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Strange Fire
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1/364
Sound:
Step 1 / 364Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
----------------------
[Intro]
E A(9) E A(9)
I Ecome to you with strange fA(9)ire, I make an Eoffering of loveA(9)
The Eincense of my sA(9)oul is burned by the Efire in my bloodA(9)
I Ecome with a softer aA(9)nswer to the qEuestions that lie in your pA(9)ath
I want to Eharbor you from the aA(9)nger, find a Erefuge from the wraA(9)th
D(9)This is a meE/Assage, D(9)a message of E/Alove
D(9)Love that moves from the E/Ainside out, D(9)love that never grE/Aows tired
B(4)I come to you (I come to yAou) with strange Efire, A(9) EfireA(9)
Mercenaries of the shrine, now who are you to speak for god?
With haughty eyes and lying tongues and hands that shed innocent blood
Now who delivered you the power to interpret calvary?
You gamble away our freedom to gain your own authority
D(9)Find another stE/Aate of mind, you know it's time we D(9)all learned to graE/Ab hold
D(9) E/A[tacet] E A(9) E A(9)
Strange fire burns with the motion of love, love
E[guitar A(9)solo]E A(9) E A(9) E A(9)
D(9)[guitar E/Asolo]D(9) E/A D(9) E/A B(4) A
EAh ah ahhh, ah ah ah A(9)ahhhhh; EAh ah ahhh, ah ah ah A(9)ahhhhh
When you learn to love yourself, you will dissolve all the stones that are cast
You will learn to burn the icing sky and to melt the waxen mask
I said to have the gift of true release, this is a peace gonna take you higher
Oh I come to you with my offering, I bring you strange fire
This is a message, a message of love
Love that moves from the inside out, love that never grows tired
B(4)I come to you (I come to yAou) with strange Efire, A(9) EfireA(9), Eahh...A(9)ahhh
B(4) A E A(9) E A(9)E.
I come to you (I come to you) with strange fire__________________
CHORDS: E = 022100 A(9) = x07600 (slide up from E)
D(9)= x00230 E/A= x02100 (same as Amaj9)
B(4) = x24440 (I think Emily plays x99800) A = x02220
The chords for the verse follow this strumming pattern, alternating
between E & A(9), which is a really easy transition. The rhythm is
sorta tricky, but you should be able to get it right with a little
practice. (The funny symbols are semi-quavers and such.)
|\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\
| | |\ | | |\ |\ |\ |\ |\
O|. O| O| O|. O| O| O| O| O| O|
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -
The strumming pattern for the D(9) and E/A chords in the chorus goes
like this:
|\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\
| |\ | |\ |\ | |\ |\ | |\ |\ |\
O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O|
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -
Strange Fire
written by Amy Ray
originally performed by Indigo Girls
track #1 on "strange fire"
along with Amy's chord parts, are written below, and
Emily's leads are tabbed below that (with lyric markers).
Chords:
E= 022100 A(9)= x07600 Dsus2= xx0320 B= x99800
Lyrics and chords:
E A(9) E A(9)
EI come to you with strangA(9)e fire, I make Ean offerinA(9)g of love
The iEncense of my A(9)soul is burned by tEhe fire in A(9)my blood.
I cEome with a softer A(9)answer to thEe questions that lie in
your A(9)path,
I want to Eharbor you from thA(9)e anger, finEd a refuge from the
A(9)wrath.
Dsus2This is a A(9)message, Dsus2a message oA(9)f love.
Dsus2Love that moves from the A(9)inside outDsus2, love that never grows
A(9)tired.
BI come to you A(9)with strangEe fire.
EMercenaries of the A(9)shrine, now who Eare you to speaA(9)k for God
With Ehaughty eyes anA(9)d lying tonguesE, hands that shed
innocent bA(9)lood.
Now who deElivered you the A(9)power to Einterpret A(9)calvary,
You gEambled away our A(9)freedom tEo gain your own A(9)authority.
