World on Fire

Sarah McLachlan

About World on Fire

"World on Fire" is a song by Sarah McLachlan, from her Afterglow album (2003). It was released as the third single from the album in 2004, with a music video directed by Sophie Muller. The video for "World on Fire" opens with the claim of having cost $150,000, despite the ensuing low-quality footage of a barefoot McLachlan in a plain room playing her guitar. The video continues to reveal it actually cost $15, then tracking (in animated and videotaped segments) how the remainder went to enriching lives all around the globe through charitable donations. McLachlan promoted the song and its video with an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 17 May 2006, where she performed the track live while the video played on monitors. 


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Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I'll try to hold it in, yeah, I'll try to hold it in

The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able

I watch the heavens but I find no calling
Something I can do to change what's coming
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
I don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone

The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able

Hearts break, hearts mend
Love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash
Still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold
Is closing in on us

We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take the less we become
The fortune of one man means less for some

The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able

The world's on fire, it's more than I can handle
Tap into the water, try to bring my share
Try to bring more, more than I can handle
Bring it to the table, bring what I am able

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!


Sarah McLachlan

Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2009, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards (out of four nominations) and four Juno Awards. In addition to her personal artistic efforts, she founded the Lilith Fair tour, which showcased female musicians. The Lilith Fair concert tours took place from 1997 to 1999, and resumed in the summer of 2010. Since 2006 she has also been known as a highly visible supporter of the ASPCA, as well as various other charities. more »

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Written by: Pierre Marchand, Sarah McLachlan

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


9 facts about this song

Song Composition
"World on Fire" is a celebrated song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan from her album "Afterglow". The song foregrounds a powerful message and incorporates profound lyrics, reverberating in folk, rock, and pop music genres.
Release Date
It was released as a single in September 2003, following the release of the album itself in the preceding year.
Chart Performance
The song captured international attention and performed commendably on the charts. In the United States, it peaked on the Billboard Adult Top 40 Chart at number 24.
Music Video Significance
The music video for "World on Fire" was highly noted for its unique concept. Instead of spending a typical music video budget, McLachlan donated most of the money attributing to her philanthropic inclinations.
Charitable Purpose
The video's premise begins with an explanation that Sarah McClachlan chose to only spend $15 of the $150,000 video budget, with the remaining amount going to charities around the globe. This reflects the song's title and provides a powerful perspective on world issues.
Award Recognition
This meaningful approach for "World on Fire" video led to it receiving multiple awards. The video won award recognition at the 2005 Juno Awards for "Video of the Year" and at the 2004 CADAD awards for "Direction of a female artist."
Social Commentary
The music video, much like the song, served as a social commentary, highlighting the disparity between the West's extravagance and developing countries’ struggle. In this way, "World on Fire" helped raise global awareness about poverty and social injustice.
Featuring Artists
In addition to Sarah McLachlan, "World on Fire"'s video also showcases Joi Cardwell and The Perishers, accentuating the collective effort and unity in its message.
Relevance Today
The song and its poignant video continue to be relevant and impactful even in today’s cultural and social discourses, maintaining its position as an influential and thought-provoking piece of art.

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