Standing Outside the Fire Lyrics
We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned
[Verse 2]
We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned
[Pre-Chorus]
But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire
[Verse 3]
We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall
[Verse 4]
We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all
They're so hell-bent on giving, walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire
[Chorus]
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
[Bridge]
There's this love that is burning, deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide standing outside the fire
[Chorus]
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
[Chorus]
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
About
This song can be taken two different ways: it could be a song about taking a chance at love or a chance at life. To me this song means taking a chance at something you want to do in life. This song, to me, means that if you don’t take a chance in life, you never truly live. You really are just surviving. You don’t take a chance to lose it all, get back up, and try again. Because, who knows, you might just succeed the second, or possibly third, time. My tip: take a chance. And as the old proverb says: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
From the liner notes of The Hits:
I was in Los Angeles in 1992, hanging out with a good friend, Jenny Yates. In a conversation I was describing something that I thought was really close, but for me it just stood outside the fire. There was that brilliant moment of silence when we just looked at each other and smiled. Within an hour and a half, this song was written. This is another song of inspiration, and Jenny is that way when it comes to inspiration. I don’t know if I have ever met a bigger dreamer than Jenny — To the one who saw the vision and made it happen — my hat’s off to Jenny Yates.
- 1.Standing Outside the Fire
- 10.The Cowboy Song
