Sunday, May 15, 2016

“Fire” by Barns Courtney – A Song Review

     Is it an advantage or disadvantage when your name is nearly a reversal of one belonging to a performer who recently experienced a popularity explosion? Barns Courtney shares more than the arrangement of letters in his name – both he and Courtney Barnett meaningfully transfer their life experiences into their music.
     “Fire” is receiving attention, but not as much as the song deserves. The song is part Folk and part Spaghetti Western. The Spaghetti Western element is most strongly felt at the two-minute mark, when the background whistling and shouts almost create an illusion that a Clint Eastwood character is moving toward an impending dramatic scene.
     “Fire” is a song that fits well within the soundtrack of “Burnt.” But the song is about its author. Barns Courtney explained, “[T]he song is about my struggle to hold onto the nativity and passion I had for music as a child, after years of setbacks and (specifically when I was writing this song) losing my record deal with Island and having to work in a computer store.” He continued, “Jaded and disillusioned after having spent 3 months pouring my heart and soul into recording the first major record, and 4 years touring and promoting the band only to never receive the tracks from the producer, I was finding it difficult to maintain the will to carry on.”

     “Fire” by Barns Courtney

Website: http://www.barnscourtney.com

Lyrics of “Fire” by Barns Courtney
Lonely shadows following me
Lonely ghosts come a crawlin’
Lonely voices talking to me
Now I'm gone, now I'm gone, now I'm gone

And my mother told me “Son let it be”
Sold my soul to the calling
Sold my soul to a sweet melody
Now I'm gone, now I'm gone, now I'm gone

Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Burn, burn, burn

Oh, a thousand faces staring at me
Thousand times I've fallen
Thousand voices dead at my feet
Now I'm gone, now I'm gone, now I'm gone

And my mother told me “Son let it be”
Sold my soul to the calling
Sold my soul to a sweet melody
Now I'm gone, now I'm gone, now I'm gone

Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Burn, burn, burn

Ghosts and devils come a calling
Calling my name out, lost in the fire
Sweet Virginia blood is calling
Calling my name out, lost in the fire

Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Burn, burn, burn

Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Now give me that fire
Burn, burn, burn

16 comments:

  1. I have hunted this song ever since I first heard the snippit on TV . I love it , and I will look for more . Thank You !

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  2. sounds like a moby song.

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  3. I watched the movie, "Burnt;" heard this song by Barnes Courtney; it just 'blew my mind.' Reminds me of the mid-seventies with Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, etc. As an Entertainment Editor, I need to learn more about this artist. Thank you, Çj.

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  4. This song grabbed me the first time I heard it on Spotify. Wishing you a very, very successful career.

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  5. Loved it the 1st time i heard it. Want more of them!! Great artist 💖

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  6. First heard him on Netflix's Safe (glitter and gold) but this song is fantas6

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  7. One of the best songs I've heard in a while!

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  8. I heard, "Fire" in the summer of 2018~which was pushing Cadillacs~and I was BEYOND! Had to have the track! Keep up the STRONG contributions, to GOOD rock/metal music~in The 21st Century, Barns!

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  9. Also heard of him on Netflix's safe drama series. ..

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  10. Is their a backing track of fire
    Available.

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  11. I first heard this song on the movie "american satan" it instantly caught my attention so I googled the movie sound track and read through lyrics until I found the song

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  12. I have been in the music industry for a half a century - the feeling pouring from your voice and your lyrics speak to my soul - the pleasure and the pain that your music has given to me — you have epitomized my career in a just a few minutes

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  13. A fabulous song, rythym & lyrics. I cannot stop listening to it. Over & over. Touches my soul

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  14. Bro I love this song

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  15. Fabulous! Down to earth melody with soul!!

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  16. I don’t remember when I first heard the song Glitters and gold, but it did end up in my playlist, was out walking one day, and just at the right time this song came on, ever feel like you left the world for a bit, that’s music, very talented musician

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