Do you know who the Kings of Leon song Sex on Fire is about? The soloist’s wife thinks about her. Musicians put forward various versions, trying to explain the meaning of the composition. At the same time, sometimes they clearly fool the fans. And the band members generally tell their young children that the track is called Socks on Fire.
So who or what is the main hit of Kings of Leon dedicated to? Let’s figure it out together.
The story of the creation of the song Sex on Fire
Elle Australia magazine claims that the muse of Caleb Followill was his companion Lily Aldridge. The lyricist Sex on Fire isn’t so sure:
I think my girlfriend hopes the song is about her. Maybe so, because we had a good time together … But I’m not sure exactly.
The Sun
Speaking about the history of the song Sex on Fire to New Musical Express magazine, Caleb also did not remember his spouse:
I just had this tune and didn’t know what to say. Then one day I just sang, “This sex is on fire,” and laughed. I thought it was terrible, but the rest of the group reacted in the spirit of: “It’s good, it’s catchy.” I said, “Back off!” – but in the end he wrote it.
NME, 2008
The meaning of Sex on Fire by Kings Of Leon
It is said that Followill doesn’t know exactly who the song Sex on Fire is about, because he wrote it while under the influence of painkillers. He took them to numb the pain after shoulder surgery.
Listen to Nathan:
Caleb called me and said, “Bro, come to my place and check out the song I wrote.” I came, listened and said: “Yes, cool, when did you write it? She’s amazing.” And he replied: “I have no idea. I woke up and the songbook was open. I think I wrote it last night.” They put him on Vicodin and he was like a vegetable.
The Sun, 2008
Caleb often had to explain what the Sex on Fire song was about:
Sexuality is expected from our songs, so I tried to combine all this in one song and do away with sex before the end of the record. If you read the words, you will see that they have lines that can be easily visualized. It’s actually quite a sexy song, but I knew that after writing “Sex on Fire” I wouldn’t be able to write verses about kissing or going to the movies with a girl.
NME, 2008
Caleb spoke about the meaning of Sex on Fire in an interview with The Sun:
It’s about great sexual relationships with hot, hot sex that you remember for the rest of your life.
The Sun, 2008
The story of the song Sex on Fire as presented by Nathan Followill looks somewhat different:
It all depends on whether the song originates from a melody or lyrics. You know, if it starts with a melody, you keep playing it and playing it until you write it down and add some lyrics that fit the flow of words. Actually, it was supposed to be called “Set Us on Fire”, but one of the engineers came into the studio while we were playing and said, “Sex on Fire, right?” The joke caught on, and we left it.
Triple J Radio
Tired of endless questions about the main idea and heroes of the song Sex on Fire, the members of the Kings of Leon band began to laugh it off. For example, they once stated that the idea for the song came about after one of them got sick after sleeping with a girl:
Actually, it’s about sexually transmitted diseases. That’s what inspired us!
Zimbio
Release and achievements
The idea to release the track as the first single from the Only By the Night album belonged to the label. She surprised musicians who thought the song was too explicit. The further history of Sex on Fire showed that the managers were not mistaken. The composition topped several charts, including the Australian and British charts.
In 2008, Kings of Leon won a Grammy for Best Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
Video Sex on Fire by Kings Of Leon
The music video for Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon was directed by British music video director Sophie Muller.
The video caused a mixed reaction from the public and confused the band members. Caleb commented on the video like this:
I see things that don’t happen in reality, and I see that they are weird. The things I see make me feel like I’m a pervert and I’m attached to my family.
MTV News
Bassist Jared Followill had this to say about the “Sex on Fire” video:
If we were so distrustful of Sophie’s previous work, we would never have accepted the scenario of Caleb going crazy in bed and me chasing a chicken.
The eccentric video clip caught the attention of viewers. By the end of September 2017, it had been viewed over 230 million times on YouTube.
Interesting Facts
- Sex on Fire was included in numerous lists of the best tracks of 2008, including polls by Rolling Stone, Channel V Australia and Triple J.
- In 2009, remixes of the song were played at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Sex on Fire Lyrics by Kings Of Leon
Lay where you’re laying
Don’t make a sound
I know they’re watching
Watching
All the commotion
The kiddie-like play
It has people talking
Talking
you
Your sex is on fire
Dark of the alley
The breaking of day
Head while I’m driving
I’m driving
Soft lips are open
Them knuckles are pale
Feels like you’re dying
You’re dying
you
Your sex is on fire
Consumed
With what’s to transpire
Hot as a fever
Rattle of bones
I could just taste it
Taste it
But it’s not forever
But it’s just tonight
Oh we’re still the greatest
The greatest
The greatest
you
Your sex is on fire
you
Your sex is on fire
Consumed
With what’s to transpire
And you
Your sex is on fire
Consumed
With what’s to transpire
Sex on Fire Lyrics Alternative
Lie where you lie
Don’t make a sound
I know they are watching
are watching
All this confusion
Child Game
Makes people talk
chatting
You
Sex with you is just fire
Alley darkness
Start of the day
Come on while I’m driving
While I’m driving
soft lips parted
White knuckles
Feeling like you’re dying
Like you’re dying
You
Sex with you is just fire
Absorbed
By what’s to come
Heat like fever
Rumble of bones
I just got this taste
This taste
But it’s not forever
But it’s only today
Oh we are the best
Best
Best
You
Sex with you is just fire
You
Sex with you is just fire
Absorbed
By what’s to come
And you
Sex with you is just fire
You
Sex with you is just fire
Absorbed
By what’s to come
Song quote
“Sex on Fire” was just a small piece of text that we filled in the gap, killing time before we could write something not about sex and fire.
Nathan Followill, Triple J Radio
People are tired of hearing about war and politics, and “Sex on Fire” is a song about sex and youth.
Caleb Followill, The Daily Mirror, 2009
