Story Behind the Song
‘Fire In The Sky’ was written and recorded in my home studio on a little mountaintop in the Ozarks during September, October and November, 2001. I was inspired to write it by a Diane Sawyer interview with the New York Fire Chief who succeeded the Chief killed in the attack on the World Trade Center. He described how the fallen Chief had followed in his father's footsteps, and how they had been friends for many years. I thought their heroism deserved a good song. This is dedicated to all those who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center, and to the indomitable spirit of the American people.
Lyrics
Fire In The Sky
His hand was a lifeline, till the tower came down,
and a flaming steel beam screaming thunder nailed him hard to the ground.
And as his partner rushed over, the fallen fireman grinned...
Hank I’m down but from these ashes, I’ll rise again...
Chorus:
Because I’m New York’s bravest and I’ve lived to ride
with Company Nineteen, fighting fire in the sky.
Since I rode that old red engine with my dad one autumn day
I’ve been fighting fires, and I always walked away but...
Recitative:
Partner, this time it looks like I won’t be walking home tonight.
So tell my Mary I love her, and the kids I’ll meet’m by-and-by.
Now carry on, leave me be, I hear sweet angels come to bear me
Straight on to that firefight in the sky.
...
then he slumped back in the ashes, too weak to say more, and...
Verse 2:
you know they ignored, the dying fireman’s request...
Down at the ER, all day and night they tried to save him from heaven’s rest.
But as the sun rose their weary hands felt his soul slippin’ away.
When his heart stopped, they heard beating wings...
and as the angels sang, yeah, one last time they heard him say...
Chorus (variant):
I’m New York’s bravest and I live to fly
far above the fires of earth where heaven touches sky
From high above Afghanistan to America and west,
I’ll be smiling down on you, wishing you the best
Fighting fire in the sky... Fighting fire in the sky.
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