Jon Rae Fletcher's "Fire"

In lieu of a longer newsletter today, I present a version of Jon Rae Fletcher's "Fire" that has haunted me ever since I first heard it the day I recorded it for CBC Radio's DNTO back in 2006. Maybe not the most uplifting song ever, but it feels kind of appropriate for these times.

Music by Jon Rae Fletcher
Recorded for CBC Radio's DNTO in 2006

(I'm afraid I don't recall the name of the female vocalist)

Image by Ian Babbit

Lyrics:

I remember the stories told me as a child

From the book that was held in my grandfather's hands

Those words burned in his eyes like fire

He believed them until the day he died

And even now his voice tells me

All there will be left is the fire

All there will be left is fire

All there will be left is the fire

All there will be left is fire

There are men who try to hold the world in their hands

As you would hold on to a dollar

Amen there is a day coming

When all there will be left of the world is a shell

You can hold it up to your ear and listen to the memory of water

cuz all there will be left is fire

You can listen to the memory of water

cuz all there will be left is fire

Is fire

Oh the beauty is found in the simple things

Found on fingers circled and tied into rings

Lovers lost and lay low til the morning

But for now we'll kiss the evening sky

And rise higher and higher ‘til all that's left is the fire

All there will be left is fire

All there will be left is the fire

All there will be left is fire