“When we are gone it will still go on and on and on and on.” This speaks volumes to every generation. We are not the ones to start it, we are just picking it up from the last and it goes on.
I really don't like how people often don't get the purpose of this song. This song isn't saying "the world's turning worse". It's saying the world hasn't actually changed that much. The garbage fire you're seeing was always there. I keep seeing people saying stuff like "this song keeps getting more and more relevant". No, the song was always relevant. It will always be relevant. People get bogged down by the idea that the world before their time was a total utopia then everything fell to crap as they were growing up, but this song is a message that that's not true, the world's always been like this and you weren't born at a "bad time". All of human history was a "bad time" (or good time, depending on how you see it) to be born. You didn't start the fire, the previous generation didn't start the fire. That fire was always there. This song should be a message to get out of your generational victim-complex, but people instead use it as an anthem for their generational victim-complex. That annoys me so much.
If people have a problem understanding "We didn't start the fire. It was always burning, since the world's been turning." Take their opinion as seriously as a fart in the wind, loads of ignorant people.
@@assasin19991999 S.F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things(1968) is something omitted in this video as it was the first rock opera. It omits the members performing it.
I am 73, and I lived through all of these events or almost all of them. What amazes is how much has happened since the song was put out. About 30 years afterwards, I think as much stuff has happened and five times more than is referred to in this song. Good lesson for people who thinks that their lifetimes are the ones that are most important. History goes on long after everybody dies.
It's less more happened it's more stuff became seen worldwide. The internet means the world is pretty connected, meaning everyone in Russia sees the funeral of a Taiwanese leader while a Spaniard could see a British coronation. As much as today was happening people just didn't see. The only case I'd say more happened since the 80s is trends and fashion, which pretty much changes every week due to trends becoming so fast paced due to the interconnectivity of the internet. 2020 was packed though.
Problem with the Fall Out Boy version is the same as every other redo that's been attempted - it's just a mash of things that happened, without rhyme or reason. If you listen to the original, they're all in order.
@@wandererchronicles Furthermore, they forgot to include a major historical event that Billy Joel just barely was not able to include- the fall of the Berlin Wall, which happened 53 days after the song's release and less than a month before it reached number 1.
I remember my English teacher in high school had us listen to this song and then choose a lyric to give a presentation on. One of the coolest class projects I ever had!
Damn, you guys had GREAT teachers. Taught you guys to actually know history and not be afraid of it. American History is raw and rough, and the best of us can handle its truth and learn from it. Honest American History is a complex story. A lot of good, some great and a bit of conflict to keep it that way. But hearing your generation say things like your comments makes me a proud American. Your positive reactions to this song gives me overwhelming hope for the next generation.
And This song will go on, as New Generations pass, New Lyrics will be added. This is the song that doesn't end, it goes on and on my friend, one man started singing it not knowing what it was, And We'll continue singing it forever just because, This is the song that doesn't end. Billy Joel is Eternal.
I just realized that the theme of this song is "Don't blame us for the world being screwed, it was like this when we got here." I've been listening to this song for years and just got that.
It's a message lost on a lot of people, even people who really like the song. *Looking at you, 50 year olds telling 15 year olds they caused global warning.*
"England got a new queen" words that would not be repeated for a century. Edit: for all 'this didnt age well' folk .. does england got a new queen lately?
3:09 the most pivotal point in history. The birth of Heavy metal. Long guitar solos, guitar riffs, badass!! I like the music anyway. It gets inside me!! Not the lyrics but the music. I can take anything from the 50's til Y2K rock but stuff today?? No way!!
@@Sir_Squirrel_TheIV must be hard for Mr Joel to sing this live though due to all the events he mentions in this song from 1949-1989. Great song, though. From the hand of a genius clearly.
I really hope Billy Joel lives for another 10 years and comes out with part 2 for this song. Other people have written their versions, but he is the only man who is right for the job.
Like Jim Daly, who's made several naming all the teams in the English league system in football (Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two).
Hes said on a few occasions he wasnt going too. Thought it was too clunky to put to proper music, and he really disliked the melody. I think there is such a thing as knowing too much about music. Suck it up and make part 2!
