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"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" is a pop song written by Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Durham, Sol Marcus and Eddie Seiler.
It was written in 1938,[1] but was first recorded three years later by Harlan Leonard and His Rockets.[2] It was covered by several musicians and groups, most successfully by Horace Heidt on Columbia Records, whose version reached number one on the US pop chart; and by The Ink Spots on Decca in 1941,[3][4] whose version reached number four on the same listing. Other early versions included those by Tommy Tucker, Mitchell Ayres, and (in Britain) Vera Lynn. The song, with its open line "I don't want to set the world on fire / I just want to start a flame in your heart..." became especially popular after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.[5]
The song was later recorded by Betty Carter, Frankie Laine, Brian Hyland, Anthony Newley, Suzy Bogguss and others.[2]
- ^ Tyler, Don (June 15, 2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955: American Popular Music of the Pre-rock Era. McFarland & Company. p. 257. ISBN 9780786429462.
- ^ a b "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire | VERSIONS". SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Rosalsky, Mitch (2002). Encyclopedia of Rhythm and Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-4592-3.
- ^ "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #6". University of North Texas Digital Library. 1972. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ ""I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire"". Electronic Poetry Center. SUNY Buffalo. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.