La canción representa una pareja 'llegando alto' (getting high), lo cual puede entenderse como una alusión a la pasión sexual pero es también un término callejero para la sensación eufórica de la gente cuando se droga; lo cual motivó que el presentador de televisión Ed Sullivan pidiese al grupo que modificase la letra si querían cantarla en su programa. Inicialmente la banda accedió, pero llegado el momento Jim Morrison hizo caso omiso y cantó la letra original.

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire

The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah

The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire

Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire