Joel got the idea for the song when he had just turned 40. He was in a recording studio and met a friend of Sean Lennon who had just turned 21 who said "It's a terrible time to be 21!" Joel replied to him, "Yeah, I remember when I was 21 -- I thought it was an awful time and we had Vietnam, and y'know, drug problems, and civil rights problems and everything seemed to be awful." The friend replied, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it's different for you. You were a kid in the fifties and everybody knows that nothing happened in the fifties". Joel retorted, "Wait a minute, didn't you hear of the Korean War or the Suez Canal Crisis?" Joel later said those headlines formed the basic framework for the song.
Joel has said, "I'm a history nut. I devour books. At one time I wanted to be a history teacher". According to his mother, he was a bookworm by the age of seven. Unlike most of Joel's songs, the lyrics were written before the melody, owing to the somewhat unusual style of the song. The song was a huge commercial success and was Joel's third Billboard No. 1 hit. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
I had turned forty. It was 1989 and I said "Okay, what's happened in my life?" I wrote down the year 1949. Okay, Harry Truman was president. Popular singer of the day, Doris Day. China went Communist. Another popular singer, Johnnie Ray. Big Broadway show, South Pacific. Journalist, Walter Winchell. Athlete, Joe DiMaggio. Then I went on to 1950 [...]. It's one of the worst melodies I've ever written. I kind of like the lyric though.
Joel has said, "There's an element of malevolence in the song"; it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Joel has mixed feelings about the song. "It's a nightmare to perform live, because if I miss one word, it's a train wreck." He has also called it a "novelty song" that does not "really define me as well as album songs that probably don't get played". On being asked if he could do a follow-up about the next couple of years after the events that transpired in the original song, he commented "No, I wrote one song already and I don't think it was really that good to begin with, melodically."
Blender magazine ranked "We Didn't Start the Fire" No. 41 on its list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever", a list that also includes songs from Paul McCartney and Simon & Garfunkel. They considered the production bombastic and stated that the song "resembles a term paper scribbled the night before it’s due."
We Didn't Start the Fire
Billy Joel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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, Zhou En-Lai, "Bridge on the River Kwai"
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
Starkweather homicide, children of Thalidomide
Oh, huh, ho
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
Ayatollahs in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan
"Wheel of Fortune", Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide
Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz
Hypodermics on the shores, 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 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
We didn't start the fire
Billy Joel's song "We Didn't Start the Fire" is a musical and historical list of events, people, and cultural touchstones that Joel grew up with and experienced throughout his life up until the song's release in 1989. The song includes a wide variety of references from politics, pop culture, and world events that shaped the world Joel lived in.
The first verse refers to events of the late 1940s and early 1950s, including the Korean War and the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage. The second verse continues with political and cultural references from the late 1950s, including the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik and the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai." The third verse moves into the early 1960s, referencing the civil rights movement, the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The fourth verse covers the later 1960s and early 1970s, mentioning the Watergate scandal, the moon landing, and the Vietnam War. The final verse reflects on the 1980s, including the AIDS epidemic and the Iran-Contra scandal.
Throughout the song, Joel repeats the refrain "We didn't start the fire" to suggest that the events he's referencing are the culmination of centuries of human history and are beyond any individual's control. The song is a nostalgic look at the past as well as a reminder of how much the world had changed during Joel's lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
This line lists out some of the popular people and events during the 1950s, which include American President Harry Truman, actress Doris Day, Communist-controlled China, and singer Johnnie Ray.
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
South Pacific was a popular Broadway musical during the mid-20th century. Walter Winchell was a notable journalist and radio personality who reported on the news of the time. Joe DiMaggio was a famous baseball player who played for the New York Yankees.
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
This line touches upon some of the significant events that occurred during the late 1940s and early 1950s, including Senator Joe McCarthy's investigations into alleged communist infiltration in the US government, Richard Nixon's rise to power, the Studebaker automobile brand, and the increase in popularity of television.
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe
This line represents the ongoing tensions between North and South Korea, and also mentions the popular actress Marilyn Monroe.
Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
This line mentions Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were accused of being Soviet spies and were executed in 1953. It also references the hydrogen bomb and Sugar Ray Robinson, a famous boxer. Panmunjom refers to the site of negotiations during the Korean War.
Brando, "The King and I" and "The Catcher in the Rye"
This line mentions actor Marlon Brando, and two popular works of literature from the time, 'The King and I' and 'The Catcher in the Rye.'
Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen
This line references President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the development of the polio vaccine, and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in England.
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye
This line represents the retirement of boxer Rocky Marciano, the popular musician Liberace, and the death of philosopher George Santayana.
Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
This line mentions Soviet leaders Joseph Stalin and Georgy Malenkov, as well as Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and composer Sergei Prokofiev.
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc
This line refers to American businessman and politician Nelson Rockefeller, famous baseball player Roy Campanella, and the political alliance known as the Communist Bloc.
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron
This line mentions American lawyer Roy Cohn, Argentine leader Juan Peron, renowned composer Arturo Toscanini, and the synthetic fiber Dacron.
Dien Bien Phu falls, "Rock Around the Clock"
This line references the fall of Dien Bien Phu to Vietnamese forces during the First Indochina War, and the hit song 'Rock Around the Clock' by Bill Haley & His Comets.
Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team
This line mentions famous physicist Albert Einstein, beloved actor James Dean, and the successful Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team.
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland
This line references the popular historical figure Davy Crockett, the fictional character Peter Pan, the legendary musician Elvis Presley, and the newly opened Disneyland theme park in California.
Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Krushchev
This line mentions French actress Brigitte Bardot, the Hungarian Revolution in Budapest, the US state of Alabama and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Princess Grace, "Peyton Place", trouble in the Suez
This line references the actress and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, the popular TV show 'Peyton Place,' and the controversial Suez Crisis involving Egypt, Britain, France, and Israel.
Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
This line references the desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas, Russian author Boris Pasternak, baseball legend Mickey Mantle, and influential writer Jack Kerouac.
Sputnik, Zhou En-Lai, "Bridge on the River Kwai"
This line refers to the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, Chinese politician Zhou En-lai, and the Oscar-winning film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai.'
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
This line references the Lebanese Crisis, French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle, and the success of California's baseball teams.
Starkweather homicide, children of Thalidomide
This line mentions the infamous killing spree of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate, as well as the birth defects caused by the drug Thalidomide.
Buddy Holly, "Ben-Hur", space monkey, Mafia
This line references the beloved musician Buddy Holly, the epic film 'Ben-Hur,' the first primate sent to space, and the notorious organized crime syndicate, the Mafia.
Hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-go
This line mentions the fad of hula hoops, the revolutionary leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, and the failure of the Edsel automobile brand.
U2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
This line names the Irish rock band U2, South Korean leader Syngman Rhee, the payola scandal that involved bribes to radio DJs, and US President John F. Kennedy.
Chubby Checker, "Psycho", Belgians in the Congo
This line references musician Chubby Checker, the popular thriller film 'Psycho,' and the political unrest in the Congo.
Hemingway, Eichmann, "Stranger in a Strange Land"
This line mentions the acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway, the infamous Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, and the science fiction novel 'Stranger in a Strange Land.'
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasion
This line references the legendary musician Bob Dylan, the divided city of Berlin, and the US-backed failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.
"Lawrence of Arabia", British Beatlemania
This line mentions the epic film 'Lawrence of Arabia,' and the rise of the Beatles and British Beatlemania.
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson
This line references the controversial racial integration of the University of Mississippi, American astronaut John Glenn's orbit of Earth, and boxer Sonny Liston's defeat of Floyd Patterson.
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex
This line mentions Pope Paul VI, influential civil rights leader Malcolm X, and the infamous British politician sex scandal known as 'Profumo Affair'.
JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say?
This line refers to the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again
This line references the increasing availability and use of birth control, Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, and the political resurgence of Richard Nixon.
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock
This line mentions the successful American moon landing, the iconic music festival Woodstock, the political scandal of Watergate, and the emergence of the punk rock music genre.
Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline
This line mentions Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, US President Ronald Reagan, the ongoing conflict in Palestine, and the increasing frequency of airplane hijackings and terrorist attacks in the 1970s.
Ayatollahs in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan
This line references the Iranian Revolution and the rise of the Ayatollahs, as well as the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
"Wheel of Fortune", Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide
This line mentions the popular TV game show 'Wheel of Fortune,' astronaut Sally Ride, the heavy metal music genre, and the increasing issue of suicide.
Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz
This line touches upon some of the most pressing issues of the 1980s, including mounting foreign debts, the plight of homeless military veterans, the devastating rise of AIDS, the crack cocaine epidemic, and the controversial subway shooting that involved Bernie Goetz.
Hypodermics on the shores, China's under martial law
This line references the increasingly prevalent issue of drug addiction, including the use of hypodermic needles, as well as the Chinese government's imposition of martial law in response to pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square.
Rock and roller Cola wars, I can't take it anymore
This final line references the intense competition between soda companies, known as the Cola Wars, and the overwhelming feeling of frustration towards the many social and political issues of the time.
We didn't start the fire
This chorus line suggests that none of the events mentioned in the song were caused by the singer or his generation, but rather were ongoing issues and historical events that had been happening for centuries.
It was always burning
This line suggests that the many problems and issues mentioned in the song have always existed and will likely continue to exist, as long as the world continues to turn.
No we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it
This line acknowledges that the singer's generation may not have caused these issues, but they did attempt to challenge and address them through various means.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dariusluca5469
Lyrics for anyone wondering (via Genius)
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, Peyton Place
Trouble in the Suez
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 3]
Little Rock, Pasternak
Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Zhou 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
U-2, Syngman Rhee
Payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, Psycho
Belgians in the Congo
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 4]
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
J.F.K. blown away
What else do I have to say?
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 5]
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh
Richard Nixon back again
Moonshot, Woodstock
Watergate, punk rock
Begin, Reagan, Palestine
Terror on the airline
Ayatollahs in Iran
Russians in Afghanistan
Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride
Heavy metal suicide
Foreign debts, homeless Vets
AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz
Hypodermics on the shores
China's under martial law
Rock and Roller cola wars
I can't take it anymore
[Chorus]
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
[Outro]
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
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
@Omeganed0
"Is that Billy Joel tapping on our pickle jar?"
"Yes, dear, he came with the house!"
@ewanlaw8219
😂😂😂😂
@suppersdinner119
I'd love that
@joshuaary3191
😅😅😅
@bushidotestu1997
Hell of a deal
@704commentkan
@@bushidotestu1997 what else do i have to say
@zyadlatif4515
Thx STARLIGHT to brought me here!!!
@Jones-xx2gc
Billy Joel. What a great song writer.
@FEAR.LESS.
And Billy knocked it outta the park in 3 mins. Genius
@anthonychristopoulos6676
A brilliantly stunning track♥♥ providing an excellent historical summary of the absolute truth - only question is, "How much hotter is the Fire going to get??"