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.
Now come and stand
See the sights and warm your hands
And fan the flame inside of me
Been burning all my life
So come and set my house alight
Yeah, come and set my spirit free
Now all is ashes
This moribund parade of asses
So shake it one more time for me
So take these matches off of me
And set yourself on fire
Fire
Coffee at the floor
It seemed just like the day before
The waiter went and smiled at me
The couple at the bar
He burned his britches, she burned her bra
Now somebody has burned the car
Sulphur in the air
And cracks appearing everywhere
Don't try to stop it, don't you dare
Now see
That everything must fall
That we may live again
So take these matches off of me
And set yourself
On fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Now it's so clear to me
This bonfire of the vanities
So come on everybody, scream
A purifying flame
And you and I can take the blame
A spirit that cannot be tamed
Now see
That everything must fall
That we may live again
So take these matches off of me
And set yourself
On fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
See the sights and warm your hands
And fan the flame inside of me
Been burning all my life
So come and set my house alight
Yeah, come and set my spirit free
Now all is ashes
This moribund parade of asses
So shake it one more time for me
So take these matches off of me
And set yourself on fire
Fire
Coffee at the floor
It seemed just like the day before
The waiter went and smiled at me
The couple at the bar
He burned his britches, she burned her bra
Now somebody has burned the car
Sulphur in the air
And cracks appearing everywhere
Don't try to stop it, don't you dare
Now see
That everything must fall
That we may live again
So take these matches off of me
And set yourself
On fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Now it's so clear to me
This bonfire of the vanities
So come on everybody, scream
A purifying flame
And you and I can take the blame
A spirit that cannot be tamed
Now see
That everything must fall
That we may live again
So take these matches off of me
And set yourself
On fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Fire
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Set Yourself on Fire Lyrics as written by Jean-benoit Dunckel Jarvis Cocker
Lyrics © Sentric Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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