Flamethrower

Album: Freeze Frame (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Released as a single from the very successful Freeze Frame album, this song didn't crack the pop charts, but it did make #25 R&B. It was written by their keyboard player Seth Justman, who explained to NME when asked about "Flamethrower": "It's not just about a woman, it's about a woman factory worker and how she lets loose at night. It's about a certain spirit that's in everybody. In the middle of that song the spirit in the body has taken over. It's not just a hot chick in hot pants. It's a woman who punches the clock every day at 8 and 5 and when she leaves she does something with her life, whatever she has to do to punch the clock the next day and not go crazy. That punch clock is in everyone; there's something inside everyone that makes you want to go on and get better and stronger."
  • Luther Vandross and Cissy Houston are among the backup singers on this track.

Comments: 1

  • Mr. T from Boston MaThis song is Funky! Great breakdown and exiting dynamics throughout!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.