Come on in, my weary friend
The welcome here is endless

These fears of yours, like painted whores
They will not stay the night
If all your life you've done what's right
Don't say you felt obliged

Come on along, is your timid tongue
Too shy to tell your story?
This pain in you so far removed
From anything you've known
So I won't condone another moan
When everything is fine

So when in drought, learn to dance
And pray the dead would return

Dream smoke without fire
Just come see me again when it burns

Somewhere along the way
Well, I was led astray
By a wolf in no one's clothing
It was a brilliant disguise

And I forgot that life existed
I thought it was just some kind of game
That's what brings me to your doorstep
Though I don't know why I came today

Standing still in the dust
Giving up on the rain
As with smoke without fire
I've already laid in the flames

I've already laid in the flames

Brother, be afraid of the flames



Lyrics submitted by lovebite_

Track duration: 04:59

"Smoke Without Fire" as written by Oberst/ward

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BUG MUSIC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Smoke Without Fire song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Not sure about the song as a whole, but the last verse

    Standing still in the dust
    Giving up on the rain
    As with smoke without fire
    I've already laid in the flames

    This just struck me, probably not what he's trying to say but I see it as facing the conciquences for something that you never did or never happened, he said he laid in the flames, without there actually being a fire, and he was burned all before the fire even started.
    Flag Cyberghoston February 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is very similar to Milk Thistle with Conor and the Mystic Valley band.
    It's great!
    Flag Nowrflon January 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think the whole song is about drug addiction, how he's been there he was led into it by someone he could have known was bad for him but he gave in anyway...i dunno, just my thought.
    Flag aconon November 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:also:
    not to say that he had been intentionally faking pain to make money.
    Flag Jamouson September 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Like some were saying, that this song was a mark of his maturity... I think that actually is maybe what it's about? Alot of his previous work has been VERY emo, immature. Look at these verses:

    "This pain in you so far removed
    From anything youve known
    So I wont condone another moan
    When everything is fine"

    and:
    "And I forgot that life existed
    I thought it was just some kind of game"

    as if he hadn't really discovered real pain before, so his highly-emotional music was illegit. or "so far removed from anything [he has] known"

    "brother be afraid of the flame" then might mean that while he had been sort of using false pain as a money-maker (like a game) thru his music, he really ought to respect the atrocities life can throw at us.
    Flag Jamouson September 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i definitely see a cohen inspiration.

    my favorite part of the song is right at the end of the brass solo when m ward kicks in.

    conor voice seems a tad happy in this song, kind of conflicting with the music and somber feel. m ward i think really adds to this song because his voice is just so beautiful yet gloomy.

    "dream smoke without fire"

    dont worry about the troubles, just worry about the end.
    Flag rockisgroovyon August 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i definitely see a cohen inspiration.

    my favorite part of the song is right at the end of the brass solo when m ward kicks in.

    conor voice seems a tad happy in this song, kind of conflicting with the music and somber feel. m ward i think really adds to this song because his voice is just so beautiful yet gloomy.

    "dream smoke without fire"

    dont worry about the troubles, just worry about the end.
    Flag rockisgroovyon August 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:love this song and i have to say i agree with most of you opinions lol. but check out this video of them doing it together, SOO amazing!!!

    video.aol.com/video/music-bright-eyes-smoke-without-fire-aol-sessions/…
    Flag xrainbowbrightxon March 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:^^^^^^^^^^

    He had been decieving himself that true love DOES NOT exist and he went to a friend for help.

    correction from my post a few seconds ago

    (im on 40mg of Adderall XR so im being abnormally tediouse today)
    Flag AnAcidRevolutionon May 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:im not expert but i think this song is talking about having just physical relationships or "friends with benefits"

    the smoke is supposed to be the product of the fire. Like love making is supposed to be a product of love.

    "Somewhere along the way
    Well, I was led astray
    By a wolf in no one's clothing
    It was a brilliant disguise "

    He is talking about how he let his mistress leed him into believing there was more to the relationship then there really was.

    "And I forgot that life existed
    I thought it was just some kind of game
    That's what brings me to your doorstep
    Though I dont know why I came today"

    He had been decieving himself that true love does exist and he went to a friend for help.

    "Standing still in the dust
    Giving up on the rain
    As with smoke without fire
    I've already laid in the flames"

    He is still in the "dust" of his relationship and he realizes that he has had unconditional love the whole time and was being blinded by his FWB.

    "Brother, be afraid of the flames "

    he is saying to not fear true love.

    To sum things up...
    1. The Smoke is the sex, the fire is the love
    2. Smoke w/o fire makes no sense
    3. The only way things can make sense is if there is fire (LOVE) first and it brings the smoke (SEX) next.
    4. Dont Fear Real Love
    Flag AnAcidRevolutionon May 23, 2007   Link

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