Candles are naturally reminiscent of faded eras and romantic evenings.
They’re the old light-bearers to the growing centuries of night-clad inspiration; the flickering dance of a candle a subtly ancient meditation for the dozy half-dreamers of late, late hours, kept hypnotically upon the brink of consciousness by its erratic flares of movement.
Our list wavers between the genres and eras of music to bring you only the best songs about candles, ready to scatter a slightly different ambience upon your day.
Songs About Candles
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Put A Candle In The Window
This late 1960s track is a spellbindingly soulful tale of moving on and transforming in whichever direction the light takes you.
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s bluesy anchoring line, “Put a candle in the window, ‘cause I feel I’ve got to move,” depicts the candle as a beacon guiding your eventual returning home, its light symbolising the invigorating warmth of all that inspires your continuing progression.
Despite its optimistic power, Put A Candle In The Window is a gruffly realistic track. CCR penned a number of hit songs inspired by the Vietnam War, giving Put A Candle In The Window a potential double meaning.
Under this war-torn context, the track represents soldiers being drafted and hauled across the world, while asking their loved ones to ‘put a candle in the window’ to lead them back safely to the peaceful sanctity of home.
2. Elton John – Candle In the Wind 1997
Elton John dedicated his 1997 version of his 70s track Candle In The Wind to the late Princess Diana in this exceptional funeral performance in Westminster Abbey.
Elton transformed his lyrics to represent a person who stands bravely against every storm that tried to diminish their fire, “It seems to be you lived your life like a candle in the wind, never fading with the sunset when the rain set in… Your candle’s burned out long before your legened ever will.”
This timeless song has been adopted by families during times of grief ever since, for its stunning sentiment of perseverance against every wave of trauma and despair, encouraging one to see the light within a loved one’s life and memory rather than the darkness that haunted their years on Earth.
3. The bangles – Eternal Flame
The Bangles’ classic hit Eternal Flame is sunstruck with the passion of true love.
They match their symbolism of love’s all-pervading light and the gentle way their partner brightens the greyest of days, with the wide-eyed wonder of how long their spark may last;
“Say my name, sun shines through the rain, a whole life so lonely and then come and ease the pain… Am I only dreaming? Is this burning an eternal flame?”
Eternal Flame could easily make any list of the world’s greatest love songs for its innate sense of fiery romance threaded seamlessly within the peaceful, retro ambience, reminiscent of candlelit evenings.
4. Zhavia – Candlelight
Zhavia Ward’s Candlelight is a hypnotic pop track about keeping your sanity and strength alive.
‘Leaving your candlelight burning’ is a symbol for maintaining your inspiration to push forwards and make the brave decision to prevent yourself from giving up, refusing to dissolve into the suffocating darkness.
Zhavia’s lines lay it bare, “I’ve been walking through my own disaster, thinking it’s time to move on… I can feel something pulling, gotta leave my candlelight burning, if it goes out, I would lose it, gotta let my candlelight burn,” crafting a track for anyone wanting to radiate more positivity to dispel the bleak shroud which swallows them.
5. Chante Moore – Candlelight & You
Chante Moore’s smooth R&B track captures the seductive atmosphere of a vintage candlelit night with your one and only.
Candlelight & You is detailed with tenderness and deep-rooted adoration, using lyrical techniques that converse like dreamy pillow talk between a couple, “You’ve helped me through the rain, take me in your arms, I give you control, tenderly, whisper to me, I’m all you need … Lady there’s no way to deny.. I’ve found what I need in you.”
Moore uses candlelight as a heart-warming metaphor, painting an lush landscape for escaping into the arms of your lover, “Nothing compares to candlelight and you.”
This is a captivating track for anyone feeling like they’ve found their soulmate, constantly catching themselves hypnotised by the thought of sharing their warmth.
6. Death Cab For Cutie – Roman Candles
Death Cab For Cutie put an explosive twist on our candle concept, crafting their song around ‘roman candle’ fireworks rather than soft glimmering of candlelight.
Their electrifying indie/alternative rock track depicts everything around you burning to ashes; an uncontrollable domino effect that drags you directly into the fire.
But despite their end-of-the-world outlook, Roman Candles is compellingly upbeat, ignited with the colourful force of a firework-scattered sky
Death Cab illustrate the zest for life diminishing and a seemingly futile attempt at finding peace amid disaster, “I used to feel everything like a flame, but now it’s a struggle just to feel anything … But I am learning to let go of everything I tried to hold too long, ‘cause they all explode like roman candles,” crafting a song for anyone veering so close to the fire that they can feel the burn.
7. The Crests – Sixteen Candle
This doo-wop hit from 1959 is a birthday tune with an unnervingly creepy approach to us modern day listeners.
The Crests place their candles upon a girl’s birthday cake, remarking “sixteen candles make a lovely light, but not as bright as your eyes tonight,” which, at first, might seem like the sweet thoughts of any relative or friend as they gather round to celebrate someone’s 16th birthday.
But, underlying this, is a strangely pervy sentiment, “Blow out the candles, make your wish come true, for I’ll be wishing that you love me too, you’re only 16 but you’re my teenage queen… the loveliest girl I’ve ever seen, 16 candles in my heart will glow, forever and ever, for I love you so.”
It could be argued this song was designed to be a hit amongst teens singing it to their same-aged crushes, but there’s something deeply insidious about the adult-sung lyrics, lurking beneath the song’s overwhelmingly rosy, vintage atmosphere.