen’s classic album, Born in the U.S.A. Later it was released by Columbia Records as the fourth single from that project on 6 February 1985.
  • The music video to “I’m on Fire” was the first in which the Boss solely acted, as opposed to it featuring performance footage. It went on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1985.
  • The clip was directed by American film director and actor John Sayles.
  • Bruce Springsteen along with Max Weinberg (drummer) and Roy Bittan (pianist) created this song out of a sudden burst of inspiration.
  • That said, Springsteen is the sole writer of this track.
  • In addition to penning this song, he produced it with assistance from Little Steven and Chuck Plotkin along with Jon Landau.

Chart Performance

“I’m on Fire” proved to be a great success, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It made it to number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and number one in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was the fourth amongst seven top US-based 10 hits from Springsteen’s hit album Born in the U.S.A.

Did Springsteen release “I’m on Fire” as a single?

Yes, he did. It was the fourth single he released from Born in the U.S.A.