Jimi Hendrix - Fire

First performance: 16/09/1967


Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song 2 times in the early years:
 
 
1968-09-00 Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Springsteen (along with fellow Earth-band members John Graham and Michael Burke) entered Ocean County College in September 1968. Bruce ended up staying for three semesters, dropping out in December 1969 shortly after his parents moved to California. Earth is believed to have performed several times at Ocean County College during the September to December 1968 period. Springsteen even contributed a piece of poetry to Seascape, the school's Literary Yearbook. The twenty-six mentioned songs are taken from the only known Earth-era repertoire listing. The document is likely to have been created by Springsteen in September or October 1968. The amount of tracks displayed, their sequencing, plus the header and numbering notation by Bruce, all point to this as being an inventory of Earth's live repertoire of 'cover' material. For this reason it is of greater historical significance than an individual gig setlist, particularly in that no Earth audio is circulating. A few of these songs are performance hold-overs from the The Castiles-era. Since Earth was a three-piece band it's hardly surprising that material from both Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience (the era's two premier three-piece bands) are abundantly represented.
 
  
photo credit Billy Smith
  
 
Bruce covered the song with his early band ' the Castiles' and opened the show with this cover in the first set . This was grand opening night at The Left Foot, an "over 13, under 18" club located in the recreation centre of St Peter's Episcopal Church at 37 Throckmorton Street. The club was opened by Reverend George Errickson and Reverend Fred Coleman, along with two High School students, Harold Breiner and William Cottrell. Patrons sat on cushions. Sadly The Left Foot had a short existence (seven months). This was the first of only two live appearances by The Castiles at the club - fortunately both appearances were audience recorded by Left Foot Manager (and St Peter’s priest) Fred Coleman on a good quality reel-to reel device. The-mentioned thirteen-song setlist represents The Castiles’ complete song performance in the correct sequence and they are all covers of other artists’ material. Although Springsteen may have started out in mid-1965 singing mostly background vocals, it is clear that by this point Bruce is the band’s focal point. Bruce handles the lead vocals on all songs except 'Eleanor Rigby', 'See My Friends' and The Blues Project’s haunting 'Steve’s Song' (all handled by George Theiss). Tex Vinyard, The Castiles’ manager, is heard introducing the band at the start of the second set. Interestingly the group uses The Yardbirds' instrumental 'Jeff’s Boogie' twice, as both the first set closer and show closer. A recording of Wille Dixon's "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" will be officially released on September 23, 2016 on Chapter & Verse, the companion album to Springsteen's autobiography Born To Run. 
 
 
 
  
  

Songinfo

"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. 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, 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 cold New 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".
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

Alright!
Now dig this, baby

You don't care for me, I don't a-care about that
You got a new fool, ha! I like it like that

I have only one a-burning desire
Let me stand next to your fire
(Let me stand next to your fire) Hey! Let me stand next to your fire
(Let me stand next to your fire) Whoa! Let me stand baby
(Let me stand next to your fire) Let me stand
(Let me stand next to your fire) Yeah baby

Listen here, baby, and stop acting so crazy
You say your mum ain't home, it ain't my concern
Just a-play with me and you won't get burned

I have only one a-itching desire
Let me stand next to your fire
(Let me stand next to your fire) Yeah! Let me stand baby
(Let me stand next to your fire) Let me stand
(Let me stand next to your fire) Oh, let me stand
(Let me stand next to your fire) Aw!

Oh move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over
Yeah, you know what I'm talking 'bout
Yeah! Get on with it, baby
Ow!
Yeah
That's what I'm talking about
Now dig this
Ha!
Now listen, baby

You try to give me your money, you better save it, babe
Save it for your rainy day

I have only one a-burning desire
Let me stand next to your fire, ha
(Let me stand next to your fire) Aw! Let me stand
(Let me stand next to your fire) Ow! Let me stand, baby
(Let me stand next to your fire) I ain't gonna do you no harm
(Let me stand next to your fire) Aw!

Yeah!
You better move over baby
I ain't gonna hurt you baby
Ah, I ain't talking with your ol' lady
Ow!
Ah yes, this is Jimi talking, baby
Yeah baby
Wooo [fades out]