"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" is a 1941 song by The Ink Spots, written by Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Durham, Sol Marcus and Eddie Seiler. It appears in Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Fallout 76 and the Fallout TV series.
In the Fallout series[]
"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" was initially going to be used in the original Fallout intro, but Interplay was unable to get the license, so it was scrapped and "Maybe", another song by The Ink Spots, was used instead. A reference to the song remained in the game's dialogue, as Dane recites the first line.
It was also going to be used in the concluding movie for Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 project by Black Isle Studios. After the Prisoner decided which locations are to be nuked by B.O.M.B.-001, he was going to leave in the escape pod and the movie, showing the pod as it arcs over the Earth, would start playing "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire". Large nuclear blasts would be seen dotting the landscape beneath the clouds.
In Fallout 3, the song is heard in the game's intro and is broadcast on Galaxy News Radio; it was also used in promotional videos and commercials for the game. In Fallout 4, the song is again heard on Diamond City Radio. In Fallout 76, it is heard on Appalachia Radio.
A remix of the song by TOTEM was also prominently used in the first official trailer for the Fallout TV series. The original version appears at the end of the first season's second episode, "The Target," when Lucy prepares to cut off Siggi Wilzig's head. It then continues playing during the episode's credits.
A cover of the song by Hot Club du Nax was played before the 2025 Fallout Day Broadcast as part of the Fallout For Hope pre-show.
Background[]
"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" was written in 1938, and first recorded in 1941 by Harlan Leonard and His Rockets. The Ink Spots first recorded their version in the same year. Other artists who have covered it include Vera Lynn.
Other appearances in popular culture include 1971 Doctor Who episode "Terror of the Autons", where the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) sings the song and The Simpsons 2006 episode "Treehouse of Horror XVII".
Lyrics[]
I don’t want to set the world on fire
I just want to start
A flame in your heart
In my heart I have but one desire
And that one is you
No other will do
I’ve lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I’ll have reached the goal I’m dreaming of
Believe me
I don’t want to set the world on fire
I just want to start
A flame in your heart
[Spoken Word]
I don't want to set the world on fire, honey
I love ya too much
I just wanna start a great big flame
Down in your heart
You see, way down inside of me
Darlin' I have only one desire
And that one desire is you
And I know nobody else ain't gonna do
[Sung]
I’ve lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I’ll have reached the goal I’m dreaming of
Believe me
I don’t want to set the world on fire
I just want to start
A flame in your heart
Video[]
Original[]
TOTEM trailer remix[]
Danny Shorago cover[]
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