"I See Fire" is a song by the English singer-songwriterEd Sheeran. It was commissioned for the soundtrack of the 2013 filmThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, where it was played over theclosing credits.The Hobbit director,Peter Jackson, asked Sheeran to write a song for the movie after Jackson's daughter, Katie, suggested Sheeran. Sheeran saw the film, wrote the song, and recorded most of the track elements on the same day.
The song was released as adigital download on 5 November 2013. Its music video was released the same day. It entered theUK Singles Chart at number 13 and reached number one in New Zealand on its sixth week, Sheeran's first number-one single there. "I See Fire" was nominated for aSatellite Award forBest Original Song.
Sheeran has a lifelong devotion to the novel of Tolkien; his grandfather owns a first edition copy; it was the first book Sheeran's father read to him as a child,[2] and the first book that Sheeran read himself.[3] On 5 November 2013, Sheeran announced his involvement in the soundtrack in a series of online posts, which included his thanking Jackson for the opportunity.[3] He is also a fan of Jackson's films.[4]
Jackson was introduced to Sheeran's music by his daughter, Katie,[5] who attended Sheeran's concert inWellington, New Zealand, in March 2013.[4] Jackson, having learned Sheeran's regard toward his films,[5] met him over lunch the following day where they exchanged email addresses.[4]
In late 2013, Jackson andFran Walsh, who co-produced and co-wrote the film, were searching for an artist who would write and record the song. Following Katie's advice, they decided to tap Sheeran.[6] Jackson sent a message to Sheeran, who was in the Mediterranean island ofIbiza attending a wedding ceremony,[5][7] asking if he would be interested in the project, which Sheeran accepted. Departing from London, Sheeran and his manager, Stuart, arrived in Wellington within 48 hours.[6]
Park Road Post, a film post-production facility located inWellington, New Zealand, where Sheeran wrote and produced "I See Fire".
Sheeran watched the film at an early screening[8] inPark Road Post, a film post-production facility located inWellington, New Zealand. Jackson advised Sheeran to focus on the film's ending: "Focus on the last 10 minutes. That's what the song needs to reflect[. ...] Write a song that takes the audience by the hand and leads them fromMiddle-earth back into reality."[8] Capturing his reaction to watching the film,[5] Sheeran immediately began writing the lyrics "from the perspective of being a dwarf".[8] Jackson required a folk song and Sheeran, who is "known for songs that wouldn't fit in aHobbit film", attempted to follow in that direction.[5]
Sheeran wrote and recorded, in only one day, most of the elements present in the released version.[6] Further revisions were made in a course of three days that Sheeran stayed in the facility.[2] Sheeran revealed he was given complete freedom in the creative process, while receiving ready inputs from Jackson and his co-filmmakers.[3] In particular, Sheeran notes: "[Jackson] knows the colors and templates of what the song should be rather than how the melody should go."[2]
Sheeran also produced the song, playing all the instruments except for thecello.[9] Despite having never played theviolin, he chose to perform it himself throughoverdubbing.[6]Flight of the Conchords' touring cellistNigel Collins added cello parts as dictated by Sheeran. Pete Cobbin ofAbbey Road Studiosmixed "I See Fire"; Cobbin was at Park Road Post at the same time, responsible for mixing themusical score ofThe Desolation of Smaug.[6]
"I See Fire" is afolk ballad,[8] characterized with gently strummed acoustic guitar. Sheeran revealed he took inspiration from the 1970s Irish folk bandPlanxty.[8] According toEntertainment Weekly's Jodi Walker, the song is "touch reminiscent" of "The Parting Glass", an Irish traditional song that is a bonus track in Sheeran's debut album,+.[10] The themes inThe Hobbit are present in the song's lyrics, which refer to "fire, mountains and brotherhood".[8]
"I See Fire" was released on 5 November 2013 throughiTunes, initially in the United States and then worldwide within the next 36 hours.[11] It was later released on 10 December 2013 as part of the film's soundtrack,The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, throughWaterTower Music andDecca Records.[12] Sheeran released "I See Fire" while on tour in support of hisdebut album; it was the first solo record that he released, two years since his last. Initially, the track was announced as a non-inclusion in his next album,[3] subsequently titledx. However, it appeared on the deluxe edition of that album. Sheeran announced the inclusion on 9 April 2014.[13]
The official music video for "I See Fire" directed by Shane Ramirez premiered on 5 November 2013, along with the release of the song. The video shows Sheeran performing and recording the vocals,[9] the songwriting and recording of live instruments, behind the scenes,[6] all throughout interspersed with shots from the film. The footage which shows Sheeran performing and recording the song is shot in black-and-white, while the rest shown in full color.[14] The video, which is uploaded in the Warner Bros. Pictures channel inYouTube, had accumulated over 114 million views as of December 2021, making it the most popular video on their channel.
