About the song
Background
- Unlikely Collaboration: This unexpected duet came about in 1999 as part of Tom Jones’ album “Reload”. It brought together the booming, soulful voice of a veteran crooner with the indie-rock coolness of The Cardigans.
- Commercial Success: The cover became a massive hit, revitalizing Jones’s career and introducing The Cardigans to a broader audience.
- Musical Adaptation: The song retains the driving energy of the original but gets an infusion of disco-funk, driven by a big horn section and The Cardigans’ distinctive backing vocals.
Themes
The song’s themes can be interpreted in several ways:
- Breakdown of Systems: The most common interpretation is about rebelling against established systems or institutions that feel suffocating.
- Metaphor for Passion: The burning house could represent an all-consuming love or obsession that defies control.
- Inner Turmoil: Some view the song as a symbol of internal struggles and the desire to break free from psychological restraints.
Lyrics
The lyrics are repetitive and chant-like, emphasizing the urgency and destructive power of change. Key lines include:
- “Fightin’ fire with fire” – Suggesting a need for drastic measures to effect change.
- “Watch out, you might get what you’re after” – A warning that revolutions can have unintended consequences.
- “Burning down the house” – The central metaphor for radical transformation.
The Tom Jones/Cardigans Twist
While the core themes remain, the duet delivers a lighter, slinkier take on the song. Tom Jones’s deep baritone contrasts playfully with Nina Persson’s sweet, ethereal vocals. It emphasizes the potential for fun and liberation within the idea of burning things down.
Video
Lyrics
… Fighting fire with fire
… Watch out, you might get what you’re after
Cool babies, strange but not a stranger
I’m an ordinary guy
Burning down the house
… Hold tight
Wait till the party’s over
Hold tight
We’re in for nasty weather
There has got to be a way
Burning down the house
… Here’s your ticket pack your bags
Time for jumping overboard
The transportation is here
… Close enough but not too far
Maybe you know where you are
Fighting fire with fire
… All wet, hey, you might need a raincoat
Shakedown dreams walking in broad daylight
Three hundred sixty five degrees
Burning down the house
… It was once upon a place, sometimes I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work, baby, what did you except
Gonna burst into flame
… Fighting fire with fire
Fighting fire with fire
Burning down the house
… My house’s
Is out of the ordinary
That’s right
Don’t wanna to hurt nobody
Some things sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house
… Watch out, you might get what you’re after
Cool babies, strange, but not a stranger
I’m an ordinary guy
Burning down the house
Three hundred sixty five degrees
Burning down the house
… Fighting fire with fire
(Fighting fire with fire)
Gonna burst into flame
(Fighting fire with fire)
Fighting fire with fire
(Fighting fire with fire)
… Gonna burst into flame
(Burning down the house)
My house
(Burning down the house)
… No visible means of support and you have not seen nothing yet
(Burning down the house)
Everything’s stuck together
(Burning down the house)
I don’t know what you expect staring into your TV set
Fighting fire with fire
… Burning down the house
Burning down the house