Dsus2Find another A(9)state of minDsus2d, reach out anA(9)d grab hold.
Dsus2Strange fire A(9)burns with the motion Eof loA(9)ve.
EWhen you learn to A(9)love yourself, you wilEl dissolve all the A(9)
stones that are cast.
Now you will Elearn to burn the A(9)icing sky, Eto melt the waxen
A(9)mask.
I said to Ehave the gift oA(9)f true release, hereE's a peace
that will take you A(9)higher.
EI come to you with mA(9)y offering, I briEng you straA(9)nge fire.
Dsus2This is a A(9)message, Dsus2a message oA(9)f love.
Dsus2Love that moves from thA(9)e inside outDsus2, love that never grows
A(9)tired.
BI come to A(9)you with strangEe firA(9)e.
BI come to A(9)you (I come to you) with stranEge fiA(9)re.
h: hammer on
P: pull off
(verse 1 riff) (verse fill)
e|-E-----------------A(9)----------------A(9)---|------------------0-|
B|-------------------------------------|----------------0---|
G|-------------------------------------|--------------------|
D|-2h4-2-2h4-2-2h4-2-6h7-6-6h7-6-6h7-6-|-6h7-6----2-4/7-----|
A|-------------------------------------|-------2h4----------|
E|-------------------------------------|--------------------|
I come with a softer... ...fire
(repeat verse 1 riff three times; on the third repeat, replace
the lead where the A(9) chord starts with the verse fill)
(verse 1 riff 2)
e|Dsus2-------5------5------5------A(9)--------7------7------7--------|
B|-------5------5------5--0---0---5---5--5---5--5---5-0---0--|
G|---7------7------7----------------6------6------6----------|
D|-----7------7------7------7---7-----------------------7----|
A|-5---------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
This is message...
We all need to learn to reach out...
(repeat verse 1 riff 2 three times)
(verse 1 riff 3)
e|B---0----0----0----0----0--A(9)-----0----0----0----0----0-------|
B|-----0----0----0----0----0-------0----0----0----0----0-----|
G|-------8----8----8----8----8-------6----6----6----6----6---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-9----------------------------7----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
I come to you...
(here, Emily plays chords with Amy until verse 2)
(verse 2 riff)
e|-E12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-A(9)12-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11--|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
Mercenaries of the shrine...
When you learn to love...
e|--E9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-A(9)--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------|
B|------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------|
G|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6----------------|
D|------------------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
(repeat verse 2 riff one time)
(Emily then plays chords with Amy for 4 measures)
(repeat verse 2 riff one time)
(repeat verse 1 riff 2 three times; end on a single A(9)
chord)
(Amy and Emily plays chords until Emily's solo)
(solo)
e|-------------E----------------------A(9)------------------------|
B|---------------------------------9-10-10/12-12-12----------|
G|--------------------------8-9-11------------------8-8-8-9--|
D|----------6-7-7/9-9-9-9-9----------------------------------|
A|------7-9--------------------------------------------------|
E|--7/9------------------------------------------------------|
e|----------E--0----0----0----0----0--A(9)----0----0----0----0----|
B|--------------4----4----4----4----4------2----2----2----2--|
G|--9-11-9\--4----4----4----4----4----4-2----2----2----2-----|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|--0------E-2/4-4-4--5--5--7--9--7\A(9)-4--7---9--7\-4-7-7---9---|
B|----2-----------------------------0--0---0--0--0-0-0---0---|
G|-2----2---2/4-4-4--6--6--8--9--8\-4--8/9-9--8\-4-8-8/9-9---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|-7----9--E12-12-12--9-11-12-12-12-1A(9)2-------12----12-12------|
B|-0----0---------------------9--9--9--9h10----12-----9h10---|
G|-8/9--9----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|--12-12-----12----12---12---------12----Dsus212-----------------|
