No junk food, just earthly goods
I ate weird berries in the woods
Now I'm seeing colors, I'm getting higher
I think I'll start a forest fire

There's a forest fire climbin' the hill
Burning wealthy California homes
Better run run run run run run from the fire

But some of us stay and watch
And we think of your insurance costs
And we laugh laugh laugh laugh laugh laugh at your lives

Windows covered with bars
Security guards
Is that a house or a fortress?
Against the rest of the world

Windows covered with bars
Security guards
Is that a house or a prison, how you gonna get out?

Electric bull and your tennis courts
Pink sports cars and your boats
Getting fried fried fried fried fried fried by the fire

Windows covered with bars
Floodlights for the yard
It's a pleasure to watch you
Watch it all melt

But hey!
What about the cocaine
Stockpiled in the basement?
Be a hero and save it
You know you're gonna need it

Where's your brand new pretty wife?
She might still be inside
Either save her or your cocaine from the fire

But the gates and doors are locked
'Cause the burglar alarms went off
Ever wonder why we laugh laugh at your lives?

Windows covered with bars
Fences spiked with barbed wire
Never looked so helpless
Engulfed in flames

Cameras watchin' the walls
Don't forget the dogs
Now you're trapped in your prison how you gonna get out?

Yee-ah!
See the gerbil run run run run run run run run run
Run run run run run run run run run
Run run run run run run run run run from the fire


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Forest Fire Lyrics as written by Jello Biafra

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Forest Fire song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    There was actually a music video filmed for Forest Fire. Jello's wearing a robe that he takes off halfway through to show us his whiteys, and then he proceeds to destroy Peligro's drumset and at the end they decide to fuck the song and all come together in a dance line. What else could you expect?

    Balleron June 10, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.