Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple was inspired by a fire that destroyed the Montreux Casino in Switzerland during a concert by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention in 1971. The band was in town to record an album using a mobile recording studio and witnessed the incident, which became the basis for the songs lyrics.
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We all came out to Montreux
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G
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
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To make records with a mobile
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G
We didn't have much time
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Frank Zappa and the Mothers
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G
Were at the best place around
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G
But some stupid with a flare gun
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Burned the place to the ground
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Smoke on the water, and fire in the sky
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Smoke on the water
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They burned down the gambling house
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It died with an awful sound
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A funky Claude was running in and out
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Pulling kids outa the ground
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When it all was over
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We had to find another place
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But Swiss time was running out
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It seemed that we would lose the race
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Smoke on the water, and fire in the sky
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Smoke on the water solo
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We ended up at the Grand Hotel
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It was empty cold and bare
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But with the Rolling truck Stones thing just outside