Make a Fire - Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Nathaniel Rateliff

"Make a Fire" performed by our good friends Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, as seen on the 'Round Midnight Preserves live stream fundraiser for the Preservation Hall Foundation.
To help support the Foundation and the musicians of Preservation Hall, check out preshallfoundation.org.

[@adirondacktrekking1972]

You GOT “IT” Guyz ! I’m so proud to be a fan !! 🙏

[@danschwartz1]

This song was the highlight of the whole PH benefit for me. I looked to find a studio version of this but couldn’t find anything. Anyone have any ideas who wrote/recorded this originally? Thanks

[@seanm028]

Agreed. I've been looking high and low for more information about this song. I would love to learn its history.

[@TheAmeriKun]

Unreleased N.R. original. Incredible tune.

[@danschwartz1]

Ryan Evans They should release it! So good.

[@tutonejones7689]

I love this one! What a great song! I gotta get these lyrics,..... I’ve searched all over. Yes, I’m guessing he wrote it.

[@SimplyStonish]

@@tutonejones7689 I took a shot at the lyrics below (in response to Tyson) based on multiple listen throughs. Love the song too and a big fan of Nathaniel's solo work as well as Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats!

[@TysonKamikawa]

Awesome; anyone get a handle on the lyrics?

[@SimplyStonish]

I loved this song when I heard it during last year's PH 'Round Midnight Reserves stream. I was hoping Nathaniel would've released on his last solo album, but alas, he did not. These are the lyrics I was able to decipher after listening multiple times. The spacing of the lyrics aren't exact. I was not familiar with Nathaniel's use of the word "lean," but was able to do some research to verify. It is most commonly associated with "purple drink" - codeine syrup mixed with Kool Aid, drink common in the south or can be used as a reference to being high and/or drunkenness. Seeing as Nathaniel has struggled with alcohol in the past, I assumed it was most closely related to drunkenness. It's a recurring theme in the songs in his solo work. Now I hold my hand, every mouth and tongue I'm the shape you cast, on the wound that is ours Someday I'll hear some sweet melody, blast your horn Well now, I'm awake more than my eyes warn There'll be salt in the spring, there'll be nothing here, nothing here in the fall If I find the lean (drug or reference to drunkenness) has climbed from my ribs into my hands We no longer dig the graves of the dead and the lawless here I said we'll make, a fire of me When I'm gone Make a fire of me, when I'm gone Make a fire of me, when I'm gone Make a fire of me, when I'm gone Make a fire of me Make a fire of me Make a fire of me When I'm gone If I find the lean (drug or reference to drunkenness) has climbed from my ribs into my hands We no longer dig the graves of the dead and the lawless here I said, we'll make a fire of me When I'm gone Make a fire of me When I'm gone Make a fire of me When I'm gone Make a fire of me When I'm gone

[@tutonejones7689]

@@SimplyStonish this is great! Thanks for your work on these lyrics!

[@TysonKamikawa]

@@SimplyStonish Nice! I was debating if the word "lovers" was "lawless"? What do you think? Does that make more or less sense, lyrically?

[@SimplyStonish]

@Charlotte Blythe Interesting. I definitely agree that the lyric refers to some kind of emotion or state manifesting itself physically. My initial interpretation was the internal effects of excess drinking appearing in say shaky hands. However, the human heart is behind the ribs and the lyric could symbolize exactly what you suggested- heartbreak.

[@JariLiitolaPikkuApuri]

This is the definition of a dude's tunes.

[@DanRodriguezMusic]

Thanks for posting! If you have a minute, I've been recording some original acoustic songs. As a fellow music lover, I'd love if you would check it out. It's on my channel. Hope you like it.