+Gemma Pettersen Pretty impressive in itself, since only four months had passed since the most recent event (Tiananmen Square) and the release of the song.
He is defensive about it because the accusation is always that they, the Jews, started the fire and this led to terrible persecution throughout history. This was a persecution his father has suffered keenly .
Probably one of the most unaccountable songs ever written. Billy and his fans didn't start the fire, but you all sure as hell kept it going and continue to benefit from its warmth and everyone knows it.
So ironic that this song is meant to sing out the woes of living in the 80s. I bet the people who wrote this song now will be begging to go back to the 80s, given how much worse our world is.
You don't get the real gist of the song, it is so much bigger and deeper than you give it credit for being. Everything in the song is about power and fame and politics and the cost to the people of the world. The images in the back mean just as much if not more than the lyrics. It shows things that were not mentioned in the song, the burning bras of the late 60's and early 70's, the burning of the draft cards, the torture of humans, all seen in the background because the average person doesn't want to know about those things and think they are insignificant. If you only really, really knew....
@@armorpro573 Really? Worse? I agree i kinda hate modern society, but we have the best life in human history. Newsflash, wars, pandemics, corruption etc has always been happening. Today all these problems barely affect us. We had a deadly pandemic with a death rate that was below double digits? Thats unheard of in history. Apart from the worldly stuff, we live like literal kings. We can get the tastiest foods, the most stimulating entertainment, the best healthcare all for a fraction of the cost of people in the past. Yeah housing prices are a rip off and insane, but at the same time thats really only in cities, if you would live in a place as populated as your grandparents would live in it would be the same price with inflation. I struggle still, and im far from perfect, we all do, because thats how the human brain is wired. But all you guys saying today is much worse is just absolutely insane
My 8th grade history teacher played this for us and then assigned us different lyrics to research the significance. Has stayed with me all this time. Thank you Mr. Ellis! Amazing teacher
I'd be honored if some Billy Joel fans would take a quick listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of his classics HONESTY and VIENNA on my YT in tribute to the master of lyricism & composition. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Peace & stay safe.
Yeah that because it all still the same people just with new names the illuminati the templars the government and the millions of other names they go by its all the same
One of these songs that I had forgotten - time and tide wait for no man, especially when the man can't swim very well - and then along came the BBC reminding me that I hadn't forgotten it at all, it was lying there waiting for me to wake up. Great song.
I think this song came out in 1989. I was 17 at the time. Love the song but had no glue what the song was really about. I’m 50 now and this resonates with me on so many levels. It touched on politics, cultural differences, scientific, religion etc etc. What a master piece!
Faith No More - "We Care a Lot" is another good one. Similar message. A lot of people don't seem to understand that the entire song is sarcastically making fun of the virtue-signaling "leaders". 1987 and it's more relevant than ever before.
Not to ruin the joke, (Don't press read more if you don't want OP's joke ruined) he isn't a psychic, there had been multiple incidents that happened in the Suez years before 2021, like the 1956 Suez crisis, he could've maybe just referenced that instead.
@@nargileh1 Given the fact it mentions Budapest (the centre of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956) and Krushchev (who became leader of the Soviet Union in 1953) its probably referring to the Suez Crisis in 1956, not the later closure between the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War.
Movie Review Guy I want to write to Billy Joel and ask him to update this song to include George Floyd and the Hong Kong protest. (His last line “China under martial law, I can’t take it anymore!” Like coming to a full circle)
This was about world history from 1949-1989. Billy Joel own lifespan. Would be nice to do update version with additional lyrics to celebrate his 75th anniversary.
@@mattkielbania9082 Yes, but although it's a solid continuation lyrically, the play style and vocals are too hipster pop - just doesn't have the same raw angst Joel had doing this one.
