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Fire on Fire

"Fire on Fire" is a romantic ballad performed by English singer-songwriter Sam Smith, released on 21 December 2018 as the lead single from the soundtrack of the Netflix and BBC One miniseries adaptation of Richard Adams' novel Watership Down.^[1]^[2] Co-written and produced by Smith alongside Steve Mac, the track features orchestral elements and lyrics depicting an all-consuming passion that defies conventional warnings, with lines such as "Fire on fire would normally kill us / But this much desire, together, we're winners."^[3]^[4] The song was recorded specifically for the four-part animated series, which premiered internationally on Netflix on 23 December 2018 and on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 22 and 23 December 2018, serving as an emotional underscore to the story's themes of survival and camaraderie among rabbits fleeing danger.^[1]^[2]^[5]^[6] Upon release, "Fire on Fire" garnered praise from critics for its soaring vocals and heartfelt delivery, with Billboard describing it as a "haunting ballad" that captures Smith's signature vulnerability.^[1] Rolling Stone highlighted its stirring quality, noting Smith's excitement about contributing to the adaptation of the beloved 1972 novel.^[3] The accompanying music video, directed by Noam Murro, intercuts scenes from the miniseries with performance footage, emphasizing the song's thematic ties to the narrative of peril and hope.^[7]^[8] Commercially, the single achieved moderate success internationally, peaking at number 16 on the Swedish Singles Chart, number 17 in Norway, and number 18 in Finland, while reaching the top 40 in Switzerland and Ireland, and in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number 63 on the Official Singles Chart and spent four weeks in the top 100.^[9]^[10] It was later reissued as a bonus track on Smith's third studio album, Love Goes, which was released on 30 October 2020 via Capitol Records.^[11] By 2021, the song had been certified platinum in the UK for sales exceeding 600,000 units.^[10]

Background and development

Writing process

"Fire on Fire" was co-written by Sam Smith and producer Steve Mac specifically for the Netflix and BBC adaptation of Richard Adams' novel Watership Down.^[2]^[3] Smith's involvement in the project was announced on 1 November 2018.^[12] The collaboration aimed to produce an original theme song that would underscore the series' narrative, drawing directly from the book's core elements. Smith, inspired by his childhood affinity for the novel, sought to encapsulate its emotional depth in the track.^[13]^[12] The song's creation was influenced by the story's themes of survival, friendship, and the perils faced by the rabbit protagonists, with the intent to convey a sense of intense emotional urgency.^[12] Smith infused personal touches, incorporating romantic and vulnerable motifs that aligned with his signature ballad style, while integrating orchestral arrangements to heighten the dramatic tone suitable for the adaptation.^[2] As Smith reflected, "This story is so powerful and timeless, and it has been thrilling to work on this song for it."^[2] The track was ultimately recorded at Abbey Road Studios, marking a key step in finalizing its integration into the project.^[12]

Recording sessions

The recording of "Fire on Fire" took place at Abbey Road Studios in London during September 2018, featuring Sam Smith performing alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra.^[2]^[14] Steve Mac served as the sole producer for the track, handling keyboards and overseeing the session to capture its orchestral elements.^[15]^[16] Engineers Chris Laws and Dan Pursey managed the recording process, with Laws also contributing drums, while assistant engineers including Christopher Park supported the string sections.^[15]^[17] The production incorporated lush strings from the orchestra and piano elements to build the ballad's sweeping arrangement, aligning with the atmospheric requirements of the Watership Down soundtrack.^[18]^[15] Final mixing was handled by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios, with engineering assistance from John Hanes, and was completed in time for the song's release on December 21, 2018, just ahead of the miniseries' premiere.^[19]^[18]

Composition and lyrics

Musical style

"Fire on Fire" is classified as a piano-led ballad within the pop genre, with a runtime of 4:06.^[20]^[21] The track is set in the key of C♯ minor and maintains a tempo of 115 beats per minute, commencing with minimal piano notes that gradually intensify into expansive orchestral arrangements.^[22]^[14] Key elements of its instrumentation feature prominent strings from the BBC Concert Orchestra, understated percussion, and Sam Smith's characteristic falsetto vocals, fostering a haunting and cinematic atmosphere suited to its soundtrack origins.^[14]^[21] Structurally, the song employs a verse-chorus format augmented by a bridge, with dynamic crescendos that heighten emotional tension and provide cathartic release.^[4]

