The True Meaning Behind Heart On Fire By Eric Church

Eric Church literally lit up the stage with his performance with pyrotechnics at the CMAs on November 10. That evening, the musician received five nominations — including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for his record "Heart," per Billboard. "Heart" is part of Church's ambitious triple album project, "Heart & Soul." After over a decade in the industry, the "Springsteen" hitmaker's latest work sought to redefine Church's music-making process.

"I'm still having a hard time talking about what I think 'Heart & Soul' is, because I didn't find and set out to make 'Heart & Soul,'" Church told Rolling Stone of the intensive recording process he adopted for the triple record. "The album made me, I didn't make the album."

Like his other top selling albums "Chief" and "The Outsiders," Church brings his signature nostalgic feeling to the lyrics of his latest songs on "Heart & Soul" — particularly the country-rock anthem "Heart on Fire."

According to Eric Church, "Heart on Fire" was the first song he wrote on a month-long recording retreat in his home state of North Carolina in 2020, per Country Now. The track was the first breakthrough that kicked off the writing retreat. "This was the song that was kind of the icebreaker for the whole project, and I credit this song a lot for getting us to where we ended up getting to with the project," Church said.

True to his songwriting style of past albums, Church draws on inspiration from his partying heyday growing up. "We weren't old enough to drink but we damn sure did it / Hat turned backward singin' 'Paradise City' / That look on your face was full of young desire / Soakin' my soul in gas and settin' my heart on fire," he sings.

Church's partying days aren't entirely over, as the talented country lyricist is known to enjoy marijuana on his off days. The star revealed in an interview with a Florida radio station he once smoked weed out of a bar of soap, per Taste of Country. — though he now lays off the smoking in favor of edibles to keep his vocal cords in top shape, Church told Men's Journal.

Eric Church longs for the fun and flings of yesteryear in "Heart of Fire," singing: "I don't have a single second thought that doesn't have you in it / To feel those flames again, I go back in a New York minute / I miss the freedom of you dancing on the bow of your daddy's old boat / When my spirit starts sinkin' that picture always makes it float baby."

Church often looks back on his past in songs as his humble beginnings in small town North Carolina shaped his future in music. "I started singing at a younger age. I can remember being a kid, and I sang. I sang in church, I sang around my hometown, whether it be talent shows or whatever," Church told Music Connection. The country music star attended Appalachian State University, where he told the outlet he first earned steady music gigs in the bluegrass and jam band scene. "It became a job to me, playing around, and I loved it," Church said. "That was the first time I thought, 'This might be something I want to do.'" 

Church also isn't the only country star who attended Appalachian State, as Luke Combs is also an alum.