My greatgrandmother last name was Pasternak, she was Russian Jewish inmigrant that came to Argentina, where I was born. She's supposed to be a close relative of writer Boris Pasternak, who is mentioned in this song. So proud! 1:41
My son had a history teacher that played this song and your assignment is to identify the references. Now that’s a freaking good teacher. Everyone loves music. Billy made a significant song That’s what we want for our childrens education to challenge them and learn
@@Jan7412 wow. That’s a great story how great teachers evolve. Unfortunately I can’t relay that to my son as he died last year summer at 35yo 2021 in my arms cardiac issues not drug induced. He was a talented bass player
Actually some kid told him he was sad billy Joel never lived through anything cool and it ate away at him and he said “eff that kid my life is so cool! Check out whats happened in My life time kid.” And thus a legend hit was born. The world should thank that kid
He wrote it for somebody that said he was lucky because he grew up in the 50's when "nothing happened". Billy was like "excuse me, a bunch of stuff happened" So he wrote this song
I don't understand why so many Vevo channels put half the lyrics to a song in the description, but then leave the other half out. Why do that? Why bother putting them in there at all if you can't just post the whole thing?
RetroGuy3210 maybe it's so this video is one of the first ones to come up when someone types in the lyrics? That's just a guess though. That's how I found this video. I forgot the song name and artist and typed in the only lyrics I knew.
My sophomore year of High School the History teacher offered anyone in the class 50 bonus points if they could sit down and write or recite the lyrics to the entire song. 11 years later now this song and it's every line live in my head rent free permanently. Easiest 50 points ever.
Literally came here to write about how my Sophomore year of High School my US History teacher told us we had a choice as a class: Do the final exam created by the school board. Or We have to write a sentence or small paragraph explaining what each reference to the song was about. He played the song on loop the entire hour. It was the most amazing ending to a class. I did fantastic on that exam. Can't believe one of the first comments I see is someone else experiencing something the same as I went through. Best wishes to you.
I doubt he'll do it. Billy actually doesn't really like this song. He's got a point it's not a particularly well made song. It's just catchy and loops a lot. The history is the only thing that makes it good enough. Honestly though I'm all for more musical history.
So the story goes Billy Joel wrote this after being told by a 21 year old that nothing of interest happened while Joel was growing up. You know you're good when you get a hit out of an F you song you wrote to someone.
True story: Why did Billy Joel Write “We Didn’t Start the Fire?” Joel said that he wrote the song because he really likes history a lot. In fact, he once mentioned in an interview that if he did not become a musician, he would probably love to become a history teacher. So he wrote a catchy tune of his life events. It was his third #1 hit and it was on the album Storm Front - his second to last album which was when he retired when his wife divorced him (she drew the cover of his last album - River of Dreams). Of course he did one more album in 2001 but it went nowhere as it was an orchestral piece - but it did well in those circles, charting #83.
@@tofu9107 That is interesting as well. He also says something I also knew - he does not particularly love the melody as he thought it was too simple and sounds like a dentist drill. He was in the end surprised this was such a huge hit but plays it for his fans although for him, it is the easiest song to play.
Sir there’s a fire atop the mountain and it’s talking. “ we’re not reporting that to anyone unless they ask” But also there’s a fire talking on the top of the mountain and no one can make it do anything the fire is God himself and He loves mankind enough that He sent His son and annointed Him as Chief of the Church and king over all creation! He burns forever as if He was in a furnace. Wow
People saying this song needs to be re-written have it all wrong, keep what's there and just add on to it... We can have an epic song that grows as the world keeps f'n up.
Mark Gales I had a HS teacher do the same thing and then we had to write our own versions of the song at the end of the semester. So much fun and interesting.
I try to analyze the video: The kitchen from 1947 the family moves in and has just married. Later they have a son. (Small detail the woman wears earrings that resemble an atom to represent the atomic joy of the 50's.) The Son grows up graduating and has a daughter(?) The daughter lives with her grandparents and learns violin. She later has a rebellious phase and has a boyfriend she also has a daughter who attends the funeral of her great-grandfather. The whole family is present at the funeral and mourns. So far, Billy Joel has remained an undiscovered observer of the family that has watched her over the years without ageing. In the last kitchen sits the wife of the first man alone at the kitchen counter and the kitchen is surrounded by rubble and fire (now my theory: The last kitchen is a remnant of the house that was destroyed after a war "The fire has escalated" ) I think in the last seconds the woman first notices Billy Joel what one recognizes through the "flashback" in which she apparently realizes that she and her family were observed all the time.
