We Didn't Start the Fire Explained - Part 1

Full disclaimer - I didn't write the lyrics, just the video.
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The reference and further reading list is far too long to post here, so it can be found instead at: jhebox.com/we-didnt-start-the...
Thanks for watching! All feedback welcome :)
Website: jhebox.com/
Twitter: @JHE_Box

[@person9503]

Its really impressive how much trivia is in this song, and even more impressive you decided to break it all down.

[@JHE_Box]

It really is, apparently he had a big fascination with history and would have become a history teacher if his music career didn’t work out! I’m glad you liked the video :)

[@Cindrbell]

I agree, thank u!!!

[@Cindrbell]

@@JHE_Box thank u for makin that comment. His first love of music was classical. Thank goodness he went his own way n made his own genre. No one compares.

[@siewheilou399]

Real historical events, not quite trivial.

[@rubaiyat300]

I think what's interesting is he really captured what was important at the time and not just stuff that we remember now (or even in the 1980's). Such as the pop cultural mentions and the big presence of boxing and baseball which were probably two of the 3 biggest sports (along with horseracing) in America in the first half of the century.

[@brunda1049]

the amount of world history billy joel taught me blows my mind!!

[@keplerTycho]

I've known all of the lyrics since I was 12 and the Studebaker line helped me answer a trivial pursuit question when I was twelve. Thanks Billy Joel!

[@djflow94]

Commenting in hopes this gets some love by the algorithm. Interesting and well made videos.

[@JHE_Box]

Your noble contributions are much appreciated…. Seriously though thank you, I’m very glad you liked them!

[@PatrickWalsh-qn3fg]

yes@@JHE_Box

[@OOooMRooOO]

That's the perfect explanation, thanks a lot for creating and uploading this!

[@Tommy9834]

What the original song does, that a lot of remix and parodies fail to do, is include things that might not be considered "important" or "historical" and might fall under "Pop Culture" for it's time. But because it does this, it really does feel like a recollection of that era, whereas with a lot of parodies that try to be a "sequel" to the original, ends up just feeling like the modern generation complaining about their current time, which was the impudence for Billy to make the original song in the first place.

[@liquidfiretibby]

Have you actually listened to the new versions? Doesn't seem so. They 100% have pop culture references. "Michael Jordan 23... Michael Jordan 45"

[@Tommy9834]

@@liquidfiretibby I wasn't referring to the new version, but talking about the tons of fan made parodies.

[@liquidfiretibby]

@@Tommy9834 ooohhh ok

[@jeremiahgabriel5709]

This is super great! I love that you made a breakdown! *That said, as regards 5:25; no she is not. King Louis XIV of France reigned for 72 years 110 days. Rama IX from Thailand reigned for 70 years and 126 days. As of this June 2022, Queen Elizabeth II will have reigned 70 years.

[@SuntopKinseeker]

And now she's gone.70 years and 214 days

[@cillianennis9921]

was about to just say this.

[@imacds]

@@SuntopKinseeker So second to the Sun King. Not a bad run.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

5:34 Just to add Rocky Marciano is the only world champion heavyweight in history to retire without a loss, he is also one of the most powerful punchers in history and Sugar Ray is ranked as the greatest pound for pound in world history, so that's why those two specific boxers were chosen, as important enough to be mentioned by name.

[@egrikomrade]

First time I heard someone pronounce Budapest right, hats off sir!

[@koppanyfeher9142]

Ez már haladás

[@TheCsinga]

The flag is upside down tho...

[@aranyaroy]

This channel is criminally underrated. I hope you keep growing brother

[@Pinakamataas]

Awesome video set. In my opinion, this could be made into series, analyzing each event in depth. That's how I came across this and while this was educational, it was definitely not yet enough. I very rarely comment on videos, but this set of videos deserves a boost by the suppressing KZbin algorithm.

[@keanureeves3359]

This is a very underrated video. It should have more views and likes, and you should have more subscribers.

[@bidhiacharya4498]

This is instructive, keep up the good work man.

[@jimbei8791]

Bro I learned more here than in school

[@mothsprojects]

this video helped me out a TON thank you so much for making it!!!!

[@JHE_Box]

Glad it helped you out, thank YOU for watching it! :)

[@acediadekay3793]

Looked this up after The Boys on Amazon

[@annelivalkama7451]

When I heard Peter Pan, I thought Billy Joel was singing about the Disney animated movie which was released the same year.

[@thebosshavoc3530]

The video I never knew I needed

[@EllyInVideoland]

omg this video is amazing and hilarious and so helpful these days. all the visuals were great too! thanks for putting so much work into it! liked subbed commented. keep it up !

[@realkingofantarctica]

Pretty thorough explanations for such a short video. Liked.

