Do unto others, as they have done unto you
But what the hell is this world coming to

Blow the universe, into nothingness
Nuclear warfare, shall lay us to rest

Fight fire with fire
Ending is near
Fight fire with fire
Bursting with fear

We all shall die

Time is like a fuse, short and burning fast
Armageddon is here, like said in the past

Fight fire with fire
Ending is near
Fight fire with fire
Bursting with fear

Soon to fill our lungs, the hot winds of death
The gods are laughing, so take your last breath

Fight fire with fire
Ending is near
Fight fire with fire
Bursting with fear

Fight fire with fire
Fight fire with fire
Fight fire with fire
Fight fire with fire
Fight fire with fire
Fight fire with fire
Fight fire with fire, fight!



Lyrics submitted by fennsk, edited by RyanWolfeh

Track duration: 03:44


Fight Fire With Fire song meanings
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46 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Fight fire with fire, the title, ties in perfect with the lyrics.
    Also with the time, being written in the '80s, when the fear of nuclear warfare between the United States and the USSR was still strong.

    "Do unto others, as they have done unto you", if either the United States or the USSR launched a nuclear missile first at one another, it would be counteracted with another nuclear missle.

    "But what the hell is this world coming to", how can we live in a world where two huge countries, who should be setting an example for the rest of the world, are threatening eachother with nuclear missiles?

    Rest of the lyrics are pretty self-explanatory.
    Flag RyanWolfehon December 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Interesting enough, Even these guys were talking about a nuclear war even in the 80s. LoL. Now, We are on the brink of such BS. This song is obviously about Armageddon and the end of all things to come. Great song.
    Flag SkylinexBleedsxRedon August 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:First of all, as for the ending, it's cool, but I thought it was thunder (you know, Ride the Lightning?). I always heard that part "Nuc-lllleeeeeeaaaaar- warfare, tell-ing- us to rest!!!!" and thought, "What are they talking about, at first they were talking about the golden rule, and now it's some anti-war crap!!!" Still, fantastic song, fantastic album, and Cliff Burton, I salute you for being the best bassist that ever lived.
    Flag Metallica4Deadon February 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:nuks.. we lounch one they luch 1 in teh end were both gone
    Flag slayer1578on December 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:This is easily the most extreme Metallica song ever written. If not, then it ties with the entire 'Justice' album. Hands down.
    Flag Cyphortecon October 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:do unto others as theyve done to you, one side uses nukes, they other side shouldnt
    Flag metallica37on June 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the song is all about nuclear war n stuff and both sides have nukes(fight fire with fire) and how the world will be destroyed by it and both sides will suffer
    Flag metallica37on June 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Like all songs in Ride the Lightning, it's how it's impossible to escape from nuclear war.
    Flag Nabsolon March 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the whole nuclear warfare idea is really close, but in my opinion, this song is about more general ongoing fighting. The title means that you do what others do to you, but as people do that, things are never settled, they just spiral into a bigger feud and could turn a simple disagreement into nuclear warfare. And if people keep this attitude in a war or whatever, then nothing is ever helped, we all just end up destroying each other and ourselves. Altogether, though, I do think this is an anti-war song, like One and Disp. Heroes.
    Flag Redneck220on February 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It means nuclear weapons might kill us all one day in the future.
    Flag BlackLegion1994on June 14, 2008   Link

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