"Fire" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in early 1967. It has been described as "an exercise in soul, psychedelic rock, and polyrhythmic jazz-inspired drumming" by AllMusic critic Matthew Greenwald. The song was remixed in stereo for the American release of the album. In 1969, it was released as a stereo single in the UK with the title "Let Me Light Your Fire". One of Hendrix's most popular songs, he frequently played it in concert. Several live recordings have been released and the original song is included on numerous Hendrix compilations, such as Smash Hits, ', ', and .
Overview
Despite its sexual overtones, the song had an innocuous origin. Noel Redding, bass player for the Experience, invited Hendrix to his mother's house on a coldNew Year's Eve in Folkestone, England, after a performance. Hendrix asked Noel's mother if he could stand next to her fireplace to warm himself. She agreed, but her Great Dane was in the way, so Hendrix let out with, "Aw, move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over". Hendrix later joked with the lyric: "Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to find her poor dog a bone, but when she bent over Rover took over, 'cause Rover had a bone of his own! Shakespeare, page 35!"
The Red Hot Chili Peppers began performing "Fire" in 1983 and recorded it as a B-side for their 1987 "Fight Like a Brave" single and a year later released it on The Abbey Road E.P.. The song was also included on their 1989 album, Mother's Milk as a tribute to the band's founding guitarist Hillel Slovak who died in 1988. The Chili Peppers version features lead singerAnthony Kiedis changing some of the lyrics such as "Move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over" to "Move over, Rover, and let Mr. Huckleberry take over" for Slovak.
Other versions
A 1968 rendition by Five by Five reached number 52 on the nationalBillboard singles chart. Kingston Wall covered it on their 1992 debut album I. In 1994, the accordion-based rock bandThose Darn Accordions recorded a version for their 1994 album Squeeze This!, where it was sung by a then 79-year-old Clyde Forsman, one of the group's accordionists. Alice Cooper covered it on his 1995 compilation albumClassicks. SSQ covered the song as a B-side to their single "Synthicide".