[@michaellee4463]

I've heard this song for years over the radio and had no idea about it's meaning, I could only understand the chorus :p Crazy how all of this just completely goes over kid's heads, thank you for these videos

[@inigomoralescobiella4337]

My guy, this is amazing!!

[@JHE_Box]

Thanks! Glad you liked it :)

[@Rambam1776]

No, Billy Joel is amazing. This guy is a fool.

[@it-23vallesbienlawrencet.26]

underrated channel, definitely deserves more subs

[@FuzzyCollieDoggo]

Thank you so much for this video/videos!

[@dannyweggy7719]

Just want to appreciate the puppy at 11:22

[@pikaboystudios3842]

We didn't start the fire!

[@fesazu4252]

i really liked it. Its like history but 10 times faster. greetings from germany

[@opinionatedfoxl8369]

I fucking love Tyskland men dess historia har något som är bäst kvar i det förflutna

[@coughedfeathers1292]

Dude? *DUDE*. Excellent work.

[@tim..indeed]

Update: she's no longer the queen

[@sza13i]

11:40: All my respect is yours after pronouncing Budapest correctly as "Budapesht".

[@ZeryusXD]

Excellent breakdown

[@steveb931]

Well done. Very interesting!

[@akramgimmini8165]

Good Work I love history and this Song Was really nice to learn more about it thx 👌

[@JHE_Box]

You’re welcome, glad you liked it 😊

[@Scandal_Pudding]

Really awesome video :)

[@JHE_Box]

I'm glad you liked it! :)

[@Lu_R]

Wow. This is awesome!

[@JHE_Box]

Thank you, really glad you liked it!

[@michaeltaylor8777]

This ia a wonderful video! I have loved this sonf for years now I know what Im sing about. Thanks!

[@vinitbansi4276]

History nicely explained!! thank you!!

[@13thmistral]

great vid, liked

[@jamiebruner8463]

welp, time to do the new one!

[@michaelrue1400]

As a kid, I misheard trouble in the Suez as trouble in the sewers and said, "Call the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to take care of it!"

[@SouthCentral_IllinoisWX7435]

I'm watching this 3 days after the Queens Death

[@queeny5613]

Awesome

[@cjmarshall0221]

Hello. An outstanding piece of research. Most impressive. However, I'm going to have to challenge one contention: (Queen Elizabeth, still reigning) "The fact that this is the case makes her the longest reigning Monarch, in world history." Crowned queen on February 6, 1952; Elizabeth is the longest reigning CURRENT monarch, at just over 69 years. However, the monarch who still holds the record as of this date (April 20, 2021) is Louis XIV of France, who reigned from May 14, 1643, to September 1, 1715 - a total of 72 years and 110 days. If Elizabeth can hold on for just three more years - which is not unlikely - then she will take the top spot. One more thing of note. Louis XIV has a verifiable and undisputed time of reign as a monarch. There are a number of other monarchs in ancient times who ruled even longer - but they have been contested because the records are in dispute. According to figures, the longest reigning (contested) monarch is Pepin II, who ruled ancient Egypt from 2278 BC to 2184 BC - a total of 94 years. He was just six years old when he became pharaoh, so while this figure is contested, it is not impossible that he could have reigned that long.

[@JHE_Box]

I'm glad you liked the video, and thank you for your point! Duly noted :). After nearly 120 research points that seems like a disappointingly obvious mistake which managed to slip through!

[@ziskamendes]

just 2 more years to go I guess!

[@supershinigami1]

oops

[@cjmarshall0221]

@@supershinigami1 Yeah, I was disappointed too. I was really hoping that she would take the record away from Louis XIV. But as they say, when the man comes for you, there's no arguing.

[@mohammadkhasimabdulmajid9992]

Now she’s kicking in her grave and Charles and Camilla will have a coronation

[@CharliMorganMusic]

Very well made video

[@JHE_Box]

Thank you! Glad you like it 😊

[@Fedico7000]

Just now realizing how hilariously close and uncomfortably similar politicians strategies to gain power nearly led to them being in the same position as Hitler.

[@hazeldmello5800]

Thanks from New Zealand

[@dav3bassman]

One more notable point about The Catcher in the Rye is that John Lennon's killed claimed it was his motivation for doing so. He was obsessed with the protagonist and the concept of teenage rebellion, and just plain crazy of course.

[@Legomaster2211.]

