Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire (Audio)

[@1989NickyD]

We didn't start the fire, we just added more fuel to it.

[@SMIBBProductions]

Yes

[@luismarceloinostrozabidart922]

Well said...

[@SMIBBProductions]

Have to agree

[@luismarceloinostrozabidart922]

It's easy to hide the real intentions with political correct answers...Thanks for to reply...

[@SMIBBProductions]

Yeah anytime!, And I agree

[@Andy_Dagamer]

4 minutes and 51 seconds of Billy Joel explaining that he is not an arsonist.

[@Oper8Fur07]

Drastic on purpose misunderstanding, but funny.

[@richardwhitehead5069]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ayyylmao101]

@@Oper8Fur07 We call it... _humour_

[@Oper8Fur07]

@@ayyylmao101 simply genius, we should patent and sell this invention. just imagine the sheer coinage!

[@ayyylmao101]

@@Oper8Fur07 The coin, the copper, the cash! Call it _penance._

[@beeroth3093]

The coolest history teacher that I ever had, had everyone in our class assigned a different verse of the song and we had to choose an event from one of those verses to write an entire essay on and as a result it turned into a couple 100 kids giving a very long-winded speech about all the different historical events throughout that time period and became one huge history lesson for all of us. At the end we got to watch the music video for the song and discuss why we chose the verse that we did. There were many events that some of us didn't live through because we were still children and without that context we may never have looked into them

[@palasta]

Hey.. that's what the other person said somewhere else...

[@sherianewkirk3024]

Same here 🤗

[@Moon-gl8vb]

Same here, my history teacher brought his old vintage music/radio player, started blasting the music and made us choose a topic in this song and did a project about it

[@milliesilva2002]

Do U speak about Juan Peron?

[@catmanthegoat39]

@beeroth3093 Bro all teachers need to do something like this because this is crazy cool

[@Rexfuselier]

"Didn't start the fire" my ass. This song IS the fire

[@PatrickWalsh-qn3fg]

bro me knowing full well i did start the fire 👁👄👁

[@Dimbledum]

Whats with the emojies

[@IzzyIrizarry-ci7jr]

Word!💯💯💯💯

[@imperialprotocoldroid8570]

We need a 2000-2030 version of this song. Infact we should have a version of this song for every 3 decades.

[@historyandstuff16]

Can you sing? I can do the editing

[@invis_potion]

Something is about to throw down i can feel it

[@lycaptain]

this should become a world tradition. the official theme song of the 3 decades.

[@inflateable7387]

lmao dude I was thinking this exact same thing just yesterday it needs about fifteen new verses covering the 90s, the noughties, the awkward teens and lets face it this decade isn't turning into any prize either

[@inflateable7387]

coronavirus, microplastics, identity politics pogs, alf, youtube, kurt cobains shotgun twitter being bought by musk, hypernormalisation saddam hiding underground, electing donald j trump

[@78macka]

2:59 “JFK Blown Away What Else Do I Have To Say!!!???” It Never Gets Old

[@cbr132awffe4aw3]

We're Starting The Fire With This One🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥

[@PatrickWalsh-qn3fg]

🔥🔥🔥👁👄👁🔥🔥🔥

[@scottbrandts610]

To write a song that borders on "rap", containing a history of the 20th century, arranging the lyrics chronologically, AND making them rhyme... Who else could do it but this man? SHEER FUCKING GENIUS!!

[@williegordon7899]

I Googled "Starkweather" homicide to find out what that was and I was shocked.

[@siennasmith2148]

I failed that the assignment in high school soooo hard lol

[@paulfrost8895]

He is among the top rated artists ' just magic.

[@paulfrost8895]

He was born in 1949 ' this covers events of his first 40 years.

[@dariokillsaman2111]

Someone clearly has no idea what rap is

[@billyboy4797]

This song is probably up there at the top with songs with the most words.

[@rw0050]

History In Song ----

[@paintyourheartout]

And in art (painting) prophetic painting!

[@RT-vw6yw]

After a ten year break from a failed attempt at college, I decided to go back and do it right at 29. I nervously walked into my very first class, History, and the professor had this as a blaring welcome. I'll never forget it!

