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I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire

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"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"
Song
Written1938
GenrePop
Songwriter(s)
  • Bennie Benhamin
  • Eddie Durham
  • Sol Marcus
  • Eddie Seiler

"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.

Originally written in 1938,[1] the song 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]

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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.

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]

In the first part of the 1971 Doctor Who episode “Terror of the Autons”, the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) sings the song whilst in the TARDIS, but is interrupted by the console catching fire. He continues to hum the tune after he exits the TARDIS.[7]

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]

The song was used in the 2023 movie The Long Game.[8]

Samples

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This song was quietly sampled by thrash metal band Megadeth on their song "Set the World Afire"[9][10] on their 1988 studio album So Far, So Good... So What!

The song was also sampled by Joji (musician) in his song "Asian Pizza" on his PG3* album [11] [12] [13]

The Ink Spots cover

[edit]
"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"
Song by the Ink Spots
B-side"Hey Doc!"
ReleasedOctober 1941
RecordedAugust 27, 1941
Length3:07
LabelDecca

The Ink Spots' 1941 version has been featured in numerous media.

The cover has been featured prominently in the Fallout series of media. It can be heard in the Bethesda Softworks video games Fallout 3, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 on the in-game radio.[14] The cover was also used in the trailer and pilot episode of the first season of the 2024 television show Fallout.[15][16]

References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ ""I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire"". 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 March 26, 2023
  7. ^ Classic DW (May 9, 2011). First appearance of Jo Grant - Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons - BBC. Retrieved October 29, 2024 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Movie soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "MEGADETH | SO FAR SO GOOD... SO WHAT". metalnerdery.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Christopher, Michael (January 19, 2018). "Why Megadeth Struggled Through 'So Far, So Good ... So What!'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "Pink Guy – Asian Pizza".
  12. ^ TVFilthyFrank (August 4, 2017). ASIAN PIZZA. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Pink Guy's 'Asian Pizza' sample of The Ink Spots's 'I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire'". WhoSampled. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Chism, Carlos (November 10, 2015). "The Full Diamond City Radio Playlist From Fallout 4". gamersnx.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Fallout - Official Trailer". Youtube. Prime Video. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  16. ^ Berry, Alex (April 11, 2024). "Here's every song on the 'Fallout' soundtrack". NME. Retrieved April 21, 2024.


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