I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire by Tammy Lin Foreman (3 min. 2002) Directed, edited, and shot by Lester Alfonso for a live performance event.
Almost twenty years ago, Tammy Foreman contacted Warner/Chappell Music to inquire about the recording rights to a song they officially “own.” The song was I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire. The Ink Spots version had been a favourite since I first heard it a long time ago. Tammy was inspired to do a cover of the song but she also wanted to do some musical re-arranging. Warner/Chappell wouldn’t have any talk of it, at the time. They wanted to charge an arm and a leg for us to do the cover legitimately.
So, that’s part of the reason why this project’s been on the shelf, until today. Archive Rescue Day 73 — only a handful of people have seen or heard this version before. This is another digital world (on fire) premiere.
The song, with its lyrics starting with “I don’t want to set the world on fire/ I just want to start a flame in your heart…” became especially popular after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.[3]
Wikipedia.org
Some real change is happening in the world today. Canada has closed its borders. Another item pops out of my newsfeed that 100 million Europeans are in lockdown because of a pandemic. Humanity, it seems, is collectively sick due to its collective habits. It’s turned into some kind of warzone.
An insight came to me this morning.
Focus on the change you want to make for yourself. Do what you know is good for you. Let’s all get together on this. This is how the world changes.
Love is growing. Love is more powerful than fear. As fear rears its head, I have noticed the love that comes up inside when I think about my loved ones from afar. Love is like a drop of soap on an oil slick. Let’s make suds.
Stay tuned! —LA
I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire was written in 1938 by Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Durham, Sol Marcus, and Eddie Seiler.
LYRICS
I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
In my heart I have but one desire
And that one is you, no other will do
I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you'd feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me
I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
I don't want to set the world on fire, honey
I love you too much
I just want to start a great big flame down in your heart
You see, way down deep inside of me, darling
I have only one desire
And that one desire is you
And I know, baby, ain't nobody else gonna do
I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you'd feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me
I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
Artist: The Ink Spots
Album: I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire / Hey Doc!
Released: 1941
Genre: Jazz
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