I think the video has to do more about how all sorts of events could happen during the life of a human being. Some being more bigger than others and we really never notice the majority of them. In other words, we only feel the impact of a few while the majority we are oblivious too. The video starts off during the end of the 1940’s or beginning of the 1950’s. Either way I think they were trying to portray the way the majority of society conforms and that is “I’m going to settle down with the woman I love by getting married, finding a decent paying job, buy a house, start and raise a family till I get old and die.” All while the world was and still is burning. I also think that the reason at the end you notice everything going back to the beginning is because I think they were trying to symbolize that same cycle getting ready to begin again and that’s how it’s always been since the world’s been turning with civilization.
Talk about dramatisation brings a tear to my eye please like how old are you? Ya can call me what you want and you can say what you want but when I see stupid I have to call it out.....sorry.
This song was one hell of a way to end the 80’s era since it was released only months before the 80’s ended, which is the era that spiked on the Cold War which is a good amount what this song is about ( was actually made due to the fact that a 21 year old at the time told Billy that nothing happened around the 50’s)that’s why I find this song brilliant.
Uh the Cold War didn't "Spike" in the 80's... everything this song is about is post WWII 50's, 60's, 70's. The Berlin Wall fell down in 1989. This song is literally about the "American Dream" of Post WWII, and the cluster fuck of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970's and finally with the materialism and train wreck of the 80s... this song is depressing on many many levels... because the kids of the 80's who are now the kids in their 40's are saying "We are paying for the fire which began before us"... I look at this video and I want to cry.
Thats like 50 years of history. A song seriously can't put all in a nutshell. Though this was a good attempt to do so. Seriously, read into more or watch some videos on it. Its interesting.
He's obviously referring to these things and people IN CONTEXT. That will admittedly be lost upon people who tend to think in literal terms like yourself.
@@valentinacanani1906 This version is in chronological order... The Fallout Boy Version is ... A fucking timeline cluster-fuck. Yes, you can throw in lyrics to fit the current age but I wouldn't compare Fallout Boy's absolute historical mess to this one. One of the two: Every Event in Chronological Order - A fantastic tool of teaching. The other: Discombobulated, barely linked events thrown out varying sometimes by decades. Their version isn't 'bad' as far as sound, but as far as being a useful teaching tool... Eh... The Original can actually teach a timeline, the new one can't.
He came with the house. The guy who sold it was like "Well, yeah he's been here since before it was even built trying to use things as instruments. He pretty much eats nothing, is always awake, and will attempt to use your possessions as drum sticks."
@@sebasedtionvettel Billy Joel is too powerful to get complained about. The Legends say that if you disrespect him in any way he'll take your toes and use them as drum sticks.
I think this song is a great reminder that no matter what history keeps on moving, nothing is ever truly the end, even this pandemic, it will end eventually and become part of our history, as Billy Joel said, the fire was burning ever since the world was turning, so it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Hope you have a great day!
The point is that the world is not turning. Wake up we are not spinning at 1000 miles per hour at the equator or flying around the sun at 66600 miles per hour or following the sun at 500000 miles per hour trust your common sense GOD gave you
I was born 1955 and admit I only get about 80% of these relative events or people in my 70ish years of life. I have replayed this hundreds of times with the lyrics and am starkly ashamed. My daughter was born with a severe defect from Thalidomide and as a soldier for 2 decades, many notations are things I experienced or lived through. I sincerely wish each and every high school would play this and discuss each notation and why it is in the lyrics. History is important!
yeah all these gate keeping jerks pretending like theyre smarter than everyone because "oh look at me uuuh i liked the song before avengers" like the song wasnt popular before the movie came out
@@beastmerc84 ... back then they were burning bras too, look it up and they actually spit on returning vets from that war look up the song "5 dead In Ohio"
World War 3, Corona. the problematic rise of athoritarian leaders around the world, often using the current crisis to enhance their power, Killer Bees....