"I See Fire" attracted critical commentaries. In his review of the single, Nick Catucci of theEntertainment Weekly stated that although looming in the song is a "flame-broiled disaster", Sheeran "keeps his strumming cool, and a hopeful flame burning forBilbo".[15] ForRolling Stone, Ryan Reed wrote: "The haunting track is right in line with Sheeran's trademark style, filled with dramatic crooning and quiet acoustic guitars."[9] Delia Paunescu of Vulture.com found "I See Fire" "so calming it may put you to sleep".[16]
Since its release on 5 November 2013, "I See Fire" has been listed for 727 weeks in 19 different charts.[21] Its first appearance was on 7 November in the Ireland Singles Top 100, where it debuted at number 22.[22] The song was successful in many European countries, with a peak position of number 1 in Norway and Sweden.[23][24] In Sheeran's home country, the single peaked at number 13 on theUK Singles Chart, spending 65 weeks on the chart.[25] TheBritish Phonographic Industry certified the single silver on 26 December 2014, denoting sales of 400,000 units.[26]
"I See Fire" was well received inOceania. In New Zealand, single peaked at number 1 for three weeks.[27] It was certified triple platinum by theRecorded Music NZ, denoting sales of 45,000 copies. "I See Fire" is the 6th top-selling single in New Zealand in 2014.[28] In Australia, the single peaked at number 10 for 3 non-consecutive weeks.[29] It has been certified two-time platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association, denoting sales of 140,000 copies as of 2014.[30] In Australia's 2014 year-end chart, "I See Fire" was ranked at number 78.[31]
According to commercial streaming companySpotify, "I See Fire" was the most streamed song from a soundtrack between 2013 and 2014, outperforming other popular contemporaries.[32] In April 2015, Spotify released a report of the most streamed tracks worldwide under the category sleep. "I See Fire" was placed at number 4, joining Sheeran's other 6 songs ranked in the top 20. Sleep is one of Spotify's most popular categories "that people also use for general relaxation and to help themselves unwind".[33][34]The Guardian columnistTim Dowling suggests that the report is an indication of "very popular, slightly mellow songs that keep cropping up on sleep playlists" but not a list of a "carefully curated journey to unconsciousness".[35]
The American singer-songwriterPeter Hollens recorded a version of the song. Hollens had previously recorded "Misty Mountain" off the soundtrack for thefirst installment ofThe Hobbit series. His version of "I See Fire" features "98 different sound tracks" layered onto "8–14 vocal parts" that Hollens recorded.[36]
The Norwegian DJ and record producerKygo released a remixed version of the song which became popular.[37] Kygo's success is attributed largely to the reception of his remixed version of "I See Fire".[38] Less than two years later, the remix had been played 26 million times onSoundCloud.[39] As of March 2025, the version has been played over 80 million times on SoundCloud.[40]
The New Zealand musical trioSol3 Mio released a cover version of "I See Fire" in support of New Zealand's participation at the2015 Rugby World Cup.[41]
German band Axel Rudi Pell released a cover in 2017 on their album The Ballads V.
German band Feuerschwanz released a Folk Metal cover of the song in 2020.[42]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
^The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Special Edition (Media notes).WaterTower Music,Decca Records. 2013. p. 6, 8.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 01. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 33. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
^"Media Forest – Weekly Charts".Media Forest. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2018.Note: Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: insert 201415 into search. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201501 into search. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
