As discussed in
"throw your hands (up) in the air, (and) wave them all around like you (just) don't care", this is a common theme in
hip-hop music. It originated with
Rockmaster Scott and the Dynamic Three, and has appeared in the works of
Kid 'n' Play,
The Bloodhound Gang, and others.
Interestingly enough, the couplet ``The roof is on fire / We don't need no water, let the motherfucker burn'' was paid homage to by the punk group Rancid, in their 1994 (after Kid 'n' Play, before the Bloodhound Gang) song `Burn'.
Thirteen red and white stripes flying
White for skin and red for dying*
Why can't I walk on through
And not feel like one is in Hell?
We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn
We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn
We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn
We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn
[*] Rancid are not
racist skinheads; they are actually very
anti-racism, as evidenced by songs like `
As One', `
Avenues and Alleyways', etc.