Billy Joel echoes a very important point: there's nothing new under the sun. Humans have always done bad, and always done good. We're all moved by the same virtues and vices as we ever have been. We should not feel like our time is this totally unprecedented series of problems. There have always been problems, yet we have always endured. It's oddly hopeful.
yeah that why i hate the term "in my days everything was better", because chances are you were either an ignorant or you just new to real life problems. Hell i guess kids when they grew up they will start saying "i miss the good all days of 2020 when i did nothing but streaming and staying at home"
@@Haiesta I think it more it a "No matter what shit is going down, humanity will endure." We're tough creatures, who've been to space, built weapons that could end life as we know it, and created the largest knowledge base in history; the internet. We'll survive, I garentee it
Vince the Deer Thats exactly what the song means. Your generation tends to think that the fire is much worse then the older generation. Billy Joel wrote the song because a youth told him things are really bad now and tried to tell Billy Joel that nothing happened in the 50s, which wasn't true at all because their was the Korean War and Suez Canal. So the song is about how the younger generation tends to overthing how problems now are much worse than years before.
+Clayton Berry Yeah. Especially with the creation of the internet, it's much easier to see the bad in the world, despite the fact that it was *much* worse less than 50 years ago.
Yeah i know 2020 has been crazy Hong kong thats still happening did you know about that? Australia burning, Brexit, Afganistan war crims Corona, SpaceX, Trump impeachment then America happened oooo boy what have they done, 2020 boys
The song is an indictment of human civilization as a whole. It's showing that there really wasn't a "golden" decade. Horrible crap's been happening since the dawn of time. While it might not be an American thing to say, it's certainly a Christian one, whether Billy Joel was going for that or not.
One thing I love about Billy Joel's songs is they tell a story. Piano Man is about him. Uptown Girl - Being married to all but a supermodel, Christine Brinkley. We Didn't Start the Fire - We all know the history in this one. And these are just three of them.
He even mentions the shot, right before the queen, and 2020 is way off. Now Tom MacDonald is singing about the fire. America is going through overthrow. Do you miss me? You have a ba nana republic. Hang out with the go rillas at Kevin's Corner.
Hi guys,sorry for the spam but we're a small channel that does reaction videos. We have done a reaction on this song and several other rock and metal songs. We would kindly appreciate it if you could go check it out as it means a lot to us. Constructive criticism is always welcomed. Thanks!
I find this song rather sobering and comforting. It always feels like the world was better in the old days but it keeps reminding us that it is quite the opposite and it was rather worse in more ways than one. Pick your poison I guess.
@@someoneawesome8717 i feel like we ended more fires than we started, throughout the last few decades. Bad things will forever happen, but one or two bad things happening doesn't mean the world got worse, the world was always worse, and the bad things that happen are only reminders of it.
@@othamneil8958 unfortunately I live in an area where at best the people who were singing this when it first came out are at best trying to stop new generations from extinguishing fires they find useful (like the oil industry) and at worst are trying to get their kids to start fires without any idea about the consequences
That’s the whole point of the song. The fire will keep burning because the people born today didn’t start it, it’s been around since the start of recorded history.
![Coheed and Cambria - Searching for Tomorrow [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hDsYGLbmadg/mqdefault.jpg)
“When we are gone it will still go on and on and on and on.”
This speaks volumes to every generation. We are not the ones to start it, we are just picking it up from the last and it goes on.
Obviously it has to burn you plumb, if it stops we are all fcked
It will never end because hate/war and all bad things have been going on since the beginning of man.
@@andynewby45 “War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaited it’s ultimate practitioner - Cormac McCarthy
Californication- Red hot chilli peppers
Sweet dreams - Annie lennox
Its all very relevant!
@@andynewby45Mankind will always have conflicts, there’s only so much of the World to control, give and take. 🌎🔥🌈🙏☮️✌️☮️🕊️
I really don't like how people often don't get the purpose of this song. This song isn't saying "the world's turning worse". It's saying the world hasn't actually changed that much. The garbage fire you're seeing was always there. I keep seeing people saying stuff like "this song keeps getting more and more relevant". No, the song was always relevant. It will always be relevant. People get bogged down by the idea that the world before their time was a total utopia then everything fell to crap as they were growing up, but this song is a message that that's not true, the world's always been like this and you weren't born at a "bad time". All of human history was a "bad time" (or good time, depending on how you see it) to be born. You didn't start the fire, the previous generation didn't start the fire. That fire was always there. This song should be a message to get out of your generational victim-complex, but people instead use it as an anthem for their generational victim-complex. That annoys me so much.
