Who's gonna ride that chrome three wheeler
Who's gonna make that first mistake
Who wants to wear those gypsy leathers
All the way to Fire Lake

Who wants to break the news about uncle Joe
You remember uncle Joe
He was the one afraid to cut the cake
Who wants to tell poor aunt Sarah
Joe's run off to Fire Lake
Joe's run off to Fire Lake

Who wants to brave those bronze beauties
Lying in the sun
With their long soft hair falling
Flying as they run
Oh they smile so shy
And they flirt so well
And they lay you down so fast
Till you look straight up and say
Oh Lord
Am I really here at last

Who wants to play those eights and aces
Who wants a raise
Who needs a stake
Who wants to take that long shot gamble
And head out to Fire Lake
Head out
Who wants to go to Fire Lake
And head out
Who wants to go to Fire Lake
And head out (who wants to go to Fire Lake)
Head out, head out (who wants to go to Fire Lake)
Out to Fire lake
Who's gonna do it (who wants to go to Fire Lake)
Who's gonna wanna do it (who wants to go to Fire Lake)
Who wants to do it, who wants to do it, yeah (who wants to go to Fire Lake)


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Jakejamz

Fire Lake Lyrics as written by Bob Seger

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Fire Lake song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

44 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    first off, you guys are reading to much into it.bob seger himself said its about taking risks. back in the day chrome three wheelers were seen as sissy bikes,who is gonna make that first mistake is self explanitory,gypsy leathers are frilly leather jackets and chaps that came out in the late seventies,and everyone thought they were gay. uncle joe did not want to cut the cake cause he was afraid of marriage.braveing the bronze beauties are a reference to going upto beautiful women and not being shy and taking a chance,when he says am i really here at last is "i finally did it and it's awesome. eights and aces is another reference to the dead mans hand ,if he plays them will he die? "who wants a raise who needs a stake" ,are also risks that you take.and "who wants to take that long shot gamble" yet again is another risk. and finally fire lake is an imaginary place where if you take the risk and have the balls to do anything that is above the norm,you belong there.

    end of story

    robzombayon July 02, 2007   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    This is one of the most underrated songs and definitely does not get enough airplay.

    From segerfile.com/wind.html here is what the song means -

    Fire Lake The single charted at #6. Seger began writing "Fire Lake" in 1971. Seger intended 'Fire Lake' for Beautiful Loser, which was released in 1975. It didn't make the cut, however, and wasn't released until 1980 when Against the Wind came out. Seger and Punch and Capitol decided to make it the first single of Against the Wind because it was so different from the other singles he had released at that time. Seger: "We decided to come with 'Fire Lake' as the first single because it was totally and unequivocally unlike anything we'd ever done before. The lyric is very ... different ... and very kind of unique. It's about taking risks. About risking love, chucking it all and just heading off with a bunch of wild people, whatever. "It is one of my favorite lyrics down through the years, and the track is very unusual. It's sort of an R&B meets country kind of thing. "I really wanted it to be the first single but I never thought Capitol would agree to it, and I believe it was Punch who talked them into it. What I liked about it was that it broke new ground for us. It really showed that we were unafraid to push the envelope of what we were doing before, which was basically pretty hot rock and roll, you know, with a few ballads thrown in."

    aandbron June 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    For the record, billy, 8's and aces was the poker hand Wild bill hickkock held when he was shot in the back. Since then the hand is called "dead man's hand". I love the song too. wish it got more radio play

    jim19617on September 19, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    isn't this song about life and death? Dead Man's Hand...who wants to take that long-shot gamble? chrome three wheelers, bronze beauties..isnt' that heaven? i could be wrong, but i think the song speaks to risk and reward, a fulfilling life vs. a boring life. uncle joe finally took that chance and ended up at fire lake....but he's now in biker's paradise. and who's gonna tell aunt sarah that he's gone? seger probably wrote this about a loved one dying and then what happens to them in the afterlife for a hero's death. almost like viking mythology. but who knows.

    da gumbaon December 08, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    My favorite Bob Seeger song after "Night Moves".

    NamVeton September 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    If only because we both agree on a pretty obscure take, I think da gumba pretty much hit it with the Viking Mythology aspect. The bronze beauties are valkyries, taking the fallen heroes to Fire Lake. "Lay you down" / "Am I really here at last?" pretty much cements that one. Speaking of which, if you don't mind mixing mythologies, the Lake of Fire is where Christians say you end up if you aren't "saved". The sort of bikers anyone means when they say "bikers" are the 1% outlaws who woudl likely be PROUD of not being bound by any commandments, loving neighbours etc.--you know, that "rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints" braggadoccio. I also agree that the 8s & Aces ties in with the "Long shot gamble" well enough to convince ME that they are oblique death imagery. I'm enough of a biker to know that gypsy leathers mean those of someone not attached to a club, and as the song says "Who wants THAT?" On the other hand, I'm not enough biker to see any meaning in a chrome 3 wheeler. Only way you'd catch ME on a trike would be if I lost a leg and couldn't ride a real bike anymore. I like Pee Wee's take on "Afraid to cut the cake"--I wrapped my head around that one for years and that's the first thing that evre made any sense. Uncle Joe was died on his bike; nobody wants to have to break it to his woman. Here's hoping he's having a good time with the Valkyries, and that his character will earn him an eternal home in Fire Lake.

    AGM 88on December 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think AGM 88 has it to a point what this song is truely about. No need to say more.

    TheMetalMassacreon February 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    AGM 88, I love your explanation. I listened carefully to the lyrics of this song earlier and was trying to figure it all out. I did think of the Fire Island gay resort connection, but the rest of it didn't really match with that, so I figured it wasn't about that. Very good song, and clearly a tribute to "Uncle Joe."

    whateverlolawantson February 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ah this is a great song. It really grows on you, one of my favourite Bob Seger songs.

    Can't say I relate to it but I still love it.

    floydloveon October 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    uncle joe ans aunt sara were bobs really aunt and uncle i bellieve.

    hamslice151on March 12, 2008   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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
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.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.