It was released on the album of the same name in 1974, and was the first song by the Mark III lineup. The song remained the band's concert opener for the next two years, taking over from "Highway Star". It opened Deep Purple's set on the California Jam two months after its release, on 6 April 1974.
Like the rest of the album, "Burn" was recorded at Montreux, Switzerland, in November 1973. Although Coverdale wrote the lyrics, they could just as easily have been penned by Blackmore, whose fascination with the Middle Ages, witchcraft and the supernatural is reflected in this tale of a bewitching female. The song became a regular with the band for the next two years.
Lyrics
The sky is red, I don't understand
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
The city's a blaze, the town's on fire
The woman's flames are reaching higher
We were fools, we called her liar
All I hear is "Burn!"
I didn't believe she was devil's sperm She said, "Curse you all, you'll never learn! When I leave there's no return " The people laughed till she said, "Burn!" Warning came, no one cared Earth was shakin', we stood and stared When it came no one was spared Still I hear "Burn!"
You know we had no time We could not even try You know we had no time
You know we had no time
We could not even try
You know we had no time
The sky is red, I don't understand Past midnight I still see the land People are sayin' the woman is damned She makes you burn with a wave of her hand Warning came, no one cared Earth was shakin, we stood and stared When it came no one was spared Still I hear "Burn!"
