# What is the song "Wildfire" about? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154 "2003-02-01T20:29:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/81 "2019-02-17T18:04:20Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Man, I _hate_ bustin’ sod. For a very long time, until someone on this very board disabused me, I thought he was going to leave South Boston behind, making the song even more nonsensical because who has horses in stalls in South Boston? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/82 "2019-02-17T21:26:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > [Moderating] > **Dale Sams** , posting the full lyrics of a song is a copyright violation. Short excerpts are allowed, under Fair Use, so I’ve edited your post accordingly. If you have a link to somewhere else that has the lyrics, you can post that instead. Thank you…I cut out some but tried to keep the critical parts, but obviously not enough. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/83 "2019-02-17T23:42:55Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > For a very long time, until someone on this very board disabused me, I thought he was going to leave South Boston behind, making the song even more nonsensical because who has horses in stalls in South Boston? Mounted police? 😃 For [del]years[/del] decades, I thought the phrase was, “We’re gonna leave some questions behind.” :o ---
**Author:** ![Pithily\_Effusive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pithily_effusive/32/252_2.png) [@Pithily\_Effusive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithily_Effusive)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/84 "2019-02-18T06:17:56Z")
It’s about pop music having no recognizable standards. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/85 "2019-02-18T06:26:11Z")
It’s more fun to picture the “killing frost” as an attack by Caitlin Snow on the rampage! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/86 "2019-02-18T14:27:06Z")
“Killing frost” makes me think of [this Far Side cartoon](https://goo.gl/images/qYNZbG). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/87 "2019-02-20T10:25:07Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > What don’t I understand? The whole thing! > > If you don’t read the lyrics (which do help clean up the mystery, but let’s assume this is still the 70s) as we did not have easy access to when the song was new, this verse starts the confusion rolling: > > Andy Wolloe said “Hello” > And he said “Hi, what’s doin’, Wo?” > “Seth, sit down, I got some bad news, it’s gonna hurt” > He said “I’m your best friend and you know that’s right” > “But your young bride ain’t home tonight” > “Since you been gone she’s been seein’ that Amos boy, Seth " > Well, he got mad ‘n’ he saw red and Andy said “Boy, don’tcha lose your head” > " 'cause to tell ya the truth, I been with her myself” > > First, the verse suffers from pronoun trouble. Who is “he”? He seems to shift from the brother to Andy. And it isn’t clear she is singing “Seth”. Not a common name, and it sounds more like “[he] said, sit down I got some bad news…” and "“She’s been seein’ that Amos boy sick”, or alternately, “that Amos boy’s” first name is Seth. > > Then there’s this couplet: > > And he saw Andy lyin’ on the floor > In a puddle of blood and he [Andy?] started to shake > > Listening to the radio, did Andy start to shake? He’s dead, isn’t he? Call an ambulance! > > So we start out confused, then we get to the “what planet does Vicki live on” part. > > How stupid was the brother. He obviously went to kill Andy, then when he finds him dead, he fires a shot to “flag down” the police. How stupid was that? As we saw, deadly stupid. > > How stupid was the police - did the ballistics match? They couldn’t, because there’s no time for little sister to go shoot Andy and get the gun back before brother gets home. > > Why did the judge rush the judgement of the brother? Why would he care? > > Why did little sister hide/dispose of brother’s wife’s body, but leave Andy there to be found? > > Why did the judge have bloodstains on his hands? By the lyrics, his hands were bloody before the murder. > > How fast WAS this trial? Arrest to execution in one evening? > > Why was the defense lawyer bad? What did he gain by being corrupt? (In a one day trial and execution, did he even have a chance to get paid?) > > What does little sister think she’s doing? She kills the wife and Andy (but not “that Amos boy”) but then leaves a trail of evidence that points right to her brother. Did she want him dead, too? > Wildfire is as clear as the night air compare to Vicki’s Southern Gothic mess. Thank you, all that is what causes me to be confused. I do like the song, but it always leaves me muddled. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/88 "2019-02-20T22:09:47Z")
I found this on the Web where they were interpreting the Reba McEntire version: This song is about a man who finds out his wife had an affair with his best friends. Goes over to his friends house at night to kill him, but finds his friend already dead. The sheriff is patrolling so the man fires his gun to signal the sheriff. The sheriff thinks the shot he heard is the killing shot so the sheriff arrest the man who is innocently executed later. The shooter was actually his sister who is narrating the song. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/89 "2019-02-21T01:03:11Z")
I didn’t know enough to understand it at the time, but now I can see that it’s about when the WiFi failed during bad weather, and she’s calling up the ISP and yelling WiFi and he’s never been able to hook up with her after the WiFi dropped out and ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/90 "2019-02-21T02:29:22Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I found this on the Web where they were interpreting the Reba McEntire version: > This song is about a man who finds out his wife had an affair with his best friends. Goes over to his friends house at night to kill him, but finds his friend already dead. The sheriff is patrolling so the man fires his gun to signal the sheriff. The sheriff thinks the shot he heard is the killing shot so the sheriff arrest the man who is innocently executed later. > The shooter was actually his sister who is narrating the song. That’s all well and good - but I thought someone shot the deputy? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/91 "2019-02-21T02:31:10Z")
