Despite its sexual overtones, the song had an innocuous origin. Noel Redding, bass player for the Experience, invited Hendrix to his mother's house on a cold New Year's Eve in Folkestone, England, after a performance.[5] Hendrix asked Noel's mother if he could stand next to her fireplace to warm himself. She agreed, but her German Shepherd was in the way, so Hendrix let out with, "Aw, move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over".[5] Hendrix later joked with the lyric: "Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to find her poor dog a bone, but when she bent over Rover took over, 'cause Rover had a bone of his own! Shakespeare, page 35!"[6]
In 1992, an animated music video was produced by director Susan Young, based on archive footage from the live rendition of "Fire" by Hendrix at the 1970 edition of the Isle of Wight music festival.[7]
The Red Hot Chili Peppers began performing "Fire" in 1983 and recorded it as a B-side for their 1987 "Fight Like a Brave" single and a year later released it on The Abbey Road E.P.. The song was also included on their 1989 album, Mother's Milk, as a tribute to the band's founding guitarist Hillel Slovak who died in 1988. The Chili Peppers version features lead singer Anthony Kiedis changing some of the lyrics such as "Move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over" to "Move over, Rover, and let Mr. Huckleberry take over" for Slovak (who was also known by his nickname, "Mr. Huckleberry").
Egan, Sean (2014). Jimi Hendrix and the Making of Are You Experienced: Updated and Expanded. Askill. p. 179. ISBN 978-0954575052. Henderson, David (2009). Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky: Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child. Atria Books. p. 189. ISBN 978-0743274012. Jimi Hendrix (1999). "Chapter 7". Band of Gypsys Live at the Fillmore East (DVD). Experience Hendrix / Legacy.