For My Sunday Song #90, I am going with “Burn” by the band Deep Purple. The song was the first single off the album of the same name and the first with new lead singer David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. The song wasn’t a big chart buster on its release in 1974, but it did chart at #45 on the UK Charts in 1978, but that was four years after its release. Not sure why the time difference.
The song at 6:40 in length features a blistering guitar solo by Richie Blackmore and a finger licking good organ solo by Jon Lord. The song has everything. The vocals are shared between David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. A pretty awesome duo to have in your band. In fact, the whole band for this song & album were pretty amazing.
- David Coverdale – vocals
- Glenn Hughes – bass, vocals
- Richie Blackmore – guitar
- Jon Lord – Hammond Organ
- Ian Paice – drums
It doesn’t get much better than that. After this version of Deep Purple broke up (the Mark III version), Coverdale would go on to form Whitesnake and at one time or another, Ian and Jon both played in the band with David.
It is believed that Coverdale wrote several sets of lyrics to this song and Blackmore chose the final version to end up in the song. The lyrics for this one seem to be about witchcraft and the people of town might have tried to hurt her and she ended up burning the whole place down.
If you listen to the guitar riff, and you are a Kiss fan, it will sound familiar. I read somewhere that Paul Stanley from Kiss stated this riff was an inspiration for “I Stole Your Love”. I don’t know if it is true, but I have to admit there are some similarities.
Have a Happy Sunday!! Give the song a listen and let me know what you think.
“Burn”
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!”
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
As a massive Purple fan, this song really does have it all!
Great album as well although for me? It will always be Gillan, Blackmore, Paice and the late, great John Lord. May he rest in piece.
On the theme of witchcraft songs, can I recommend Witch Hunt by Rush? Give that a spin & see if you like that.
LikeLiked by 4 people
That Rush song is great. And yes, that line-up is the one that does it for a lot of people.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love this song! Used to sing it in a covers band and was so much fun, one of my favourites 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks for stopping by and the follow!!
LikeLike
I had not heard this song before, it started up and I immediately thought witchcraft – then I saw the lyrics. Hmmmm. I could not play it on your site, had to go You Tube 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for letting me know it wouldn’t play. I will have to look in to that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You had me at blistering guitar + finger licking organ solos, a delicious combo!
LikeLiked by 4 people
I need to go to KFC now and get some finger licking chicken.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes I believe the story goes that Coverdale wrote EIGHT sets of lyrics!
A surprisingly but delightfully heavy Sunday Song. I myself will be listening to the most recent live version by Rainbow in a few moments, as I play my new buys.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I needed a little heavier song when I wrote this a couple weeks back. The next 10 won’t be heavy as I go into full on power ballad mode.
Enjoy those new albums, they look great. I am going to check out Honde.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I inboxed you.
Full on power ballad for the spring Sundays — I like it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A Coverdale/Page cover…Awesome!! I have to say he sounds so similar to Coverdale.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah I think he has a good handle on that later gritty David voice. I enjoyed all the covers he did, and maybe I like his version of Bring Your Daughter better than Maidens! (Never liked the original much)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ok, that is saying something. I have added him into my Apple Music library to give him a try.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant choice… this is the kinda tunage I enjoy on a Sunday!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Always loved that cover and it’s (intentional? accidental?) echoes of “In Rock”.
LikeLiked by 1 person