Fire is a common metaphor used in popular music and is generally associated with passion and destruction. As one of the four classical elements, fire is diverse in its symbology because of its double nature. That’s why many songs about fire have been written over the years.
Musicians take advantage of this duality and often craft songs using fire as a symbol of passion between two lovers or liken it to the destructive nature of a relationship gone wrong. Below, we’ve compiled a great playlist with songs from all music genres.
1. Things We Lost in the Fire by Bastille
| Genre | Indie Pop |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Bad Blood |
“Things We Lost in the Fire” is a song written and recorded by British Indie pop/rock band Bastille. It was released on the band’s award-winning and chart-topping album Bad Blood. The album was certified platinum in the US and won the British Breakthrough Act at the 2014 Brit Awards. Riding the success of Bastille’s international hit “Pompeii,” the song received favorable airplay on BBC radio, sending it to #28 in the United Kingdom, where it was also certified gold.
2. Fire and the Flood by Vance Joy
| Genre | Indie Pop, Indie Folk |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Dream Your Life Away |
“Fire and the Flood” was written and recorded by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy and released on his 2015 album Dream Your Life Away. While writing the tune, Joy first came up with a guitar riff that ended up being played by a horn section during recording. The song has an epic sound to it, and listeners evidently agreed. It was certified gold after peaking at #6 on the Billboard Rock Airplay chart.
3. I See Fire by Ed Sheeran
| Genre | Folk Pop |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug |
“I See Fire” is a powerful folk ballad written by Ed Sheeran for the film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The film’s director, Peter Jackson, gave Sheeran creative license for the song but told him to focus on the final 10 minutes of the film and lead the audience from Tolkien’s Middle-earth back into reality. Sheeran is a lifelong fan of Tolkien novels, and The Hobbit was the first book he ever read himself. “I See Fire” fared decently in the US, topping the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, eventually earning Ed Sheeran a platinum record.
4. House Fire by Tyler Childers
| Genre | Folk Rock, Country |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Country Squire |
Hailing from the hills of Kentucky, Tyler Childers embodies the coarse spirit forged in the backwoods of Appalachia. Most country singers can perform songs well enough, but Childers is in a class by himself since he writes his own songs and it shows in the sincerity of his gritty vocals. From the clanging acoustic guitar and energizing banjo to the song’s foot-stomping rhythm, “House Fire” is one of the best tracks off of Childers’ chart-topping 2019 album Country Squire. The music video features Childers and friends around a campfire before two of his friends, a young couple, leave to have an epic dance together and set their house on fire.
5. Fire n Gold by Bea Miller
| Genre | Pop Rock |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Not an Apology |
Shortly after placing ninth on the second season of The X Factor US, Bea Miller got a record deal and started working on new material. “Fire n Gold” was first released on her EP Young Blood and later appeared on her first studio album, Not an Apology. According to Miller, the song is meant to remind people that feel alienated and are going through hard times that they aren’t alone and have a purpose in life, even if they haven’t discovered it yet.
6. Lost in the Fire by Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd
| Genre | Dance, Electronic |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Hyperion |
“Lost in the Fire” is a collaboration between French DJ Gesaffelstein and Canadian artist The Weeknd. The song’s sexually explicit lyrics caused a fair share of controversy as Weeknd toed the line between dramatic love and compulsive lust. Still, the song earned Gesaffelstein and The Weeknd a Top 15 hit on five separate Billboard charts, including the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, where it peaked at #3. The record was also certified platinum by the RIAA.
7. Fire Away by Chris Stapleton
| Genre | Country Rock |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Traveller |
“Fire Away” is a song about loving somebody through the hard times when they may be struggling mentally and emotionally. Chris Stapleton is joined on the track by his wife, Morgane Hayes-Stapleton, as she provides harmony vocals. The lyrics are powerful and complement the soul-ballad feel of the song. The music video, which won Video of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards, highlights the devastating impacts of mental health illness as it follows the story of a young couple from their seemingly worry-free days, through struggle and suffering, to the eventual tragic conclusion of someone taking their life.
