World on Fire (Sarah McLachlan song)

"World on Fire" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. It was released in June 2004 as the third single from her Afterglow album (2003).

"World on Fire"
Single by Sarah McLachlan
from the album Afterglow
Released	June 14, 2004 (2004-06-14)
Genre	Pop
Label	Nettwerk Arista
Songwriter(s)	Sarah McLachlan Pierre Marchand
Producer(s)	Pierre Marchand
Sarah McLachlan singles chronology
"Stupid" (2004) "World on Fire" (2004) "U Want Me 2" (2008)

Background and writing

McLachlan wrote the song in the wake of the September 11 attacks.^[1][2]

Music video

The video was directed by Sophie Muller. It opens with the claim of having cost $150,000, despite the ensuing low-quality footage of a barefoot McLachlan in a plain room playing her guitar. The video continues to reveal it actually cost $15, then tracking (in animated and videotaped segments) how the remainder went to enriching lives all around the globe through charitable donations.

Track listing

CD MaxiSingle

1. "World on Fire" – 4:22
2. "World on Fire" (Live Version) – 4:16
3. "World on Fire" (Junkie XL Radio Mix) – 3:46
4. "World on Fire" (Solarstone "Afterhours" Mix) – 8:42
5. "World on Fire" enhance video – 4:22

UK Promo

1. "World on Fire" – 4:22
2. "World on Fire" (Junkie XL Radio Mix) – 3:46

US Promo

1. "World on Fire" (Junkie XL Radio Mix) – 3:46
2. "World on Fire" (Radio Mix) – 4:28
3. "World on Fire" – 4:23
4. Call Out Hook – 0:10

US Promo (Vinyl)

1. "World on Fire" (JXL Club Mix) – 12:24
2. "World on Fire" (JXL Club Mix Edit) – 6:28^[3]
3. "World on Fire" (Marius De Vries Mix) – 4:49

CAN Promo

1. "World on Fire" (Junkie XL Radio Mix) – 3:46
2. "World on Fire" (Tom Lord Alge Radio Mix) – 4:25
3. "World on Fire" – 4:22
4. "World on Fire" (Junkie XL Mix Show Edit) – 6:25

UK Promo (Vinyl)

1. "World on Fire" (JXL Club Mix) – 12:24
2. "Stupid" (Hyper Mix)

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Canada AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[4]	2
Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[5]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6]	92
Scotland (OCC)[7]	72
UK Singles (OCC)[8]	72
US Billboard Adult Pop Songs[9]	14
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[10]	2

Additional information

• The eleven charitable organizations McLachlan chose to donate the production costs of the World On Fire are Carolina for Kibera, Comic Relief, CARE USA, DORCAS, Engineers Without Borders (Canada), Help the Aged, Film Aid, War Child, Heifer International, ITDG, and Action Aid.
• The video was inspired by a letter from an Engineers Without Borders (Canada) volunteer.^[11]
• A remix of the song by Junkie XL was featured on the soundtrack of FIFA Soccer 2005.

Notes

1. A Very, Very Intimate Evening With Sarah McLachlan Rolling Stone
2. Melancholy Songs, But Life Seems Swell; Sarah McLachlan Is Back in the Limelight After a Pause for Marriage and Motherhood New York Times
3. MusicBrainz.org . Accessed October 30, 2008.
4. "Radio & Records Magazine" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 10, 2004. p. 67. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
5. "Radio & Records Magazine" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 1, 2004. p. 55. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
6. "Sarah McLachlan – World on Fire" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
9. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
10. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
11. University of British Columbia . Accessed February 11, 2008. Archived August 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

External links

• World on Fire music video on YouTube
• Media That Matters page on the video