The Penguin: Lyric Interpretations: Fire Burning

Fire Burning

Written by Stevie Nicks, M. Campell, and R. Hine.

Contributors to this interpretation included: Janet Strayer, Becky, Regina, and Tracy G. (September 20, 1999)

A huge fire was burning
And her eyes grew strangely bright

In many interviews in the late 1980's, Stevie Nicks spoke about a fire that had threatened her house. This event had terrified her and she was suddenly faced with the prospect of losing all that she loved. She had to try to decide what belongings meant more to her than anything else. To have that happen, one learns what really is important. This song reflects the fear and wonder of a fire.

She turned around in her room
What could she take and still survive the fire
But then again, there was a window
You know it's an illusion
There is no fire burning just a soul crying

Not only are these lines from an actual event, this "fire" is also figurative of a feeling. Fire is very hot and dangerous. You cannot touch fire without getting burnt. Fire is also very bright and somewhat alluring. When you see fire, you have to look, its glowing and crackling lures one into its danger.
Stevie is describing her own soul, which she feels is on fire. The fire the distress that is within her. She is feeling very scared, unhappy and unsure about her life. "What could she take and still survive the fire" is a line more or less saying-what drugs, what escape can she fall on and still live to see tomorrow? Too strong and determined, she will never let this fire burn her out.

So cry for me take a little time and then stop
It's just something that you cannot see so stop
She swings around on the second story
I'll get down she says
Well there is no fire burning just a soul crying

Stevie does not like pity. Though she longs and depends on comfort from those she loves, she will not lean on others to get her through the hard times. On her own strength, she will try to get through these times. Sometimes it seems she goes too far or seems too much into her own private world, but she always ends up on top. That fact alone is what she is leaning on more than anything else.

I will you know
So I take it to the limit
I will you know as I always have
I understand your position
I withdraw my decision
Well I've got no more information for you

It's not worth it, to tell others what her head and soul are saying. No one can truly understand how she feels. She writes songs and performs to millions, but her songs are puzzles and they never reveal one hundred percent what is exactly going on in her life. Those that do love her and that are close to her ask and plead for her to reveal why her soul seems to be crying, but Stevie refuses to give in to them or anyone, she has to heal herself.
After a 30 day stint at the Betty Ford clinic, Stevie appeared to be drug-free to many. In spite of that, she was gaining weight and losing her edge that she used to have. I don't think anyone really believed that Stevie was clean and she did not want to fool them. I think everyone trusted at this point that she would never go back to the cocaine. As long as she was still walking and breathing, that there was no need to preach to her or try to stop anything she might have been doing.

So still there is a fire that no one sees
She doesn't even see it either
Or so everyone thinks
But then again, there was a window
You know it's an illusion
There is no fire burning just a soul crying

Stevie's fans, friends and family were all aware of the events that had happened to her. She lost her best friend to cancer. She went through and ended a marriage that had only happened for love and loyalty of that friend. She had lost men she had loved and not been able to hold a steady relationship, it seemed that she had nothing but the fame and the money. No one saw the real fire burning inside though. This fire was one of constant numbing of herself to forget the pain that dwelled inside of her...and the increasing deep depression, because she was not the same person she had been. The "good fire" that had once burned now was out...and only the painful fire ignited inside of her.

There's no fire
There is no fire
Well there's no fire burning just a soul crying
It's just a soul crying

Stevie never seemed to be short of confidence. She had sold millions of records, she had men at her feet and friends by her side. There used to be no doubt that pain would turn into something good. That life would take a turn for the better. Suddenly, it seemed fame and fortune was not good enough to turn her around anymore. Her friends were perhaps not as close and the men were now too afraid of her power that she had garnered through the years. Now, she was suddenly all alone on top of this tower, the walls around her were high and almost too hard to climb and get to the other side. Maybe she disguised her real pain with her bitterness towards the events and people she spoke of at this time. Her interviews became increasingly bitter and she did not smile as much. Speaking of Lindsey or Fleetwood Mac or money, she disguised that her real pain was too deep for anyone to heal or dig out. There was a fire...burning so intensely..and it would be years until it was finally put out.

Transcribed to HTML by Marty Adelson.