Lyrical themes

The lyrics of "Fire on Fire" delve into themes of intense romance marked by vulnerability and the consuming "fire" of passion, even as it coexists with fear and external judgment. Opening with the lines "My mother said I'm too romantic / She said, 'You're dancing in the movies' / I almost started to believe her," the song captures a moment of personal doubt and self-reflection, where the narrator questions their idealistic view of love before encountering a transformative connection.^[23] This vulnerability underscores the emotional risk inherent in deep affection, portraying romance not as effortless but as a courageous embrace of one's sensitivities.^[1] Central metaphors of burning desire and an inescapable bond evoke a love that is both exhilarating and hazardous, mirroring the perilous yet loyal friendships in Richard Adams's Watership Down, the novel that inspired the song. Smith drew from their childhood admiration for the book's "powerful and timeless" narrative of survival and camaraderie amid danger, infusing the lyrics with imagery of flames that could destroy but instead unite: "Fire on fire, would normally kill us / With this much desire, together, we're winners."^[13] These elements parallel the story's themes of steadfast bonds forged in adversity, where characters face chaos but find strength in their connections, transforming potential ruin into resilience.^[1] The gender-neutral phrasing throughout avoids specific relational dynamics, allowing for a universal portrayal of emotional intimacy that resonates broadly.^[23] In the chorus build-up, key excerpts heighten the tension between peril and hope, culminating in affirmations like "They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners / But they're never gonna tear us apart," which emphasize defiant optimism in the face of opposition. This progression reinforces the song's core message of passion prevailing over fear, with the repeated invocation of "fire on fire" symbolizing an unquenchable hope that sustains the relationship through trials.^[23] Smith's intimate vocal delivery further amplifies this emotional arc, drawing listeners into the lyrics' raw portrayal of love's redemptive power.^[1]

Promotion and media

Single release

"Fire on Fire" was released as a digital single on December 21, 2018, by Capitol Records, serving as the lead single from the soundtrack to the BBC and Netflix animated miniseries adaptation of Richard Adams' novel Watership Down.^[24] The track became available in standard digital formats, including MP3 downloads and streaming on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and is featured on the accompanying Watership Down soundtrack album released the same day by Decca Records.^[25]^[26] While it has appeared in select compilations, the song was later included as a bonus track on Sam Smith's third studio album, Love Goes, released on 30 October 2020. Promotion for the single was closely tied to the miniseries premiere, which aired on BBC One in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2018, and became available internationally on Netflix the following day, with the soundtrack bundled for streaming alongside the episodes.^[27] Initial marketing highlighted the song's emotional resonance to engage the film's audience, including teasers shared by Smith on social media platforms in the lead-up to the release.^[1]

Music video

The music video for "Fire on Fire" was released on December 21, 2018, coinciding with the premiere of the Netflix and BBC One miniseries adaptation of Watership Down, and made available on Sam Smith's official YouTube channel.^[2] Directed by Noam Murro, who also helmed the miniseries, the video integrates the song with selected animated footage from the production to create a cohesive promotional teaser.^[7] With a runtime of 4:01, it showcases stylized animation depicting the rabbits' perilous journey, including scenes of conflict, escape, and camaraderie among the characters, visually echoing the song's themes of intense romance and danger.^[28] The concept emphasizes narrative-driven visuals from the series rather than original live-action elements, focusing on the animated world's dramatic tension to complement the track's emotional buildup.^[3] As of November 2025, the video had amassed over 427 million views on YouTube, with no alternate versions or significant updates released since its debut.^[8]

Critical reception

Reviewers' opinions

Critics praised "Fire on Fire" for its emotional intensity and orchestral grandeur, often highlighting Sam Smith's vocal delivery and the song's alignment with the dramatic themes of the Watership Down adaptation. Billboard called it a "haunting ballad," noting that the song's "spare, haunting piano backing swells as violins enhance the anthemic chorus."^[1] Similarly, Rolling Stone called it a "stirring new ballad," emphasizing its poignant fit for the series' harrowing narrative.^[3] The song received acclaim for its haunting atmosphere, with NME labeling it a "moving new song" recorded with the BBC Concert Orchestra, underscoring its timeless emotional pull.^[29] Variety echoed this, portraying it as a "sweeping ballad" that captures Smith's signature style while serving as the miniseries' theme.^[2] Vulture noted its overwhelming impact, warning that the track "will absolutely (ship)wreck you" amid scenes of vulnerability, suggesting its raw sentiment might overwhelm sensitive listeners during the holiday season.^[21] Overall, reception from major outlets was positive, focusing on the ballad's orchestral production and Smith's emotive performance as a standout contribution to the soundtrack.^[1]^[3]

