About the song
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” is a classic rock anthem by the legendary Billy Joel, released in 1989 as the lead single from his fourteenth studio album, “Storm Front.” This iconic song has become a cultural touchstone, its rapid-fire lyrics offering a whirlwind tour of significant events and pop culture references from the 1950s to the late 1980s.
Joel’s signature style, characterized by his evocative storytelling and introspective lyrics, is on full display in “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The song’s driving rhythm and catchy melody create an infectious energy that perfectly complements the fast-paced delivery of the lyrics. As Joel rattles off a seemingly endless list of historical figures and events, he paints a vivid picture of the tumultuous decades that shaped the world we know today.
The song’s opening lines, “We didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world was turning,” immediately set the stage for a nostalgic journey through time. Joel’s lyrics effortlessly blend historical facts with pop culture references, creating a tapestry of events that resonate with listeners of all ages. From the Cuban Missile Crisis to the rise of disco, from the Vietnam War to the Challenger disaster, the song encapsulates the spirit of an era.
One of the most striking aspects of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is its ability to evoke strong emotional responses. The song’s rapid-fire delivery and the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, yet it also serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of history. As listeners grapple with the sheer amount of information being thrown at them, they are forced to reflect on the impact of these events on their own lives.
In addition to its historical significance, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is also a testament to Billy Joel’s enduring popularity. The song’s catchy melody and relatable lyrics have ensured its place in the rock and roll pantheon, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Video
Lyrics
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe
Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, “The King and I”, and “The Catcher in the Rye”
Eisenhower, Vaccine, England’s got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana, goodbye
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it
Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron
Dien Bien Phu falls, “Rock Around the Clock”
Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn’s got a winning team
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland
Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Krushchev
Princess Grace, Peyton Place, Trouble in the Suez
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it
Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, “Bridge on the River Kwai”
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
Starkweather homicide, children of thalidomide
Buddy Holly, Ben Hur, space monkey, mafia
Hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-go
U2, Syngman Rhee, Payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the Congo
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it
Hemingway, Eichmann, “Stranger in a Strange Land”
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasion
“Lawrence of Arabia”, British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex
JFK – blown away, what else do I have to say?
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock
Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline
Ayatollah’s in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan
“Wheel of Fortune”, Sally Ride, heavy metal suicide
Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz
Hypodermics on the shore, China’s under martial law
Rock and roller, cola wars, I can’t take it anymore
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still burn on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it