Put Out The Fire – English Lyrics

• By: Queen
• Album: Queen Rocks

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy and potent message of Queen's "Put Out The Fire." This song offers a fascinating blend of hard rock amidst a more dance-oriented album, making it a unique piece in Queen's discography. Beyond its musical appeal, the lyrics provide a sharp social commentary on gun violence, offering insights into English expressions of protest and satire. You'll encounter vocabulary related to justice, conflict, and societal critique, making it an engaging way to explore the language through a band known for its iconic songwriting. Listen closely to Freddie Mercury's powerful delivery and Brian May's distinctive guitar work as they tackle a serious subject with a thought-provoking lyrical approach.

[English]

They called him a hero

In the land of the free

But he wouldn't shake my hand, boy

He disappointed me

So I got my handgun

And I blew him away

That critter was a bad guy

I had to make him pay

You might fear for my reason

I don't care what they say

Look out, baby, it's the season

For the mad masquerade

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Oh, you need a bullet like a hole in the head

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Don't believe what your grandaddy said

She was my lover

It was a shame that she died

But the constitution's right on my side

'Cause I caught my lover in my neighbour's bed

I got retribution, filled 'em full of lead

I've been told it's the fashion

To let me on the streets again

It's nothing but a crime of passion

And I'm not to blame

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

You need a weapon like a hole in the head

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

And let your sons and your daughters sleep sound in their beds

You know a gun never killed nobody

You can ask anyone

People get shot by people

People with guns

Oh yeah

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

You need a gun like a hole in the head

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Put out the fire

Just tell me that old fashioned gun law is dead

...

Key Grammar Structures

• They called him a hero

  ➔ Past Simple (active)

  ➔ The verb "called" is in the Past Simple tense, showing a completed action in the past.

• He wouldn't shake my hand, boy

  ➔ Modal verb "would" (negative)

  ➔ The modal "wouldn't" (= would not) expresses a past‑time refusal or unwillingness.

• I blew him away

  ➔ Phrasal verb "blow away"

  ➔ The verb phrase "blow away" is a phrasal verb meaning to impress or to eliminate completely; here it conveys a violent action.

• You might fear for my reason

  ➔ Modal verb "might" (possibility)

  ➔ The modal "might" expresses a low degree of certainty, i.e., something that could happen.

• Look out, baby, it's the season for the mad masquerade

  ➔ Contraction "it's" (it is) – present simple

  ➔ The contracted form "it's" combines "it" + "is" and is used in the present simple to describe a current situation.

• Don't believe what your grandaddy said

  ➔ Negative imperative + object clause

  ➔ The word "Don't" is the negative imperative of "do not", followed by the verb "believe" and the object clause "what your grandaddy said".

• I've been told it's the fashion

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive

  ➔ The phrase "I've been told" uses the present perfect ("have + past participle") in the passive voice, indicating an action that happened at an unspecified time before now.

• People get shot by people

  ➔ Passive voice (present simple)

  ➔ "Get shot" is a passive construction using the verb "get" + past participle, here in the present simple to describe a general truth.

• You can ask anyone

  ➔ Modal verb "can" (ability/possibility)

  ➔ The modal "can" expresses ability or permission; here it means that the speaker is able to ask any person.

• I caught my lover in my neighbour's bed

  ➔ Past Simple (irregular verb "caught") + prepositional phrase

  ➔ The verb "caught" is the past simple form of the irregular verb "catch"; the prepositional phrase "in my neighbour's bed" indicates location.