The song "Paper In Fire" by UFO is actually performed by John Mellencamp, not UFO. The lyrics you provided belong to John Mellencamp's song. "Paper In Fire" is a metaphorical song that explores the themes of dreams, expectations, and the consequences of pursuing them. The song presents two different stories in separate verses to convey its message. In the first verse, a woman is depicted as having a dream that she passionately pursues. However, when she gets too close to her expectations, her dream burns up like paper in fire. This suggests that her aspirations and desires ended up being unfulfilled or destroyed. The second verse focuses on a man who desires love without any emotional involvement. He chases this unattainable goal throughout his life, and eventually, his days burn up like paper in fire. This implies that his pursuit of love without any depth or commitment ultimately leads to emptiness and disappointment. The chorus utilizes the metaphor of paper in fire to symbolize the fragility and transience of dreams, aspirations, and even life itself. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the destructive nature of unfulfilled expectations and the consequences of living a superficial or unfulfilled life. The final verse broadens the perspective to a societal level. It suggests that each generation looks longingly at a good life across a green field, symbolizing happiness and fulfillment. However, due to unchecked appetites and desires, the green fields turn to brown, akin to paper in fire. This implies that uncontrolled desires and a lack of restraint can lead to the destruction of the good life and the degradation of society. Overall, "Paper In Fire" serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of pursuing unrealistic dreams, unfulfilled desires, and the consequences of unchecked appetites. The metaphor of paper in fire is used to emphasize the fleeting nature of these pursuits and the potential for them to result in disappointment and destruction.