[@bladegriggs4090]

How are you doing now? @R T

[@RT-vw6yw]

​@@bladegriggs4090 Great, thanks!

[@themisfitowl2595]

Awesome! 😅

[@bladegriggs4090]

Your welcome!

[@MCWalter126]

What do you mean blaring?

[@bryanpotter3882]

We didn't start the fire 🔥 Billy Joel classic

[@Luke-pd7xj]

Can't get enough of billy, his music is just too good.

[@GamerGuy205]

agreed

[@LuigiLaitinen]

Neither can I… and you’ve got that right. Especially since my parents and I also happen to like a lot of his old great songs so much.

[@MichelStubblefield3356]

It's still rock and roll to me. :-)

[@cliodhnagardiner44]

Wow

[@ST4R_g4x3R]

fr

[@RaymondArias]

I really liked how it was coincidental that the album's name is "Storm Front."

[@stefanocanicchio7278]

Maybe the directors of the series made on porpose

[@dewittbourchier7169]

The Boys!

[@itsblitz4437]

Well crap, I did not realize that at all!

[@mik3y448]

@@stefanocanicchio7278 r/facepalm

[@stefanocanicchio7278]

@@mik3y448 Oh ur are so funny...

[@carlmanguitar]

Poet, storyteller, songwritter, musician - Billy Joel. National treasure!

[@Bigfig2212]

born in 88 and still know every word to this day. We still got a lot of fires to fight in 2024...

[@briahunt2581]

I sang this with my 7th grade choir. My group's part started at 1:59 and the ONLY ONE people heard singing was me!❤

[@catmanthegoat39]

Based choir

[@arthurchallat8530]

Catchiest song of all time ? Yes.

[@cristinafuentes3163]

This is my Dad´s favorite song!, when I was little, he always explained me every part of the lyrics, I learned a lot and loved the moments I spend with him talking about history, and that is why, this song has a very deep meaning for me. PD: Sorry for the bad english :), I just wanted to share this little story. :)

[@ss-gv1te]

And a great story it is. 😃👍

[@cristinafuentes3163]

@@ss-gv1te thanks!

[@abdullaal-naimi9075]

That's actually very good English, about 2 or 3 small mistakes. I've seen native speakers write worse.

[@tillhillow0121]

yo te entendi pero soy de mexico

[@andrewmcdonnell6369]

It's a great story!

[@Mr.Goldbar]

That sound production is AMAZING! If I was an audio engineer, this record would be my benchmark for mixing

[@TheCrashx]

It's good, sure, I wouldn't personally use it as a benchmark though, it depends on what the client is after and what will fit the genre, just my 2 cents after studying audio engineering for the last 2 years

[@doughnutholer]

@@TheCrashx it’s decent

[@henryatkinson1479]

As someone who has done live audio mixing for 48-input events... no. Theres really not a whole lot happening here mixing-wise, 2 vocalists, and not a full complement of instruments.

[@User-jk8wq]

It was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge, so no surprise there

[@denkidelahoya6648]

I love the message that this song ends about the problems of a generation being blamed on their kids. It’s already happening with ours

[@denkidelahoya6648]

*sends

[@JSSMVCJR2.1]

When, exactly, did the exception happened?

[@defectivesickle5643]

I have a much more positive interpretation of this song. I think Billy Joel heard someone say something along the lines of "It's so much harder growing up in the 80s than the 50s." The world didn't get to burning in your generation, it was always like this. So no need to get fussed about the world going to shit

[@pitcrew7877]

​@@defectivesickle5643 Tbh the way I see it, the world's always been shit, it's just the shit has been changing and adapting with what the world's going with.

[@jeffreybanner4144]

I’d like to hear We Didn’t Start The Fire 2020 w/ lyrics picking up where the original song left off. (Berlin Wall, Bosnia, Desert Storm, Ross Perot...)

[@BeeKay5150]

Great first line for it!

[@mahdeensyhr]

It'd also be nice if the whole song had the same level of detail it started off with. Basically skips over the 1970s and 1980s almost completely.

[@cjwright79]

@@BeeKay5150 shouldn't it rhyme though!

[@klairemartin7379]

Corona....

