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Artist: Billy Joel
Track: We Didn’t Start the Fire

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, 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
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Lyrics
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start the Fire
This monster hit of a song was created in 1989, when Joel turned 40. The idea spawned from a conversation he had with a friend of Sean Lennon. The friend just turned 21 and was
Fall Out Boy – We Didn't Start The Fire
Fall Out Boy’s rendition of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” quickly covers significant political, cultural, sporting, scientific events from 1989 up to 2023, just as the
King Charles – We Didn’t Start the Fire
[Verse 1] / Kate Moss, 50 Cent, Obama is the President / Peace is scarce, no one dares, Litvinenko / Climate change, Live Aid, ketamine, new rave / Loose morals, hearts are hollow
Big Tasty (Ft. JenkinTown Possi) – We Didn't Start The Fire
[Intro: Big Tasty] / Barry Goldberg, JTP, William Penn Academy / Fighting Quakers, North Philly, Principal Bale / [Verse 1: Big Tasty & (Johnny Atkins)] / Coach Mellor is good at
Jimmy Fallon – Avengers: Endgame Cast Sings "We Didn't Start the Fire"
The cast of Avengers: Endgame recaps the entire Marvel franchise by singing their own superhero version of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The very end of the video
Fall Out Boy Update Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
The band’s version covers 1989 through the present.
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Ft. Matt Doyle) – We Didn't Start the Brothers
“We Didn’t Start the Brothers” is a musical parody of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel. The song is about the podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me, and features several
It Lives, It Breathes – We Didn't Start The Fire
[Verse 1] / Cops are falling out of line / Congress running out of time / Ceiling being raised again / Who cares, we're broke anyway / Donald Trump, Hilary / Change is what we
Alcazar – Start the Fire
[Intro] / Mm-mm / [Verse 1] / You're baby's goin' out / But she doesn't wanna go with you / When the beat is loud / Then she wants to dance with someone new / She moves with the
Pope Friction – The Wii Didn't Start the Fire
Ralph Baer, Brown Box / Odyssey and Magnavox / MIT, OXO / Spacewar! and Pong / Coleco and Intellivision / Atari, then Activision / Miyamoto and Nintendo / Plumbers, Donkey Kong
ApologetiX – We Didn't Start Messiah (Parody of "We Didn't Start the Fire")
Perfect humans, had it made, then they kind of went astray / Sought the serpent for their wisdom so they had to go / Though the Lord made a prediction / Soon the lady'd have some
Diamond Axe Studios Music – We Didn’t Start The Fire 2020
[Verse 1] / Soleimani in Iran, COVID spreading in Wuhan / Flooding in Jakarta while Australia starts to burn / Kobe Bryant, World War Three / Billie Eilish Grammy sweep / Trump’s
RoyishGoodLooks – We Didn't Start the Fire (Parody)
[Verse 1] / Stormtrooper, docking bay / Dagobah, Padmé / Orson Krennic / Wedge Antilles, Poe, K-2SO / Mon Calamari, Wes Janson / Star Destroyer, meditation / Takodana, Scarif
Anthony Fantano – We Didn't Start the Fire by Fall Out Boy Remix
[Verse] / Instagram, Harambe / Looks like COVID's here to stay / Super Smash Melee / 4chan, Sopranos / Occupy Wall Street / Housing crisis, Clinton cheats / Monika Lewinsky, Hubble
Elio Pace – We Didn't Start the Fire (Sky Sports Ashes 2015 Promo)
Elio Pace and his band collaborate with Sky Sports commentators David “Bumble” Lloyd, Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and many others to a rendition of the Billy joel classic “We
Faster (FRA) – We Didn’t Start the Fire
[Intro] / Gnirrub syawla ,gninrub syawla saw tI / Erif eht trats t'ndid ew / We didn't start the fire / It was always burning, always burring / We didn't start the fire / We didn't
CollegeHumor (Ft. Leslie Beukelman & Steve Frisbie) – We Didn't Start the Flame War
[Verse 1: CollegeHumor.com] / First Post!/fucking gay/Second post!/go away! / Stupid picture/Simpsons did it/southpark did it too / ROFL Copter/really stupid/I dunno, I kinda like
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start the Fire Samples
See all of “We Didn't Start the Fire” by Billy Joel’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start the Fire Covers
See all of “We Didn't Start the Fire” by Billy Joel’s covers
Various Artists (Ft. Feedrosie) – We Didn't Start This Website
[Intro] / Harry Potter, Dōmo-kun, Ridge Racer, Sailor Moon / Stephen Colbert, Captain Picard, Attack of the Show / Technologic, Curb Stomp, New Orleans, Falling Thwomp / Bell
Chris Ray Gun – We Didn't Start the SocJus
[Verse 1] / Television, CNN, Fox News is at it again / Porno on your PSPs, Mass Effect sex / Nintendo DS, kid locator, games are murder simulators / Bill O'Reilly, quite unwisely
Ph0ton – We Didn't Choose the Fire Starter
[Verse 1] / Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray / South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio / Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television / North Korea
