The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Slowly fading blue
The eastern hollows catch
The dying sun
Night-time follows
Silence and black
Mirror pool mirrors
The lonely place
Where I meet you
See your head
In the fading light
And through the dark
Your eyes shine bright
And burn
Like fire
Burn like fire in Cairo
Burn like fire
Burn like fire in Cairo
Shifting crimson veil
Silken hips slide
Under my hand
Swollen lips whisper
My name
And I yearn
You take me in your arms
And start to burn
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
Then the heat disappears
And the mirage
Fades away
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
Burn like a fire in Cairo
Burn like a
Fire
Blaze like a fire in Cairo
Blaze like a
Fire
Flare
Burn like fire
Burn like
Fire in Cairo
The eastern hollows catch
The dying sun
Night-time follows
Silence and black
Mirror pool mirrors
The lonely place
Where I meet you
See your head
In the fading light
And through the dark
Your eyes shine bright
And burn
Like fire
Burn like fire in Cairo
Burn like fire
Burn like fire in Cairo
Shifting crimson veil
Silken hips slide
Under my hand
Swollen lips whisper
My name
And I yearn
You take me in your arms
And start to burn
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
Then the heat disappears
And the mirage
Fades away
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
F-I-are-E-I-N-see-A-I-are-O
Burn like a fire in Cairo
Burn like a
Fire
Blaze like a fire in Cairo
Blaze like a
Fire
Flare
Burn like fire
Burn like
Fire in Cairo
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Fire in Cairo Lyrics as written by Michael Stephen Dempsey Laurence Andrew Tolhurst
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
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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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This song is supposed to be an imaginary Egyptian dream song. The whole "Boys Don't Cry" album seems to have the same middle-eastern feel.
@theexplodinggirl I wouldn't say that of the whole album, but quite a few of the songs have references to exotic or "Eastern" type locations or people, or have music with a sort of Middle Eastern feel. (Of course, "Killing an Arab," which appears on the American version of the album, is — ironically — a reference to the novel L'Etranger by the French existentialist Albert Camus!)
It took me forever to get the whole F I R E I N C A I R O part. but anywas, as for the meaning of the song....well, the closest i can get is that hes having a dream of a girl he loves, but then she fades away (i got that idea from the whole heat dissapears, and mirage fades away part) But hell! i dont know, its just a guess
It's not just about fingering a girl, it's about passion, a sort of trip where he's in (well, let me guess, Cairo, Egypt?) and he sees a beautiful girl whom he has a passion for but she doesn't exist, it was (figuratively) in his head.
To me it seems it's about a girl he really wants, but only gets to be with in his imagination. No need to spell it all out ;)
This song rocks and I can't beleive more people havn't commented on it!!!!!
i love this song. f i r e i n c a i r o. its so hard to say, but its so fun once you get it.
lol that part was the easiest part for me. im weird. but it's so fun!
This is one of my favorite Cure songs... It's so catchy! ^^
another existentialist song...just like Killing An Arab
@kid pirate This one is a lot sexier than "Killing an Arab," but yeah, it's got that same dreamlike, and, yes, existential quality. I always pictured it being about a mysterious, veiled lady (IMO, somehow those veils always seem to make women sexier instead of conveying "modesty" as per their alleged purpose) who turned out to be a mirage.
I believe this song might be about loving somebody who does not love you back and giving up on the idea of being with them because you know it's worthless. The first verse describes the beauty of this person. The second verse describes how badly he wants to be with them and I think the line "you take me in your arms and start to burn" symbolizes him coming to the realization that it's never going to be. I also think the line "then the heat disappears and the mirage fades away" means that he's lost all hope of being with this particular person. His visions of being with this person were just a mirage and now he's realizing that.
this song is very sexual, its about fingering a girl. See your head In the fading light And through the dark Your eyes shine bright
And burn like fire Burn like fire in Cairo
the burning is the pleasure.
Silken hips slide Under my hand
its pretty clear cut.