> [@simster](#): > > That’s all well and good - but I thought someone shot the deputy? He shot the _sheriff,_ not the deputy. Of course, later he fought the law and the law won. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/92 "2019-02-21T03:43:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > He shot the _sheriff,_ not the deputy. > Of course, later he fought the law and the law won. Go on, take the money and run. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/93 "2019-02-21T04:22:15Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Go on, take the money and run. Take it easy… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/94 "2019-02-21T04:51:40Z")
Someone shaved my wife tonight. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/95 "2019-02-21T04:57:17Z")
Might as well JUMP ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/96 "2019-02-21T04:59:05Z")
Regarding “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”, [songfacts.com](http://songfacts.com) [https://www.songfacts.com/facts/vicki-lawrence/the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia](https://www.songfacts.com/facts/vicki-lawrence/the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia)has a number of posters positing that the his (the brother’s) wife was sleeping with the Judge and the lawyer also, so it was in their best interest to find Andy guilty to prevent their affairs being exposed. She may even have been with the defense attorney also, who wouldn’t listen to Andy’s sister’s confession. Yes, it’s a stretch, but even Andy (the brother’s best friend had been with her). The trial and execution didn’t take place overnight, but any effort for the sister to confess was stymied or never given. After all she killed the woman who was with numerous powerful men and they either wouldn’t listen to her (opening the way for their affairs to be exposed) or would prosecute both her and Andy to keep the both quiet. Also, if you listen to the Reba McEntire version, it’s clear that “he” (the brother) is never referred to by his first name. It’s clearly “He said, sit down…” and “that Ames boy, Seth”\*. Less clear in the original version. \*There may have been multiple brothers in the Ames family and Andy wanted to be clear which brother it was. It may have been one that the unnamed protagonist of the song didn’t like, as Andy seems to be warning him (the protagonist), what a terrible woman his wife was. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/99 "2019-02-21T15:04:51Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > Regarding “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”, [songfacts.com](http://songfacts.com) [https://www.songfacts.com/facts/vicki-lawrence/the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia](https://www.songfacts.com/facts/vicki-lawrence/the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia)has a number of posters positing that the his (the brother’s) wife was sleeping with the Judge and the lawyer also, so it was in their best interest to find Andy guilty to prevent their affairs being exposed. She may even have been with the defense attorney also, who wouldn’t listen to Andy’s sister’s confession. Yes, it’s a stretch, but even Andy (the brother’s best friend had been with her). > > The trial and execution didn’t take place overnight, but any effort for the sister to confess was stymied or never given. After all she killed the woman who was with numerous powerful men and they either wouldn’t listen to her (opening the way for their affairs to be exposed) or would prosecute both her and Andy to keep the both quiet. > > Also, if you listen to the Reba McEntire version, it’s clear that “he” (the brother) is never referred to by his first name. > > It’s clearly “He said, sit down…” and “that Ames boy, Seth”\*. Less clear in the original version. > > \*There may have been multiple brothers in the Ames family and Andy wanted to be clear which brother it was. It may have been one that the unnamed protagonist of the song didn’t like, as Andy seems to be warning him (the protagonist), what a terrible woman his wife was. That’s interesting, but it still doesn’t fit. Unless the point is little sister wants her brother dead, too? That’s she’s just a psychopath. Because little sister confessing that she shot [del]the sheriff[/del] the wife doesn’t make the other affairs come out any more than if brother shot her. If little sister knew about those, she’d have killed the judge, the sheriff, the defense lawyer, and anyone else. And if the trial took a reasonable amount of time, little sister could still go tell brother that she did it, even if she didn’t publicly confess. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/100 "2019-02-21T16:58:24Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > An “earworm” spell might be kinda cool. All the character can hear in their head is a song, and can’t perform any incantations, so a magic-user can only hit with a weapon until taking the hard-to-find “anti-earworm herb,” or undergoing a full heal. Or, presumably, a friendly Bard can cancel the effects of an “earworm” spell? (Actually, ‘earworm’ sounds like something from the original Monster Manual… ) ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/101 "2019-02-21T17:42:44Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > (Actually, ‘earworm’ sounds like something from the original Monster Manual… ) Those’re _ear seekers_, tiny worms that burrow into dead wood, and happily burrow into your ears when you listen at the door they’re living in. That’s why you add a mesh-covered ear cone to the 10-ft pole you packed. And a hireling, to use 'em both. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154/102 "2019-02-21T20:10:06Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > …she’d have killed the judge, the sheriff, the defense lawyer, and anyone else… But not the deputy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-song-wildfire-about/152154.md?page=6)