8. Fire and Rain by James Taylor
| Genre | Folk Pop, Soft Rock |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Sweet Baby James |
Widely regarded as his signature song, “Fire and Rain,” was written by James Taylor and released on his 1970 breakthrough album, Sweet Baby James. Taylor wrote the tune at a time of deep personal strife. The lyrics reference his friend Suzanne Schnerr who committed suicide while Taylor was recording his first album in England. The second part of the song is about the singer’s battle with addiction, and finally, the last part looks back on Taylor’s early music days as he dealt with the fame and money that came from a successful music career. “Fire and Rain” peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked number 227 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. If you enjoy songs with deep meaning, you’ll love this song.
9. Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
| Genre | R&B |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Girl on Fire |
Like her other hit song, “No One,” Alicia Keys also debuted “Girl on Fire” at the MTV Video Music Awards, with surprise appearances by gymnastics legend Gabby Douglas and the incomparable Nicki Minaj. The song was inspired by Alicia’s husband, record producer Swizz Beatz, and the birth of their song, Egypt. The song was a Top 15 hit on seven separate US Billboard charts and was certified 7x platinum by the RIAA.
10. Fire on Fire by Sam Smith
| Genre | Soul, Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Love Goes |
“Fire on Fire” was co-written by Sam Smith alongside fellow Brirt and multi-award-winning producer Steve Mac. With the accompaniment of the BBC Concert Orchestra, the song was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. The song was written for the 2018 adaptation of the Richard Adams novel Watership Down. The lyrics speak of a young couple’s intense love that is filled with passion and desire through the ups and downs of their relationship. Despite the song failing to chart on any US Billboard charts, it did manage to earn Sam Smith and Mac a platinum record. This is a powerful song about young love.
11. Setting the World On Fire by Kenny Chesney (Featuring Pink)
| Genre | Country Pop, Country Rock |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Cosmic Hallelujah |
Sometimes the most unconventional partnerships end up being the most dynamic. Such is the case with Kenny Chesney’s duet with Pink on the crossover hit “Setting the World On Fire.” The song earned Chesney his twenty-fifth Top 40 hit on its way to topping both the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts. It was produced by former ACM Producer of the Year Buddy Cannon and became certified double-platinum. Chesney noted he chose Pink to collaborate with because of her incredible vocal expression that channels feelings of joy, desire, toughness and hurt at the same time. This is one of my personal favorite songs about fire.
12. Setting Fires by The Chainsmokers (Featuring XYLØ)
| Genre | Dance-Pop, EDM |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Collage EP |
“Setting Fires” was co-written and recorded by Alex Pall and Drew Taggart of the Chainsmokers. The band’s distinctive style perfectly complements the unique voice of Paige Duddy, known by her stage name Xylø, who sings vocals on the track. The music video for “Setting Fires” was directed by James ‘Zola’ Zwadlo and features fire prominently throughout. From firebreathing and fire poi to skaters throwing tricks on flaming skateboards, this video is lit. The gold-certified record has more of a club feel than Chainsmokers’ songs that came before it.
13. Burn It Down by Linkin Park
| Genre | Electronic Rock, Rap Rock |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Living Things |
Linkin Park’s lead vocalist, the late Chester Bennington, described “Burn It Down” as having high energy and strong electronic melodies, which is why the band selected it as the lead single from their Living Things album. The song topped the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and earned Linkin Park a triple-platinum album. Moreover, the music video for the song was nominated for Best Rock Video and Best Visual Effects at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. As of April 2023, the video has nearly 360 million views on YouTube.
14. Another in the Fire by Hillsong United
| Genre | Contemporary Worship Music |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | People |
“Another in the Fire” is about feeling content and knowing everything will be okay as you face adversity so long as you believe in God. No matter the problem or hardship you may be up against, if you walk with the Lord, there is always someone else with you in the fire. The song was recorded by the contemporary Christian group Hillsong United and released on their album People, which won Worship Album of the Year at the 2019 Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards. It earned the band a #1 record on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and #2 on the Billboard 200.