B|--10-10----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------11----11----9----9h11-11----11--------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------11-12-0-9-11-0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------A(9)--0--0-------------Dsus2---------------------|
B|---------------------0--0----------------------------------|
G|---------------------6--6-------------9--------------------|
D|-7-9-0-6-7-0-4-6-0-0-7--7------7-9/11----11-12-0-9-11-0-7--|
A|---------------------0--0--7/9-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|-----------------A(9)--0--0------------Dsus2------------------------|
B|-------------------0--0------------------------------------|
G|-------------------6--6-------------9----------------------|
D|-9-0-6-7-0-4-6-0-0-7--7------7-9/11----11-12-0-9-11-0-7-9--|
A|-------------------0--0--7/9-------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------A(9)--0--0-------------B-----------9-----7-------|
B|-----------------0--0------------------0-------0-----0-----|
G|-----------------6--6-------------9------8-------8-----8---|
D|-0-6-7-0-4-6-0-0-7--7------7-9/11----9-----9---------------|
A|-----------------0--0--7/9---------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
e|-0-----0-----A(9)---------7-----5-----0-----0------|
B|---0-----0------0-------0-----0-----0-----0----|
G|-----8-----8------6-------6-----6-----6-----6--|
D|--------------7-----7--------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
(repeat verse 2 riff two times)
(Emily plays chordswith Amy for 4 measures)
(repeat verse 2 riff one time)
(repeat verse 1 riff 2 four times)
(repeat verse 1 riff 3 one time)
(Amy and Emily play chords until the end of the song; end
on a single chord)
All chords in this song (9)
The story behind the song
"Strange Fire" offers a unique perspective on love and belief, inviting us to come with a "softer answer" to life's questions. It suggests finding "another state of mind" and taking hold of a different way of being, offering love as a kind of "strange fire"—something perhaps unconventional, but deeply heartfelt. This song is the title track from the debut studio album by the folk rock duo Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, who began performing together in high school. The album was re-released by Epic Records after the duo's second album found commercial success. Playing this song feels like an invitation to embrace an honest, unvarnished offering of affection.
Story time
Strange Fire
Strange Fire
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Strange Fire
by Indigo Girls
Chords in this song · guitar
E
A(9)
D(9)
E/A
B(4)
A
Amaj9
Dsus2
B
----------------------
[Intro]
E A(9) E A(9)
E A(9) E A(9)
I come to you with strange fire, I make an offering of love
E A(9) E A(9)
The incense of my soul is burned by the fire in my blood
E A(9) E A(9)
I come with a softer answer to the questions that lie in your path
E A(9) E A(9)
I want to harbor you from the anger, find a refuge from the wrath
D(9) E/A D(9) E/A
This is a message, a message of love
D(9) E/A D(9) E/A
Love that moves from the inside out, love that never grows tired
B(4) A E A(9) E A(9)
I come to you (I come to you) with strange fire, fire
Mercenaries of the shrine, now who are you to speak for god?
With haughty eyes and lying tongues and hands that shed innocent blood
Now who delivered you the power to interpret calvary?
You gamble away our freedom to gain your own authority
D(9) E/A D(9) E/A
Find another state of mind, you know it's time we all learned to grab hold
D(9) E/A E A(9) E A(9)
[tacet]
Strange fire burns with the motion of love, love
E A(9) E A(9) E A(9) E A(9)
[guitar solo]
D(9) E/A D(9) E/A D(9) E/A B(4) A
[guitar solo]
E A(9) E A(9)
Ah ah ahhh, ah ah ah ahhhhh; Ah ah ahhh, ah ah ah ahhhhh
When you learn to love yourself, you will dissolve all the stones that are cast
You will learn to burn the icing sky and to melt the waxen mask
I said to have the gift of true release, this is a peace gonna take you higher
Oh I come to you with my offering, I bring you strange fire
This is a message, a message of love
Love that moves from the inside out, love that never grows tired
B(4) A E A(9) E A(9) E A(9)
I come to you (I come to you) with strange fire, fire, ahh...ahhh
B(4) A E A(9) E A(9)
E.
