Billy Joel is a renowned American singer, songwriter, and pianist known for his iconic hits like “Piano Man” and “Uptown Girl.”

He has had a successful music career spanning decades, with over 150 million records sold worldwide.

Joel’s achievements include winning numerous Grammy Awards, being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and receiving the Grammy Legend Award.

About the Song

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel is a fast-paced song that lists significant historical events from 1949 to 1989.

The song reflects society’s ongoing challenges and changes over four decades.

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” Lyrics by Billy Joel 

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

Brief instrumental interlude

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

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

Live Performance of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

1. We Didn’t Start the Fire Live in (Frankfurt, Germany)

2. We Didn’t Start the Fire (from Live at Shea Stadium)

3. We Didn’t Start the Fire (Live at Yankee Stadium)

Similar Songs Like “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

Here are similar songs by Billy Joel that share similar themes, musical elements or emotional tones with “We Didn’t Start the Fire .”

• “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”: It is a storytelling song with different parts, telling the life story of Brenda and Eddie with strong music shifts.
• “Piano Man”: A classic song about people in a bar, their dreams, and the piano player who brings them all together.
• “Allentown”: It’s a song about factory workers and their struggles, showing the tough life changes in American industrial towns.
• “Goodnight Saigon”: A powerful song about soldiers in the Vietnam War, their experiences, fears, and the brotherhood they shared.
• “My Life”: A song about independence, making your own choices, and not letting others control your path in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Meaning of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” Lyrics?

The song lists major historical events from 1949 to 1989, showing how each generation faces big events but isn’t responsible for them.

Why Did Billy Joel Write “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?

Billy Joel wrote it after a young person said nothing important happened in his time, inspiring him to list major historical events.

What Events are Mentioned in “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?

The song covers political events, wars, famous people, pop culture, and scientific achievements from 1949 to 1989.

Did Billy Joel Like His Own Song?

Billy Joel said he liked the lyrics but wasn’t a big fan of the melody and found it difficult to sing live.

Is There a New Version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?

Fall Out Boy released a 2023 version, updating the lyrics with events from 1989 to 2023, keeping the original song’s style.