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.
Oh, Love is a burning thing
And it makes a firey ring
Found my wild desire
I sleep into a ring of fire
I fell into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
Oh, I fell into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went hgher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
Oh, The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire was wild
Oh, I feel into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
I fell into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire...
And it makes a firey ring
Found my wild desire
I sleep into a ring of fire
I fell into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
Oh, I fell into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went hgher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
Oh, The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire was wild
Oh, I feel into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
I fell into a burnin ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire...
Lyrics submitted by ColdenScence
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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,
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I'm a big fan of the original song, and though Coldplay did a fair rendition of it. I caught them on Austin City Limits, and they were the only rock band I've seen to do justice to this song - most of the punk versions failed miserably.
Originally, this song was written in part by June Carter - who later became June Carter-Cash. She fell in love with Johnny while he was still married to his first wife, and the lyrics reflect how strongly she was drawn to the troubled Man in Black, but knew he was both off-limits and a dangerous soul with whom to trust her heart. 'Ring of Fire' evokes biblical themes, in that lusting after another's husband or wife is a sin, and falling into a ring of fire both reflects a decent into Hell, and the danger June felt in attaching herself to Cash's destructive lifestyle. At the point in his life this song was written, Cash lived dangerously and was becoming addicted to amphetamines. It took 10 years, a divorce, and several run-ins with the law and the hospital before Cash and Carter finally came together as man and wife. And until they both died in recent years, they lived a happy life together, with no flames to be seen. Now that they're gone, it's anyone's guess if they remain that way. :)