[@SpacePineapple]

2029. 40 years

[@albinoenricojosiah5495]

The history lesson we didn't know we needed

[@SuperGaleford]

Thank you, Billy, for not trying to rap this song like you said it came to you in a dream.

[@jemadriano1217]

Way to start the year with a wildfire!...prayers for LA

[@TotallyToonsTV]

So much has happened since 1989, I'd love to hear a version capturing everything from that point to now.

[@Lance374]

Boy ive got good news for you, Fall Out Boy did it just today!

[@zackkorth2410]

lucky guy you are that this entire reality was constructed for you- fall out boy made one.

[@TheDaniel2483]

this song went to #1 on the pop charts in 1989!!!

[@cazz8017]

NO WONDER

[@rae-raetheturtledemon.]

I wonder if he should do an updated version of this song.

[@GoldieMethrans]

@@rae-raetheturtledemon. YES.

[@kittydogcalendar8090]

WOOO also my friend has the same pfp u do

[@goldosprey]

Fun fact this was the last number 1 of the 80s and Billy joels career

[@metalwolf1086]

This song came out when I was like 9 years old and its one of the first songs I really remembering liking. Almost 40 now and still love some Billy Joel.

[@marysmile1603]

Since this song came out in 1989 and documented all the major historical events Billy Joel lived through, we should remake it for its forty-year anniversary. EDIT: Because everyone keeps telling me about the FOB one, I'll say this: it's hot garbage and shouldn't have been made.

[@ayyylmao101]

That would be unironically awesome aldfkja

[@jaidaniels905]

there it is again... that funny feeling.

[@Keyvira]

Yes COVID is the name 😂😂😂

[@pawatonkaemawichanurat7462]

agree

[@daffygoose4757]

I second this motion

[@MartianGatos]

I heard this song yesterday for the first time, I’ve been sleeping on Billy Joel. Great tune 🎵

[@catmanthegoat39]

I first listened to this recently too, in October, been obsessed with this song ever since

[@tiffanyhinderscheit6639]

When I'm on my way to work at 6:30 in the morning, getting ready for a 12 hour shift, and when this song, Let's Go Crazy or Back in Black come on the radio..... MAX VOLUME!!!!

[@albertjackinson]

Now THIS aged fantastically well! Problems are everywhere and exist in any time, no matter when you lived, but there are people who always fight the fire.

[@philiphalpenny9761]

...almost 30 years on and i am still discovering some of the cultural references in this song!

[@SpawnofChaos]

Not surprising given how many are in this song. 🙂

[@Sofia-ii7gm]

it’s 31 years now! I wish i was born in the 90s!

[@ShockwaveEnthusiast]

You know, my 5th grade ELA teacher showed us this. He was the best guy I think I've ever had as a teacher.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

almost 30 years later, and it still makes my hair stand

[@justinmcginty9975]

First heard this in history class. The coach teaching the class was the best history teacher ive ever seen. Awesome

[@ConnerMoo]

I guess you could say this song is FIRE!!!

[@pierreblain1424]

My favorite Billy Joel song!!

[@mariuskristensen1867]

just never besmirch his name

[@aecides3203]

It really makes this songs point that 30 years on half of the solvable issues in this song have either not been solved at all, or were solved and then happened a second time.

[@pierreweee7425]

The Boys.... are back. That fits perfectly💣💣

[@jamesphillips9304]

this song went to #1 on the pop charts in 1989!!! Love the meaning to this song

[@AgentB-0711]

something about that intro, with the drums and electric guitar before the beat drops, I love it

[@jedionboard1233]

Cant believe this classic is nearly 30 yrs old !!!!!. Come on Billy, you must do part 2,, so much has happened since 1989.

[@jadenpeterson2460]

Love the meaning to this song

[@jadenpeterson2460]

Obviously you didn't listen to it. He is saying that we didn't start these violent events, and evil has been around since humanity started, and we are trying to fix it.

[@gamekvalon7545]

I'm not sure where you're getting your info from.. but Jaden is pretty spot on with the meaning to this song hahaha. www.quora.com/Is-We-Didnt-Start-the-Fire-by-Billy-Joel-historical-gibberish-or-does-it-make-sense Give that a read and see what his fans know about the song.