5:20 mhm

[@bridgettelouiseschulz]

Not the picture of the puppy😂 I thought “what was that movie about? 😅” hahahahaha 11:20

[@teresamaguire8197]

Damn good video

[@saraeld9586]

Nice

[@jaketalbert0358]

The quote from 5:30 aged like milk

[@Flitalidapouet]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU ♥♥♥♥♥♥

[@eduardpeeterlemming]

You cant make song out of events. Billy Joel: Hold my beer

[@Ericisnotachannel]

When Billy Joel was asked if he would consider doing a sequel to ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’? he replied: "No, I wrote one song already, and I don’t think it was really that good to begin with, melodically”

[@EddieM1994]

I wonder what events would be included in a sequel song of the next forty years.

[@scpguy1381]

5:29 Rip

[@RetroRenegade8706]

thumbs up on the BTTF reference

[@hanibalking7841]

I swear I looked up the meaning of the song and I find a dude that sounds like the first trader you meet in the fable game

[@chapno4255]

thanks

[@adityarajchopra3887]

Thanks sir

[@arleenschmude7981]

Hope someone does this for the fall out boy one too

[@thepiggygamer4288]

5:24 well that sure was a long reign

[@znyxdrØme]

Duuudee thanks

[@Paul8v]

Are you going to do one for the new fallout boy version? That would be so cool!

[@geeeeeee3]

Forgot Bobby Kennedy not only supported but worked for McCarthy during his hearings.

[@beybladerkid5489]

5:32 this still hurts

[@jvbenjamin]

Greetings from your new subscriber in India

[@JHE_Box]

Welcome to the gang! There aren’t many of us yet but I’m very happy to have you all here :)

[@minticills3859]

How do u only have 116 subs

[@JHE_Box]

Probably because I’m awful at self promotion and haven’t made anything in ages! Hopefully once the pandemic calms down I’ll have time to get back in to this :)

[@QwerkPerk]

You're right. It was Ryan.

[@jenniferhanses]

Re: Walter Winchell. Joel was probably referencing a speech Winchell gave calling Communism the greatest threat to America. The Cold War is a theme that reoccurs in each verse.

[@irExron]

Part one. Part one.

[@lupeg8406]

THIS WAS AMAZING

[@Mr.Tica.]

Do the one fall out boys did, please

[@vergalechera]

How POOR And OLD Was Johnny Ray ? 😭 1:15

[@Redbaron99]

If you go to chapters you get the lyrics

[@biakds5800]

Super inteligente music it amazes me

[@patmanqcjr.6761]

This man is a genius

[@magichammer5198]

There is a technique to it called "Slow the song down, then google the words"

[@patmanqcjr.6761]

@@magichammer5198 yes

[@N00N01]

Imagine actually needing this 😆

[@JHE_Box]

Well unless you pop out the womb with the entire Encyclopædia Britannica stuffed in your head, you’ve got to start somewhere!

[@rahulvani5969]

When is the second part coming 🥲

[@virgilscrivener5335]

Well you're going to have a make a video covering fall out boy's cover too now

[@thebeatlesandqueen8817]

Rip buddy holly

[@Officialperrymkwii]

It was all good till the end, the Suez Crisis had a huge amount of international backlash, there is no way they could've continued.

[@meirzamsky]

wasnt malenkov the deputy general secretary which made him rougly "in charge" at the time of stalins death

[@tsar-tsen2182]

I thought trouble in the Suez was evergreen

[@stephenmaclean3422]

I think you really should have started with Truman inheriting the presidency from Roosevelt in 1945, just months after being sworn in as Vice President. I think the song starts with him in 45 dropping the bombs on Japan.

[@sammybolter6808]

Anyone else using this for history coursework? 😂

[@aceofhearts6202]

Stalin's Funeral was a bigger Astroworld

[@josephcontreras8930]

Can you imagine if the polio vaccine was as politically weaponizesd as the Corona vaccine was????

[@pugking298]

Someone should remix this song but nothing is different except England got a new queen is changed to king

[@imakebadvideos]

Can u also explain 2020?

[@minners19]

It would take 6 hours! 😜

[@danielledurian4332]

Now do the one by Fall Out Boy but the events in the lyrics aren't in chronological order

[@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575]

santayana summed up the point of this entire song.

[@MrHastygamer]

Ok I admit it, this is supposed to be my karaoke song 😅

[@butchknouse8316]

Elvis never drove an 18 wheeler. He delivered auto parts in a pickup truck after school.

[@juliustheshark5762]

Still wont be able to remember the lyrics

[@JHE_Box]

Pro tip, make nearly 30 minutes worth of videos explaining every lyric in the song. Trust me, you’ll never forget them ever again…

[@gachanimestudios8348]

5:32 Not anymore.

[@berandomisme]

For the Suez it was a peace deal. Not a humiliating withdrawal.

[@LebanonStorm]

I like the breakdown. There was a lot just in the first half I had no clue about.

[@thelegend5763]

Pog