I come to you (I come to you) with strange fire__________________
CHORDS: E = 022100 A(9) = x07600 (slide up from E)
D(9) E/A Amaj9
= x00230 = x02100 (same as )
B(4) = x24440 (I think Emily plays x99800) A = x02220
The chords for the verse follow this strumming pattern, alternating
between E & A(9), which is a really easy transition. The rhythm is
sorta tricky, but you should be able to get it right with a little
practice. (The funny symbols are semi-quavers and such.)
|\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\
| | |\ | | |\ |\ |\ |\ |\
O|. O| O| O|. O| O| O| O| O| O|
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -
The strumming pattern for the D(9) and E/A chords in the chorus goes
like this:
|\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\ |\
| |\ | |\ |\ | |\ |\ | |\ |\ |\
O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O| O|
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -
Strange Fire
written by Amy Ray
originally performed by Indigo Girls
track #1 on "strange fire"
along with Amy's chord parts, are written below, and
Emily's leads are tabbed below that (with lyric markers).
Chords:
E A(9) Dsus2 B
= 022100 = x07600 = xx0320 = x99800
Lyrics and chords:
E A(9) E A(9)
E A(9) E A(9)
I come to you with strange fire, I make an offering of love
E A(9) E A(9)
The incense of my soul is burned by the fire in my blood.
E A(9) E
I come with a softer answer to the questions that lie in
A(9)
your path,
E A(9) E
I want to harbor you from the anger, find a refuge from the
A(9)
wrath.
Dsus2 A(9) Dsus2 A(9)
This is a message, a message of love.
Dsus2 A(9) Dsus2
Love that moves from the inside out, love that never grows
A(9)
tired.
B A(9) E
I come to you with strange fire.
E A(9) E A(9)
Mercenaries of the shrine, now who are you to speak for God
E A(9) E
With haughty eyes and lying tongues, hands that shed
A(9)
innocent blood.
E A(9) E A(9)
Now who delivered you the power to interpret calvary,
E A(9) E A(9)
You gambled away our freedom to gain your own authority.
Dsus2 A(9) Dsus2 A(9)
Find another state of mind, reach out and grab hold.
Dsus2 A(9) E A(9)
Strange fire burns with the motion of love.
E A(9) E
When you learn to love yourself, you will dissolve all the A(9)
stones that are cast.
E A(9) E
Now you will learn to burn the icing sky, to melt the waxen
A(9)
mask.
E A(9) E
I said to have the gift of true release, here's a peace
A(9)
that will take you higher.
E A(9) E A(9)
I come to you with my offering, I bring you strange fire.
Dsus2 A(9) Dsus2 A(9)
This is a message, a message of love.
Dsus2 A(9) Dsus2
Love that moves from the inside out, love that never grows
A(9)
tired.
B A(9) E A(9)
I come to you with strange fire.
B A(9) E A(9)
I come to you (I come to you) with strange fire.
h: hammer on
P: pull off
(verse 1 riff) (verse fill)
E A(9) A(9)
e|-------------------------------------|------------------0-|
B|-------------------------------------|----------------0---|
G|-------------------------------------|--------------------|
D|-2h4-2-2h4-2-2h4-2-6h7-6-6h7-6-6h7-6-|-6h7-6----2-4/7-----|
A|-------------------------------------|-------2h4----------|
E|-------------------------------------|--------------------|
I come with a softer... ...fire
(repeat verse 1 riff three times; on the third repeat, replace
the lead where the A(9) chord starts with the verse fill)
(verse 1 riff 2)
Dsus2 A(9)
e|-------5------5------5--------------7------7------7--------|
B|-------5------5------5--0---0---5---5--5---5--5---5-0---0--|
G|---7------7------7----------------6------6------6----------|
D|-----7------7------7------7---7-----------------------7----|
A|-5---------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
This is message...
We all need to learn to reach out...
