Smoke on the Water Lyrics
[Verse 1]
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn't have much time
But Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
[Chorus]
Smoke on the water
And fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
[Verse 2]
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
Pulling kids out the ground
When it all was over
We had to find another place
But Swiss time was running out
It seemed that we would lose the race
Smoke on the water
And fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
We ended up at the Grand Hotel
It was empty, cold and bare
But with the Rolling-truck-Stones-thing just outside
Making our music there
With a few red lights, a few old beds
We made a place to sweat
No matter what, we get out of this
I know, I know we'll never forget
[Chorus]
Smoke on the water
And fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
[Instrumental Outro]
About
One of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock'n'roll history. “Smoke on the Water” tells the true story of a fire igniting during a 1971 Frank Zappa concert in Montreux, Switzerland, where the band had come to record their next album, Machine Head.
The song made it to number four, their first top ten since “Hush” in 1968. It was also their first single to receive certification, being granted a gold record by the RIAA.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Claude Nobs, saved several kids during the 1971 Montreux Casino Fire, which the song is about. (He also got his name credited in the original album just for this reference)
Funky Claude is the name of a bar there, I’m not sure if the bar was founded by him or opened in his memory. (RIP, 2013) But funky was probably like a nickname or something, the dude founded the Montreux Jazz Festival.
- 1.Highway Star
- 4.Never Before
- 5.Smoke on the Water
- 6.Lazy
- 10.Lucille