About The Song
“The Fireman” is a humorous, uptempo honky-tonk country song written by Mack Vickery and Wayne Kemp. It was recorded by George Strait for his fourth studio album, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, released on September 26, 1984, by MCA Records. Produced by Jimmy Bowen and George Strait (in his first co-production credit), the track features a lively arrangement driven by hot fiddle work, steel guitar, and Strait’s confident, playful delivery. The album, one of Strait’s early breakthroughs, topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for three weeks and earned Platinum certification from the RIAA.
The single was released in May 1985 as the third and final from the album, following “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” and “The Cowboy Rides Away.” It debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaked at number five in August 1985, spending 15 weeks on the chart. It also reached number 10 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. While not a number-one like the album’s prior singles, “The Fireman” solidified Strait’s rising status and contributed to the project’s commercial success, which included CMA and ACM Album of the Year wins in 1985.
The lyrics employ double entendre humor: the narrator styles himself as “the fireman” who makes rounds putting out “old flames”—women left heartbroken and “burning” after breakups. Verses describe responding to calls, using “mouth to mouth” to revive a distraught woman, driving a fire-engine red T-Bird, and working 24-on/24-off shifts. The chorus boasts that everyone wishes they had his talent for cooling down “smoldering hot” situations. The playful innuendo and lighthearted tone make it a standout in Strait’s catalog of clever, story-driven tracks.
Co-writer Mack Vickery, known for songs like “The Chair” (also for Strait) and material for artists like Johnny Paycheck, crafted the cheeky concept with Wayne Kemp. The song was specifically tailored to Strait’s traditional sound, and its witty wordplay fit the era’s neotraditional revival. No official music video was produced in the 1980s style, but live performances—such as from the Astrodome—have become iconic, often showcasing the energetic fiddle solo by Gene Elders or earlier band members.
The track has been covered notably by Alan Jackson during the televised George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert in 2009, and by Bryce Leatherwood and others in tribute settings. It appears on Strait compilations including Greatest Hits (1985), Strait Out of the Box (1995), and 50 Number Ones (2004). Songfacts and critics highlight its enduring appeal as a fun, flirtatious classic that exemplifies Strait’s mastery of humorous honky-tonk narratives during his dominant mid-1980s run.
Though overshadowed by the album’s number-one singles, “The Fireman” remains a concert staple, celebrated for its catchy hook, double meanings, and role in establishing Strait as the “King of Country” with authentic, danceable material.
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Lyric
Well they call me the fireman, that’s my name
Making my rounds all over town, putting out old flames
Well everybody’d like to have what I’ve got
I can cool ’em down when they’re smoldering hot
I’m the fireman, that’s my nameLast night they had a bad one, a mile or two down the road
My buddy walked out and left his woman burning out of control
Well I was down there in about an hour or so
With a little mouth to mouth, she was ready to go
I’m the fireman, that’s my nameThey call me the fireman, that’s my name
Making my rounds all over town, putting out old flames
Well everybody’d like to have what I’ve got
I can cool ’em down when they’re smoldering hot
I’m the fireman, that’s my nameGot a fire engine red T-Bird automobile
In a minute or less I can be dressed fit to kill
I work 24 on, 24 off
When they get too hot, they just give me a call
I’m the fireman, that’s my nameThey call me the fireman, that’s my name
Making my rounds all over town, putting out old flames
Well everybody’d like to have what I’ve got
I can cool ’em down when they’re smoldering hot
I’m the fireman, that’s my name