(repeat verse 1 riff 2 three times)
(verse 1 riff 3)
B A(9)
e|---0----0----0----0----0-------0----0----0----0----0-------|
B|-----0----0----0----0----0-------0----0----0----0----0-----|
G|-------8----8----8----8----8-------6----6----6----6----6---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-9----------------------------7----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
I come to you...
(here, Emily plays chords with Amy until verse 2)
(verse 2 riff)
E A(9)
e|-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11--|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
Mercenaries of the shrine...
When you learn to love...
E A(9)
e|--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------|
B|------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------|
G|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6----------------|
D|------------------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
(repeat verse 2 riff one time)
(Emily then plays chords with Amy for 4 measures)
(repeat verse 2 riff one time)
(repeat verse 1 riff 2 three times; end on a single A(9)
chord)
(Amy and Emily plays chords until Emily's solo)
(solo)
E A(9)
e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------9-10-10/12-12-12----------|
G|--------------------------8-9-11------------------8-8-8-9--|
D|----------6-7-7/9-9-9-9-9----------------------------------|
A|------7-9--------------------------------------------------|
E|--7/9------------------------------------------------------|
E A(9)
e|------------0----0----0----0----0------0----0----0----0----|
B|--------------4----4----4----4----4------2----2----2----2--|
G|--9-11-9\--4----4----4----4----4----4-2----2----2----2-----|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E A(9)
e|--0-------2/4-4-4--5--5--7--9--7\-4--7---9--7\-4-7-7---9---|
B|----2-----------------------------0--0---0--0--0-0-0---0---|
G|-2----2---2/4-4-4--6--6--8--9--8\-4--8/9-9--8\-4-8-8/9-9---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E A(9)
e|-7----9--12-12-12--9-11-12-12-12-12-------12----12-12------|
B|-0----0---------------------9--9--9--9h10----12-----9h10---|
G|-8/9--9----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
Dsus2
e|--12-12-----12----12---12---------12----12-----------------|
B|--10-10----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------11----11----9----9h11-11----11--------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------11-12-0-9-11-0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A(9) Dsus2
e|---------------------0--0----------------------------------|
B|---------------------0--0----------------------------------|
G|---------------------6--6-------------9--------------------|
D|-7-9-0-6-7-0-4-6-0-0-7--7------7-9/11----11-12-0-9-11-0-7--|
A|---------------------0--0--7/9-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A(9) Dsus2
e|-------------------0--0------------------------------------|
B|-------------------0--0------------------------------------|
G|-------------------6--6-------------9----------------------|
D|-9-0-6-7-0-4-6-0-0-7--7------7-9/11----11-12-0-9-11-0-7-9--|
A|-------------------0--0--7/9-------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A(9) B
e|-----------------0--0------------------------9-----7-------|
B|-----------------0--0------------------0-------0-----0-----|
G|-----------------6--6-------------9------8-------8-----8---|
D|-0-6-7-0-4-6-0-0-7--7------7-9/11----9-----9---------------|
A|-----------------0--0--7/9---------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A(9)
e|-0-----0--------------7-----5-----0-----0------|
B|---0-----0------0-------0-----0-----0-----0----|
G|-----8-----8------6-------6-----6-----6-----6--|
D|--------------7-----7--------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
(repeat verse 2 riff two times)
(Emily plays chordswith Amy for 4 measures)
(repeat verse 2 riff one time)
(repeat verse 1 riff 2 four times)
(repeat verse 1 riff 3 one time)
(Amy and Emily play chords until the end of the song; end
on a single chord)
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About Strange Fire Chords by Indigo Girls
Learn how to play Strange Fire by Indigo Girls with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Strange Fire chords”, “Strange Fire guitar chords”, or “Indigo Girls Strange Fire chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Strange Fire chords and for experienced players who want accurate Strange Fire lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, A(9), D(9), E/A, B(4), A.
FAQ — Strange Fire by Indigo Girls
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The chords for "Strange Fire" show the original chord names (including E, A(9), D(9), E/A, B(4), A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.