The Bonfire


Outside the Dancehall there’s always a bonfire
For a place for folks to go whenever their feet get tired
And you’ll always find a few of us there, just passing some bottles around
Then waiting for the folks to come out whenever the dance dies down
When it dies down.



I met her there on one of those nights
She came out of that Dancehall breathing hard and smiling wild
I was tending the fire, I had soot all over my hands
But I made her laugh like no one else ever did
She said
, that’s what she said.


She tried to teach me to dance in her living room
She knew so many steps and I, well learned me a few
But it never came easy and she never smile that smile
So I take her out dancing and I dance a little while, then step outside
Go tend the fire



There was that Ledford boy, he was so tall and thin
He moved around at Dancehall so easy sending them girls away spinning
She swore there wasn’t nothing more, but she had that smile again
So I made her swear to meet me out by that bonfire like we did in the beginning
and swear she did

Where were you when that fire went out?


I waited there until that last coal died down
Went back into that Dancehall, but there wasn’t nobody around
I don’t remember going to her house and I don’t remember why
But when I got there I cleared her living room and I started a fire
I started that fire.

Where were you when that fire went out?
Where were you when that fire went out?


She started screaming whenever the walls went up
I panicked for a moment ’til I heard the other voice
I remember thinking then, this is where I belonged the whole time
She can burn out up Dancehall while I will stand outside and tend the fire
I will tend that fire.

Where were you when that fire went out?
Where were you when that fire went out?
Where were you when that fire went out?