MAY 26, 1973 – Deep Purple released “Smoke On The Water” as a single, a year after its inclusion on the band’s 1972 album “Machine Head.” The band members have said that they did not expect the song to be a hit, but the single reached #4 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the United States during the summer of 1973, #2 on the Canadian RPM charts, and it propelled the album to the top 10. Live performances of the tune, featuring extended interplay between Blackmore’s guitar and Jon Lord’s Hammond organ would become a centerpiece of Deep Purple’s live shows, and a version of the song from the live album “Made in Japan” became a minor hit on its own later on in 1973.
LYRICS:
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn’t have much time
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
Pulling kids out the ground
When it all was over
We had to find another place
Swiss time was running out
It seemed that we would lose the race
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
We ended up at the Grand Hotel
It was empty cold and bare
With the Rolling truck Stones thing just outside
Making our music there
With a few red lights and a few old beds
We made a place to sweat
No matter what we get out of this
I know, I know we’ll never forget
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
