As amusing as JTBcat’s theory is, no, Fire in the Hole is not about farting in public, although it is about bodily functions.
The key to understanding this rather obscure song is its link to another song on the album, "Dirty Work". On the back cover of the LP, where the song titles are listed, each song name is followed by a coy or sarcastic comment on the song. Thus, "Turn that Heartbeat Over Again" gets the sarcastic “A solemn prayer for peace”, and "Only a Fool Would Say That" is described as “A message cha-cha”. Three songs get the same comment: “How’s my little girl?” Those are "Dirty Work", "Reelin’ in the Years", and "Fire in the Hole".
"Reelin’ in the Years" and "Dirty Work" are straightforward songs, as far as their meanings go. Both are about sexual/romantic relationships gone bad, which, along with the comment after the song title, indicates that "Fire in the Hole" is also about a such a relationship.
"Reelin’" is a heartfelt denunciation of an old flame who dumped the protagonist. The protagonist gets back at her by calling her trivial, snobby, and immature in a sizzlingly great pop song.
But, as a story, "Reelin’" stands on its own. I suspect that "Dirty Work" has a much stronger connection to "Fire in the Hole". Both songs are the second song on their respective sides of the album, and both songs use workplace imagery in reference to a sexual relationship. In "Dirty Work", the protagonist is providing free (“you’re afraid to pay the fee”) sexual services to a wealthy (she has a maid) woman who is probably married (“when your man is out of town”). The woman holds the power in the relationship, initiating the sessions, locking the door. Rather than bragging about this situation, the protagonist feels cornered, “foresees terrible trouble” and declares in the chorus: “I’m a fool to do your dirty work; I don’t want to do your dirty work no more.”
"Fire in the Hole" returns us to that relationship. We have the dominating woman “A woman’s voice reminds me to serve and not to speak.” We have workplace imagery (yellow striping is used on factory floors to warn workers when they are in the proximity of dangerous machinery). And we know from the comment after the song title that this is about a sexual or romantic relationship.
So what is going on in this song? The protagonist is embarrassed (“should I hide, or eat my pride”), and would “like to run out now; there’s nowhere left to turn.” Indeed he wishes “someone would open up the door.” And why is that?
Well, his “life” is “boiling over” and “it’s happened once before”.
Remember mik91’s comment about getting an orgasm from the piano solo? Think about the rhythm of the first notes of that solo. Of the many male orgasms to be rendered in pop song instrumental solos, this has to be the most woeful. It is literally minor key.
So now you know, boys and girls, this is a song about the bane of a young man’s sexual existence: orgasming too soon. She’s not there yet, but he’s done: “Don’t you know there’s fire in the hole, and nothing left to burn?”
As amusing as JTBcat’s theory is, no, Fire in the Hole is not about farting in public, although it is about bodily functions.
The key to understanding this rather obscure song is its link to another song on the album, "Dirty Work". On the back cover of the LP, where the song titles are listed, each song name is followed by a coy or sarcastic comment on the song. Thus, "Turn that Heartbeat Over Again" gets the sarcastic “A solemn prayer for peace”, and "Only a Fool Would Say That" is described as “A message cha-cha”. Three songs get the same comment: “How’s my little girl?” Those are "Dirty Work", "Reelin’ in the Years", and "Fire in the Hole".
"Reelin’ in the Years" and "Dirty Work" are straightforward songs, as far as their meanings go. Both are about sexual/romantic relationships gone bad, which, along with the comment after the song title, indicates that "Fire in the Hole" is also about a such a relationship.
"Reelin’" is a heartfelt denunciation of an old flame who dumped the protagonist. The protagonist gets back at her by calling her trivial, snobby, and immature in a sizzlingly great pop song.
But, as a story, "Reelin’" stands on its own. I suspect that "Dirty Work" has a much stronger connection to "Fire in the Hole". Both songs are the second song on their respective sides of the album, and both songs use workplace imagery in reference to a sexual relationship. In "Dirty Work", the protagonist is providing free (“you’re afraid to pay the fee”) sexual services to a wealthy (she has a maid) woman who is probably married (“when your man is out of town”). The woman holds the power in the relationship, initiating the sessions, locking the door. Rather than bragging about this situation, the protagonist feels cornered, “foresees terrible trouble” and declares in the chorus: “I’m a fool to do your dirty work; I don’t want to do your dirty work no more.”
"Fire in the Hole" returns us to that relationship. We have the dominating woman “A woman’s voice reminds me to serve and not to speak.” We have workplace imagery (yellow striping is used on factory floors to warn workers when they are in the proximity of dangerous machinery). And we know from the comment after the song title that this is about a sexual or romantic relationship.
So what is going on in this song? The protagonist is embarrassed (“should I hide, or eat my pride”), and would “like to run out now; there’s nowhere left to turn.” Indeed he wishes “someone would open up the door.” And why is that?
Well, his “life” is “boiling over” and “it’s happened once before”.
Remember mik91’s comment about getting an orgasm from the piano solo? Think about the rhythm of the first notes of that solo. Of the many male orgasms to be rendered in pop song instrumental solos, this has to be the most woeful. It is literally minor key.
So now you know, boys and girls, this is a song about the bane of a young man’s sexual existence: orgasming too soon. She’s not there yet, but he’s done: “Don’t you know there’s fire in the hole, and nothing left to burn?”
Ouch! I’ll be running now . . .