Commercial performance

Chart performance

"Fire on Fire" debuted on several European charts in late 2018 following its release as part of the Netflix adaptation of Watership Down. The song achieved its strongest performance in Sweden, peaking at number 16 on the Sverigetopplistan Singles Top 100 and spending a total of 9 weeks on the chart.^[9] In Norway, it reached number 17 on the VG-lista Singles Top 20, charting for 13 weeks overall.^[9] Finland saw a brief appearance with a peak of number 18 on the Suomen virallinen lista Singles Top 20, lasting just 1 week.^[9] The track also entered other markets with more modest results. In Switzerland, it peaked at number 35 on the Swiss Singles Top 100, accumulating 10 weeks on the chart.^[9] Ireland's Irish Singles Chart saw an entry at number 66, rising to a peak of number 38 over 6 weeks.^[9] On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 74 before peaking at number 63, with a total of 3 weeks in the top 75; it also reached number 34 on the Official Singles Sales and Downloads charts.^[9]^[10] Across select European markets, it accumulated up to 13 weeks on individual charts, contributing to a combined presence of 42 weeks across monitored territories.^[9] The soundtrack's tie-in to the Netflix series, coupled with streaming platform boosts, supported this modest international success despite limited radio airplay.^[10]

Certifications and sales

"Fire on Fire" has received several certifications across various territories, reflecting its commercial success primarily through digital downloads and streaming. In the United States, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 8, 2022, denoting 1,000,000 units sold or streamed.^[30] In the United Kingdom, it achieved Platinum status from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2021, equivalent to 600,000 units.^[10] In Australia, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awarded it 2× Platinum certification in 2020, representing 140,000 units. The track has also earned certifications in other regions, including Gold in Germany (BVMI) and Denmark (IFPI Denmark), 2× Platinum in Canada (Music Canada), and others, as of 2025. Globally, "Fire on Fire" has surpassed significant streaming milestones, with over 870 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025.^[31] Digital sales dominated the performance, accounting for the majority of units, while physical sales remained limited and soundtrack bundles from the Watership Down release contributed only minimally to the total. In certified markets, the song achieved peaks in the top 40 in several European countries.^[32]

