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(You Will) Set The World On Fire Lyrics
Midnight in the Village
Seeger lights the candles
From Bitter End to Gaslight
Baez leaves the stage
Ochs takes notes
When the black girl and guitar
Burn together hot in rage
You’ve got what it takes
You say too much
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
I can work the scene babe
I can see the magazines
l can hear the nation
I can hear the nation cry
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
You will set it on fire
Kennedy would kill
For the lines that you’ve written
Van Ronk says to Bobby
She’s the next real thing
Crouched in the half light
Screaming like a banshee
You’re in the boat, babe
We’re in the water
You say too much
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
I can work the scene babe
I can see the magazines
l can hear the nation
I can hear the nation cry
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
You will set it on fire
Seeger lights the candles
From Bitter End to Gaslight
Baez leaves the stage
Ochs takes notes
When the black girl and guitar
Burn together hot in rage
You’ve got what it takes
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
I can work the scene babe
I can see the magazines
l can hear the nation
I can hear the nation cry
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
You will set it on fire
For the lines that you’ve written
Van Ronk says to Bobby
She’s the next real thing
Crouched in the half light
Screaming like a banshee
You’re in the boat, babe
We’re in the water
You say too much
You will set the world on fire
I can work the scene babe
I can see the magazines
l can hear the nation
I can hear the nation cry
You will set the world babe
You will set the world on fire
You will set it on fire
Song Info
Submitted by
songmeanings On Feb 05, 2013
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Seems to be about the birth of a star, a future celebrity being discovered. Anyone have any idea who "the black girl on guitar" could be? The chorus is the promise that the musician's manager/person in charge makes. "You will set the world on fire. I can work the scene- I can see the magazines!" The magazines would probably be plastered with the musician's face. Basically saying "I can make you famous, and you will be the next big thing."
Hi. The song is all about Greenwich village and the folk revival. 'Bobby' is Mr. Zimmerman himself, 'the next big thing' is rumoured to be Joni Mitchell'. The black girl on the guitar I am not sure of - do some digging around the Greenwich scene in the 60's and it might become apparent. Lovely song. It references Van Ronk which is cool of Dave.
Hi. The song is all about Greenwich village and the folk revival. 'Bobby' is Mr. Zimmerman himself, 'the next big thing' is rumoured to be Joni Mitchell'. The black girl on the guitar I am not sure of - do some digging around the Greenwich scene in the 60's and it might become apparent. Lovely song. It references Van Ronk which is cool of Dave.
I'm convinced that Bowie is referencing the Greenwich village artists and the social movements they ignited to herald a new star - his daughter.
Since the moment I first heard this song, I've been convinced that he is talking about her (or those like her/of her generation). Alexandra is the part of a new generation, that as her father, he is acutely aware of how she is growing up with all the advantages of the all the social movements that came before her (You've got what it takes, You say too much -- sounds just like a father). She will be beyond issues of race, sexuality, etc., and that means she can focus on new movements and propel us even farther forward. (You will set the world babe, You will set the world on fire)
To me, this song is about the energizing excitement of seeing the potential in someone, and being game to help them achieve their dreams (I can work the scene babe, I can see the magazines).
Like the idea that it's about his daughter, or his wishes for / advice to her.... 12 at the time of this album's release.... if there is a specific 'in story' incarnation of the black girl with the guitar, who was inspiring and singing in the Greenwich Village (about where Bowie lives now) of the early 60s, then that would have to be Odetta.
Due to a couplet in the song I'm convinced this song is aimed at La Garvey but knowing what I know generally I'd have come to that conclusion anyway. Where Bowie says "You're in the boat babel , we're in the water" makes me think of an incident in front of my flat at the canals edge about a year or so b4 the album came out. I'd heard Bowie say he 'loved me' and Marianne called him a bastard or something and pushed him into the canal. There was a great commotion and people pulled him.out and I heard him say "I'm soaking". I didn't see what happened but it was clear from the sounds what was going on. Often I heard people, usually young women and girls getting excited and screaming "Bowie" at sight of him. He was on my tail for half his life if truth be known.