I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire

"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" is a pop song written by Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Durham, Sol Marcus and Eddie Seiler.

It was written in 1938,^[1] but was first recorded three years later by Harlan Leonard and His Rockets.^[2] It was covered by several musicians and groups, most successfully by Horace Heidt on Columbia Records, whose version reached number one on the US pop chart; and by The Ink Spots on Decca in 1941,^[3][4] whose version reached number four on the same listing. Other early versions included those by Tommy Tucker, Mitchell Ayres, and (in Britain) Vera Lynn. The song, with its open line "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.^[5]

The song was later recorded by Betty Carter, Frankie Laine, Brian Hyland, Anthony Newley, Suzy Bogguss and others.^[2]

In popular culture

In the 1949 Ealing comedy film Passport to Pimlico, after it is discovered that Pimlico is technically part of the Duchy of Burgundy, a rendition of the song is performed in celebration of the fact that British music licensing laws no longer apply to Pimlico.

The Ink Spots' version was featured in a 1982 commercial for Chanel No. 5 perfume.

In the "Treehouse of Horror XVII" episode of The Simpsons, the Ink Spots' rendition of the song is played as a post-apocalyptic scene brought about by alien invasion fades into the end credits.^[6]

The Ink Spots' 1941 version is featured in the Bethesda Softworks video games Fallout 3, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 on the in-game radio.^[7]

The song was used in the trailer and in the second episode of the first season for the Fallout TV show.^[8][9]

In the 1971 Doctor Who episode “Terror of the Autons”, the Third Doctor hums the tune to himself, but is interrupted by the TARDIS catching on fire and smoking. ^{[citation needed]}

A quartet of Muppet firemen sang it in an episode of The Muppet Show, guest starring Roy Clark.^{[citation needed]}

The song was used in the 2023 Star Trek: Picard episode "The Next Generation".^{[citation needed]}

Samples

This song was quietly sampled by thrash metal band Megadeth on their song "Set the World Afire"^[10][11] on their 1988 studio album So Far, So Good... So What!

References

1. Tyler, Don (June 15, 2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-rock Era. McFarland & Company. p. 257. ISBN 9780786429462.
2. "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire | VERSIONS". SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
3. Rosalsky, Mitch (2002). Encyclopedia of Rhythm and Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-4592-3.
4. "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #6". University of North Texas Digital Library. 1972. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
5. . Electronic Poetry Center. SUNY Buffalo. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
6. "The Simpsons" Treehouse of Horror XVII (TV Episode 2006) - Soundtracks - IMDb, retrieved 2023-03-26
7. Chism, Carlos (November 10, 2015). "The Full Diamond City Radio Playlist From Fallout 4". gamersnx.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
8. "Fallout - Official Trailer". Youtube. Prime Video. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
9. Berry, Alex (2024-04-11). "Here's every song on the 'Fallout' soundtrack". NME. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
10. "MEGADETH | SO FAR SO GOOD... SO WHAT". metalnerdery.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
11. Christopher, Michael (January 19, 2018). "Why Megadeth Struggled Through 'So Far, So Good ... So What!'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 23, 2023.