[@gamekvalon7545]

To each their own

[@adrielramirez8912]

You sound pretty god damn ignorant if you don't realize the meaning of this song is that we didn't start all these violent events around the world Jaden Peterson is spot on on this one :)

[@adrielramirez8912]

Your explanation of the meaning of this song is pretty spot on in my opinion Mr. /Ms. Peterson.

[@CherryBug-rt1rl]

THIS IS STILL A BIG HIT IN 2023! GOOD JOB NEVER STOP!

[@liamdaniels4113]

its a jumble of so many big names, global events, epidemics, musical genres, in no particular order, and it's still an amazing song!

[@patrickk6331]

it was in chronological order

[@donovanweiss159]

He's right, it is in chronological order

[@Finnishnat-conservativedot7126]

@@donovanweiss159 it is indeed in chronological order

[@Marylandbrony]

​@@patrickk6331That's why it's superior to the Green Day version.

[@edgarzacapala7469]

Someone in a bar: nobody can sing about the second half of the century!!! Billy Joel: hold my beer...

[@NicolaasNicDEVRIES]

so true

[@PlanetExpressYoutubeChannel]

🤣

[@Oper8Fur07]

This song still applies today, and for as long as freedom is a thing, it will.

[@IzzyIrizarry-ci7jr]

Wow 😮 it's been years since I've heard this song, This is a CLASSIC ✨ I LOVE THIS❤️💯

[@thesage3125]

I think every forty years, a new version of this song needs to be made

[@Frog_Mob_Boss]

Not if it sucks like the new ome does. FOB blows.

[@cjnewman7550]

​@@Frog_Mob_Bossding dong your opinion is wrong

[@eatafox]

England's got a new king

[@majestik101]

Awesome song! Best played Loud!

[@GamerGuy205]

agreed

[@MartinSweden]

The best lyric of all time.

[@cory3171]

This music is fire, even if Billy didn't start it.

[@TheMiseryLovesCompany]

So i had this dream there was a Billy Joel movie like an old rock opera animated like heavy metal, it was one of the most awesome things i had ever seen

[@TheMiseryLovesCompany]

oh and there was version of this song sung by the jingle cats.

[@catmanthegoat39]

I'd pay good cash to see that live in theatres

[@levibull6063]

I would like to thank the boys for introducing a brilliant song I can't believe I haven't heard this in only 22 and know some of the things that has on about

[@grungehippie4486]

The boys definitely did the song right

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I ❤ the way this Billy Joel song starts! 🎵.....

[@nedthenoodleman]

Who here has memorized the full song and can recite it without music

[@nedthenoodleman]

I did I was really bored

[@RoopeRontu1999]

I did that with half, or at least 1/3 of the words in Finnish.

[@drawingdude819]

Best song I've ever heard

[@2109917162]

When your lyricist is a rapper but your producer is a rocker.

[@theflea2023]

Back in my junior year in high school my history shows us the song. That's the reason how I got to this song.

[@vcjcc8646]

Billy Joel After Inventing History For This Song: 🤤

[@frankwilliam8851]

This is my favorite Billy Joel song. I love it!

[@msjesuswoman]

Such a Powerful statement, in a song~

[@GamerGuy205]

ikr

[@jamesedgar3442]

I often wonder how this would have sounded had it been a rap song, as Billy said it started out to be. Being Billy Joel, I know it would have been excellent.

[@jtalson95m8]

i guess, if rap is your thing.

[@zlinedavid]

It basically is. The lyrics are rapped/chanted, not sung.

[@johntate4185]

I like this beat better and I was born in 96 ✌😎

[@wickedfrigginryan4645]

When I was a kid my dad told me that this was white rap. Sounds like he's rapping.

[@objektivone3209]

10 stars respect to Billy Joel for this song from the year of 1989.

[@louisiles1446]

This song and its lyrics are timeless

[@martinchrales1117]

God, how did he even made this lyrics... amazing!

[@TheRealQuartz]

quite sad this song still rings true 35 years later

[@Cutie-loves-cupcake]

I grew up with this type of music 🎧 thanks to my parents

[@serbianknifefightdev]

ITS THE GREATEST FANDOM

[@kashmirvideos4413]

Beautifully written and perfectly spot on.

