Catching Fire

Album: Order In Decline (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Following the suicides of music friends Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington and his own wife's attempt to kill herself, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley found himself one day sitting at home alone. Feeling lonesome, he reflected on what would have happened if he'd lost his wife. Whibley's melancholic contemplation spurred him to write this twisted love song for her.
  • Whibley wrote the ballad from the perspective of the person who's left behind. In their grief they believe they failed the person who'd passed on and regret that it's too late to do something about it. He said: "Writing this song was cathartic for me in dealing with my emotions for the first time about almost losing my wife to suicide. When I first played it for her, it was the beginning of us having an open conversation about what she went through."
  • Sum 41 released a reimagined version of "Catching Fire" featuring the TikTok creator/musician nothing,nowhere on May 28, 2021. John Asher, who previously directed the clip for "Never There," shot a black-and-white video to accompany the remix. The vision behind the clip is to shine light on suicide prevention and help tackle the stigma behind mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Comments: 1

  • Sum 41 FanI'm sorry for what you went through. I'm going through almost the same situation.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."