References

[1]
Sam Smith's 'Fire on Fire' From Netflix 'Watership Down' Adaptation
Dec 21, 2018 · Listen to Sam Smith's Haunting Ballad 'Fire on Fire' From Netflix 'Watership Down' Adaptation ... ” The track was co-written by Smith and producer ...
[2]
Sam Smith Drops New Song, 'Fire on Fire,' From 'Watership Down'
Dec 21, 2018 · Sam Smith released “Fire On Fire,” a song he co-wrote with producer/songwriter Steve Mac for the forthcoming adaptation of the classic Richard Adams' novel, “ ...
[3]
Hear Sam Smith's Stirring 'Watership Down' Ballad 'Fire on Fire'
Dec 21, 2018 · The singer, who last released his The Thrill of It All in 2017, co-wrote “Fire on Fire” with producer Steve Mac. “I am so excited and ...
[4]
Sam Smith – Fire on Fire Lyrics - Genius
Dec 21, 2018 · Fire on fire would normally kill us But this much desire, together, we're winners They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners.
[5]
Sam Smith - Fire On Fire | Beyond The Lyrics - Story of Song
Read the story behind the song Fire On Fire by Sam Smith. Join the ... Release Date: 20th December 2018. Music Video Director: Vaughan Arnell. Chart ...
[6]
Fire On Fire by Sam Smith - Music Charts - Acharts.co
Fire On Fire by Sam Smith appeared on 6 charts for 42 weeks, peaked at #16 in Sweden. View detailed chart stats and the official video.
[7]
FIRE ON FIRE – SAM SMITH - Official Charts
Latest chart stats about FIRE ON FIRE - peak chart position, weeks on chart, catalogue number, week-by-week chart placement and latest news.
[8]
Sam Smith - Fire On Fire (Bonus Track) - Amazon Music
Listen to your favourite song Fire On Fire (Bonus Track) from Love Goes [Explicit] by Sam Smith now. Stream ad-free with Amazon Music Unlimited on mobile, ...
[9]
Fire on Fire by Sam Smith - Songfacts
Fire on Fire by Sam Smith song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position.
[10]
Sam Smith records original song for Watership Down mini-series, as ...
Nov 1, 2018 · Fire On Fire was co-written with Steve Mac and was recorded by Sam Smith with the BBC Concert Orchestra at London's Abbey Road Studios in ...
[11]
Listen To Sam Smith's Fire On Fire From The New Watership Down
Dec 21, 2018 · 'Fire On Fire' was co-written with Steve Mac and was recorded by Sam Smith with the BBC Concert Orchestra at London's Abbey Road Studios in ...
[12]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/watership-down
[13]
Who produced “Fire on Fire” by Sam Smith? - Genius
“Fire on Fire” by Sam Smith was produced by Steve Mac. Fire on Fire. Sam Smith.
[14]
Love Goes by Sam Smith (Album, Pop) - Rate Your Music
Rating 2.5 (636) Oct 30, 2020 · 16 Fire on Fire [bonus track]lyrics 4:06. Steve Mac. songwriter, producer, keyboards. Chris Laws. engineer, drums. Daniel Pursey. engineer.<|control11|><|separator|>
[15]
Release “Fire on Fire” by Sam Smith - MusicBrainz
1 · Fire on Fire. assistant recording engineer: Christopher Park ( classical recording and balance engineer, active from 1950s ) (strings) and Daniel Hayden ( ...
[16]
Fire On Fire - Mixed by SERBAN GHENEA
2018 Single Capitol Records. Fire On Fire. Sam Smith. Tracks mixed by Serban; 1 Fire On Fire Single. Share this entry. Share on Facebook · Share on Twitter ...
[17]
Key, tempo & popularity of Fire On Fire By Sam Smith | Musicstax
Fire On Fire - has a BPM/tempo of 115 beats per minute, is in the key of C# min and has a duration of 4 minutes, 6 seconds. Fire On Fire - is ...
[18]
Sam Smith's Watership Down Song 'Fire On Fire' - Vulture
Dec 21, 2018 · Sam Smith releases his Watership Down Song “Fire On Fire” along with video of footage from the upcoming BBC animated miniseries.
[19]
Key & BPM for Fire On Fire by Sam Smith | Tunebat
Oct 30, 2020 · Album art for Fire On Fire by Sam Smith. Sam Smith. Fire On Fire · 115. BPM · 41 ; Album art for Bruises by Lewis Capaldi. Lewis Capaldi. Bruises.
[20]
Sam Smith - Fire On Fire Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
Fire on fire, would normally kill us. With this much desire, together, we're winners. They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners.
[21]
Sam Smith's 'Watership Down' Theme Song 'Fire on Fire' Released
Dec 21, 2018 · Capitol Records has released the original song Fire on Fire from the BBC/Netflix animated mini-series Watership Down.Missing: single | Show results with:single
[22]
Fire On Fire - From "Watership Down" - song and lyrics by Sam Smith
Lyrics. My mother said I'm too romantic. She said, "You're dancing in the movies". I almost started to believe her. Then I saw you and I knew.
[23]
Soundtrack Album for BBC's & Netflix's 'Watership Down' to Be ...
Dec 20, 2018 · Also included is the new song 10,000 Enemies by Emeli Sandé. The soundtrack will be released digitally tomorrow and will be available to ...
[24]
Watership Down (TV Mini Series 2018) - IMDb
Rating 7.2/10 (7,471) Details · Release date · December 23, 2018 (United States) · Countries of origin. United Kingdom · Ireland · United States · Language. English · Also known as.Full cast & crew · User reviews · Parents guide · Episode list
[25]
Sam Smith: Fire on Fire (Music Video 2018) - IMDb
Rating 7.1/10 (19) Sam Smith: Fire on Fire: Directed by Noam Murro. With Sam Smith ... Release date · December 20, 2018 (United States). Country of origin. United ...
[26]
Sam Smith – “Fire on Fire” - SPIN
Dec 21, 2018 · Sam Smith has released a new track, “Fire on Fire,” co-written by producer Steve Mac. The song will feature on the soundtrack for Netflix and BBC1's upcoming ...
[27]
Sam Smith - Fire On Fire (From "Watership Down") - YouTube
Dec 20, 2018 · Fire On Fire (From "Watership Down") Get the latest news for Sam Smith: https://bio.to/SamSmithID Lyrics: My mother said I'm too romantic ...
[28]
Listen to Sam Smith's moving new song for 'Watership Down' - NME
Dec 21, 2018 · The new song, titled 'Fire on Fire', was recorded with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in September. Listen below. Advertisement.Missing: review | Show results with:review
[29]
https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-sam-smiths-new-song-for-watership-down-2424038
[30]
https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Sam+Smith&ti=Fire+on+Fire#search_section
[31]
Fire On Fire - song and lyrics by Sam Smith - Spotify
Fire On Fire · Lyrics · Recommended based on this song · Popular Tracks by Sam Smith · Popular Releases by Sam Smith · Popular Albums by Sam Smith · Popular Singles ...Missing: length | Show results with:length