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start the Fire Samples
See all of “We Didn't Start the Fire” by Billy Joel’s samples
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start the Fire Interpolations
See all of “We Didn't Start the Fire” by Billy Joel’s interpolations
Shlock Rock – We've Got a Strong Desire
To the Tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel, “We’ve Got a Strong Desire” is meant to relate the history of the Jewish people in a similar way, but told through
GREENBOOTS – WDSTF (666 Trapslime Remix)
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray / South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio / Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television / North Korea, South Korea
McCreamy – Fortnite's Kinda Dying
On “Fortnite’s Kinda Dying,” Fortnite YouTuber McCreamy complains about the state of Fortnite. In this song, he outlines the problems with the game, and reminisces about how
Kylee Henke – You Can't Fight The Homestuck
[Intro] / Hello everybody! / Let me tell you about Homestuck. / [Verse 1] / John Egbert, Rose Lalonde / Ascend, descend, rise up, abscond / Jade Harley, Dave Strider / They all
Holderness Family – This Year Is A Dumpster Fire
[Verse 1] / Lots of famous people died, how many times have you cried? / How flippin' terrible is 2020? / All our workouts are alone, Top Gun postponed / When's the last time you
Ph0ton – We Didn't Choose the Fire Starter Samples
See all of “We Didn't Choose the Fire Starter” by Ph0ton’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Neil Cicierega – Space Monkey Mafia
“Space Monkey Mafia” is a mashup of the song “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” by R.E.M. and “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel. Both songs are played simultaneously
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AZ Lyrics
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire Lyrics
Billy Joel explained how this song came about by saying, "I started doing that as a mental exercise. I had turned forty. It was 1989, and I said, 'Okay, what's ...
Fall Out Boy - We Didn't Start The Fire Lyrics
"We Didn't Start The Fire" lyrics. Fall Out Boy Lyrics. "We Didn't Start The Fire" (originally by Billy Joel). Captain Planet Arab Spring LA Riots Rodney King
Genius Q&A
Q:When did Billy Joel release “We Didn't Start the Fire”?
Billy Joel released “We Didn't Start the Fire” on October 17, 1989.
Q:Who produced “We Didn't Start the Fire” by Billy Joel?
“We Didn't Start the Fire” by Billy Joel was produced by Mick Jones (Foreigner) & Billy Joel.
Q:Who wrote “We Didn't Start The Fire” by Fall Out Boy?
“We Didn't Start The Fire” by Fall Out Boy was written by Billy Joel & Fall Out Boy.
Q:Who wrote “Hacker song (Parody of "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel)” by Minimichecker?
“Hacker song (Parody of "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel)” by Minimichecker was written by Billy Joel.
Q:When did Billy Joel release “We Didn't Start the Fire- live at 12 gardens”?
Billy Joel released “We Didn't Start the Fire- live at 12 gardens” on October 11, 1989.
Q:When did Minimichecker release “Hacker song (Parody of "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel)”?
Minimichecker released “Hacker song (Parody of "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel)” on April 9, 2018.
Q:Who wrote “We Didn't Start the Fire by Fall Out Boy Remix” by Anthony Fantano?
“We Didn't Start the Fire by Fall Out Boy Remix” by Anthony Fantano was written by Anthony Fantano & Billy Joel.
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MusixMatch Lyrics
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire translation in Italian
Italian translation of lyrics for We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMagg...
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire translation in French
French translation of lyrics for We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMagg...
It Lives, It Breathes - We Didn't Start the Fire Lyrics
Lyrics for We Didn't Start the Fire by It Lives, It Breathes
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire translation in Spanish
Spanish translation of lyrics for We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMagg...
View 1 More →
Genius Albums
Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel by Billy Joel
Get all the lyrics to songs on Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Storm Front by Billy Joel
Storm Front is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 17, 1989. It was Joel’s third album to reach No. 1 in the U.S. The album was
12 Gardens Live by Billy Joel
Get all the lyrics to songs on 12 Gardens Live and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
50 Years of the Piano Man by Billy Joel
Get all the lyrics to songs on 50 Years of the Piano Man and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
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Genius Artists
Billy Joel
Billy Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer/songwriter, producer, and composer who ranks as one of the most iconic and influential artists from the mid to late
Billy Joel Songs
Billy Joel has 513 songs with the most popular being We Didn't Start the Fire, Vienna and Piano Man.