[@justinperry2520]

Billy Joel is great at creating catchy songs like this and Why Should I Worry?

[@Zavitastic]

I remember this being a popular hit song back in the day growing up and hearing it on radio in Jamaica. Still a hit today in my opinion.

[@voscrawford5533]

Fair enough have a nice day

[@calebcombs5374]

I love this song it is amazing I love it thank you Billy Joel for making this masterpiece thank you

[@dianapucha5990]

now that you think about it, this song is just a good song that history teachers like using

[@Pluto2043]

This song will always be good to listen to and it might help with history class

[@kittydogcalendar8090]

Great! Do use it to memorize multiple definitions in more than one subject (that's what I did)

[@stevenwagner-rx7ew]

The greatest song in everlasting history

[@Krashnikov]

this song feels more appropriate every day

[@axellecht8680]

Quarantine brought me here.... hell yeah what a nice song - greetings from germany !!

[@madkittyjoey70]

I had the album Storm Front on cassette when I was in middle school and used to play this song over and over again!

[@jameskvo]

When we are gone, it will still go on and on...

[@sadiaosman6895]

“England’s got a new queen” Few months late but that ages well

[@JulioJones11-t3x]

U started the fire by making this fire song

[@kittydogcalendar8090]

The lyrics are so easy to change I actually switched them up to my notes in science and used that to study. It did work! Would recommend :). Story: So one day I found out I had two tests the next week... and of course I was worried. The next day in class, I thought of this song, then decided to switch up the lyrics. It worked! Do use this if you have 3-5 days to study for a test or quiz. Aaand I am about to do it again!! It got tedious sadly :( but this is an awesome song :DD Also back in 2020 I kept hearing this in my dad's office, and I eventually learned the song title. I never thought of the song again. Then a few months ago I heard this on a video I was watching so I checked it out!

[@jacobtala9516]

Proud I grow up with music like this throwback and nostalgia it reminds me of my childhood days...😄

[@themtndewcocacolaguy]

My tribute to the Notre Dame Cathedral on fire.

[@davidrobledo4480]

Hahaha You are funny

[@m1cha3l31]

He's in notre dame touring rn lmao

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

This song is perfect for the boys for so many reasons. For one the cover has the name Stormfront which is the name of a villain in the show

[@davedee6745]

I like how at the start he says Harry Truman all calm and by the time he gets to rock and roller cola wars, he's going nuts. It's like half way through, he started to lose his mind and by the time he got to the end, he lost all semblance of sanity.

[@Islamsourates]

THE BOYS !!!

[@klownkiddo]

I'm determined to remember this entire song

[@akarisunshine5994]

i dont care what year this is this song is a BOP

[@khandakershahadat5904]

This song is 27 years old! Wow the last part was a warning, but when we are gone is creepy.

[@somerandomcube]

i discovered this song via "You can't fight the homestuck", pretty good ngl

[@ronakagifford4854]

When I was a child our 4th grade teacher at Lincoln elementary school had all of us in his classroom record this song at a local studio! Every time I hear this song NOW as an adult in my 30’s it makes me cry! Either way, it’s a great memory I hold onto.

[@daisygirl1993]

A real Studio With real Microphones or Mic with a circle behind it?

[@josephnaranjo8286]

30 years and still rocking harder on my country. Cheers From Costa Rica.🇨🇷

[@seattleday9690]

I always love this song.

[@goBrazy_]

Here’s the lyrics… you’re welcome🎵🎵🎵 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

[@PatrickWalsh-qn3fg]

bro me knowing full well i did start the fire 👁👄👁

[@deanthesavage]

After Richard Nixon you left out Joe Biden

[@davidmontes2775]

🎉🎉

[@karadcd]

Billy Joel, you need to write part 2 for the 21st century... soon

[@joewhitehead3]

Fall Out Boy already did that

[@SitDownStandUp-]

​@@joewhitehead3that song sucks

[@joewhitehead3]

@@SitDownStandUp- It’s the same song just with different lyrics in the verses

[@scoliosis_victim]

this song has been stuck in my head for like 5 days