About the song
Background of “Standing Outside the Fire”
- Co-written by Garth Brooks and Jenny Yates in 1992 [Wikipedia: Standing Outside the Fire].
- Released in December 1993 as the third single from Brooks’ album “In Pieces” [Wikipedia: Standing Outside the Fire].
- Became a major hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Country Charts and even cracking the top 30 in the UK Singles Chart [Wikipedia: Standing Outside the Fire].
Themes in “Standing Outside the Fire”
- Living life to the fullest: The central theme is the importance of actively engaging with life’s experiences, both good and bad. The line “Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you’re standing outside the fire” emphasizes this idea.
- Taking risks: The song encourages listeners to step outside their comfort zones and embrace challenges. It suggests that true growth and fulfillment come from taking risks and experiencing life’s full range of emotions.
- Learning from experience: The fire metaphor represents challenges and difficulties. The song suggests that while these experiences can be painful, they can also be valuable learning opportunities.
- Relationships: Some interpretations see the song as referencing a close relationship on the verge of collapse. The fire could represent the intensity of the relationship, and “standing outside” could symbolize a need for distance or reflection.
It’s important to note that these are just some of the interpretations of the song’s themes. The beauty of music is that it can have different meanings for different listeners.
Video
Lyrics
We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show The ones that never do let go And risk it the tables being turnedWe call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame Who chance the sorrow and the shame That always come with getting burnedBut you got to be tough when consumed by desire
‘Cause it’s not enough just to stand outside the fire 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 fallWe call them weak
Who are unable to resist The slightest chance love might exist And for that forsake it allThey’re so hell bent on giving, walking a wire
Convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fireStanding outside the fire
Standing outside the fire Life is not tried it is merely survived If you’re standing outside the fireThere’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 fireStanding outside the fire
Standing outside the fire Life is not tried it is merely survived If you’re standing outside the fireStanding outside the fire
Standing outside the fire Life is not tried it is merely survived If you’re standing outside the fire