15. Light My Fire by The Doors
| Genre | Psychedelic Rock |
| Year Released | 1967 |
| Album | The Doors |
Widely considered the Doors’ signature song, “Light My Fire,” rocks from start to finish. Perhaps the most memorable part of the tune is the Vox Continental organ that plays throughout. Although the songwriting is attributed to the whole band, it was the band’s founding member and guitarist Robby Krieger that deserves the most credit. According to Krieger, the melody was inspired by the rock standard “Hey Joe” and the lyrics to “Play With Fire” by the Rolling Stones. “Light My Fire” is regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time.
16. Fireman by Lil Wayne
| Genre | Hip Hop, Rap |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | The Carter II |
”Fireman” was released at the height of Lil Wayne’s dominance across the early 2000s hip-hop scene. The attention to detail in the song’s production can be heard from the start. The unmistakable sound of a lighter flicking and a wailing siren off in the distance pulls the listener in as Weezy begins spitting bars like a dragon – straight fire. The song was certified double-platinum and is considered one of Lil Wayne’s most memorable songs.
17. Heart On Fire by Eric Church
| Genre | Country Rock |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Heart |
“Heart On Fire” is a nostalgic look back at young love. The lyrics feature Eric Church reminiscing about an old flame, presumably his first love. He admits that whenever he’s feeling down, he looks at an old photograph of his partner and it brings him back to feeling like his heart’s on fire. Church pays homage to artists from Elvis to Don Henley, but unmistakable influences of Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp can be heard throughout the song. Eric Church is accompanied on the record by the powerful vocals of former band member Miss Joanna Cotten.
18. Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
| Genre | Power Pop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | 21 |
“Set Fire to the Rain” is a power-pop ballad that was released as the third single off of Adele’s certified 14x Multi-Platinum album, 21. There is no official video for the song, as Adele was recovering from vocal surgery when it was released as a single in November 2011. In lieu of a music video, she released an incredible performance of her singing the song on the album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall. The live version of “Set Fire to the Rain” from the Royal Albert Hall won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards. The song became Adele’s third consecutive #1 single from the same album.
19. Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1963 |
| Album | Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash |
“Ring of Fire” is one of Johnny Cash’s best-known songs and is regarded as one of the Greatest Songs of All Time. Co-written by his future wife, June Carter (Cash), it earned Cash a gold record and sat atop the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for nearly two months. From the moment the unmistakable mariachi-style trumpets begin to sound their horn, and Johnny Cash starts singing with his signature deep bass vocals, listeners are transported into the ring of fire where love burns bright and consumes all.
20. Sippin’ on Fire by Florida Georgia Line
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Anything Goes |
“Sippn’ on Fire” is a steamy track recorded by country music duo Florida Georgia Line. The song blazed up the Billboard charts, topping the Country Airplay chart and peaking at #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Just a year after its release, “Sippin on Fire” was certified platinum by the RIAA. The music video for the song was filmed in the desert outside of Las Vegas and features the band performing in a burning ring of fire. As smoke emits from the fire, it turns into surreal images, capturing the intensity of the song’s passionate lyrics.
21. Sleep Now in the Fire by Rage Against The Machine
| Genre | Rap Rock |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | The Battle of Los Angeles |
“Sleep Now in the Fire” is a hard rock song written and recorded by Rage Against the Machine. The song reached #16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and the album, The Battle of Los Angeles, is considered one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The music video, which was directed by political documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Limp Bizkit ended up winning the award, and Rage bass player, Tim Commerford, was arrested at the awards ceremony after disrupting the show, coming on stage, and climbing a prop during Limp Bizkit’s acceptance speech.
22. Fire We Make by Alicia Keys (Featuring Maxwell)
| Genre | Neo Soul |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Girl on Fire |
“Fire We Make” is a collaboration between Alicia Keys and Maxwell. Filled with sensual vibes and soft, seductive vocals, the song topped the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. It features some moody electric guitar grooves laid down by esteemed blues guitarist Gary Clark, Jr. Lyrically. The song is a passionate love song where the song
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.