Bruce Springsteen Reveals he Wrote ‘I’m on Fire’ in Just 2 Minutes

Bruce Springsteen recently revealed that one of his most iconic tracks, ‘I’m on Fire’, from his Born in the U.S.A. album, was written in just two minutes. In a candid interview with singer Zach Bryan, Springsteen shared how the song came together quickly and unexpectedly during the recording process.

When asked about the song’s origins, Bryan inquired if the synthesiser was the initial focus. Springsteen explained, “That was literally a song I wrote in two minutes. Didn’t even think about it. 

Image Courtesy: New York Daily News

Didn’t think it was ever going to be on a record.” He detailed the simplicity of the recording, saying, “There’s me playing that Johnny Cash Tennessee Three guitar, the synthesiser, and Max Weinberg playing a bass foot. That’s all that’s on that record.”

Springsteen and Bryan also discussed their songwriting approaches, with Bryan sharing how some songs come together in minutes while others take months. He reflected on his experience, saying, “Sometimes I’ll write a song in two minutes and think, ‘Oh, this is going to be great,’ while others take months and get discarded.”

‘I’m on Fire’ was one of seven singles from ‘Born in the U.S.A’., all of which reached the Top 10 on the Hot 100. The track itself peaked at No. 6 and was a chart-topper in several countries, including Ireland and The Netherlands. 

Its success was further boosted by a memorable music video, which earned the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. The album remains Springsteen’s best-selling, and songs like ‘I’m on Fire’ continue to resonate with fans, solidifying The Boss’s legendary status.

-Sushmita Sarkar

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