Songfacts®:

• "Firebabe" is a tender, heartfelt ballad about that first spark when you meet your romantic partner.
  
  You keep burnin' bright
  Touch me with your name, and I'll be with your flame
  My firebabe
  
  Once that spark becomes a flame, Stormzy can't keep his eyes off the girl. He already feels like he wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
• Stormzy recorded "Firebabe" for This Is What I Mean. It's the first Stormzy album released by Def Jam 0207, the London-based UK arm of the renowned US label. The "Hide & Seek" artist signed to the label because he's friends with its co-presidents, the twin brothers Alec and Alex Boateng.
• Stormzy wrote "Firebabe" at Osea Island studios with singer-songwriter Debbie Ehirim (also signed to Def Jam 0207) and producer George Moore.
  
  After the Boateng twins recommended Debbie Ehirim to Stormzy, they arranged for her to meet up with the Croydon MC and Moore in the studio for a writing session. Moore started playing some chords, Stormzy and Ehirim came up with some melodies, and together they created "Firebabe."
• Stormzy started as a grime rapper but tried singing when he recorded "Blinded By Your Grace, Pt. 1" and "Blinded By Your Grace, Pt. 2" in 2017. Here he fully takes the plunge and becomes a romantic crooner.
  
  "I've always sung and used melody but I've been sheepish about it," Stormzy told i-D magazine. "Five years ago I was brave to even dip my toe in, but I needed to commit to it properly here. I want to sing how Stevie sings, or Frank Ocean, or Whitney. I mean I'll never be able to sing like Whitney but I can sing my way. I can sing with my honesty and truth. That's a place I've always wanted to be."
• Debbie Ehirim also contributes vocals, singing the intro and joining Stormzy on the chorus and second verse. Singer-songwriters Jacob Collier and Sampha provide additional vocals.
• Collier is credited as a co-writer along with This Is What I Mean executive producer Prgrshn East and London-based singer-songwriter tendai.
• The Musicians are:
  
  Strings: Julian Hinton
  Cello: Dave Daniels
  Piano: PRGRSHN, tendai, Joel Peters and George Moore
  Electric guitar: Jack Shepherd and Jojo Mukeza
  Bass: tendai, Joel Peters, Calum Landau and George Moore
• Stormzy gave the first television performance of "Firebabe" during the MTV Europe Music Awards 2022. The ceremony was held at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, on November 13, 2022.