If people have a problem understanding "We didn't start the fire.
It was always burning, since the world's been turning."
Take their opinion as seriously as a fart in the wind, loads of ignorant people.
@@assasin19991999lmao “as seriously as a fart in the wind” 😂 imma use that now
@@assasin19991999 S.F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things(1968) is something omitted in this video as it was the first rock opera. It omits the members performing it.
It's happening in the UK now
@@unknownfinleyfn9366 I hope it does happen in the UK when UK, USA, and the West are under Sharia Law.
I am 73, and I lived through all of these events or almost all of them. What amazes is how much has happened since the song was put out. About 30 years afterwards, I think as much stuff has happened and five times more than is referred to in this song. Good lesson for people who thinks that their lifetimes are the ones that are most important. History goes on long after everybody dies.
Shhh. Get out
@@lindabyrne4965 shut up dude
It's less more happened it's more stuff became seen worldwide. The internet means the world is pretty connected, meaning everyone in Russia sees the funeral of a Taiwanese leader while a Spaniard could see a British coronation. As much as today was happening people just didn't see. The only case I'd say more happened since the 80s is trends and fashion, which pretty much changes every week due to trends becoming so fast paced due to the interconnectivity of the internet. 2020 was packed though.
I'm here when this comment has 111 likes, I bet it will hit 5K in the next few months
@@user-jn1wm3tb8v It was actually John Lennon's son's friend...Cant remember if Sean or Julian.
Billy Joel needs to write a part 2 for the 21st century
Fall Out Boy did, with events from 1989 (the year the song dropped) to the 2020s
Just 5 years left until Billy can write about the next 40 years of his life
Problem with the Fall Out Boy version is the same as every other redo that's been attempted - it's just a mash of things that happened, without rhyme or reason. If you listen to the original, they're all in order.
Yes let’s go!!!
@@wandererchronicles Furthermore, they forgot to include a major historical event that Billy Joel just barely was not able to include- the fall of the Berlin Wall, which happened 53 days after the song's release and less than a month before it reached number 1.
I think the main telling of this song is "Every generation has their own story, so don't fight each other on this"
Summary:Cold War
I think it about the problem each generations face and they deny that they start but still won't solve it
@@DrifterDigzag what?
Also partly about separating every day life In these times from what actually living in them is like.
no
Proclaims he didn't start a fire
But the song is pretty lit
So what happened to your house rohan?
Of course he didn't. Josuke did it
Time to turn this reply section into JOJO
@@theoreoman4597 honestly it's what people should expect when they have a JoJo profile pic
🗿
I remember my English teacher in high school had us listen to this song and then choose a lyric to give a presentation on. One of the coolest class projects I ever had!
My AP history did this is Highschool along with REM's It's The End of The World.
Same man
Thumbs DOWN if the Fall Out Boy cover DIDN'T bring you here!!!
My 8th grade Social Studies teacher did the same thing.
Damn, you guys had GREAT teachers. Taught you guys to actually know history and not be afraid of it. American History is raw and rough, and the best of us can handle its truth and learn from it. Honest American History is a complex story. A lot of good, some great and a bit of conflict to keep it that way. But hearing your generation say things like your comments makes me a proud American. Your positive reactions to this song gives me overwhelming hope for the next generation.
And This song will go on, as New Generations pass, New Lyrics will be added. This is the song that doesn't end, it goes on and on my friend, one man started singing it not knowing what it was, And We'll continue singing it forever just because, This is the song that doesn't end. Billy Joel is Eternal.
one thing is for sure,he is a lot older and fatter
@@mtsky-tc6uw Billy Joel is singing about People and events from when he was born 1949, to The Cola Wars Starting in 89. He was 40 at the time.
Bob Dylan JEWISH JESUS GOD Billy Joel ALWAYS FOREVER ETERNAL ❤😂🎉😢😮😅😊
I really appreciate your support
@@Billyjoel-c8c 👍🏽 I loved you in Oliver & Company, They call 1988 The Dark Age of Disney. but at least it wasn't the Fall.
I just realized that the theme of this song is "Don't blame us for the world being screwed, it was like this when we got here." I've been listening to this song for years and just got that.
He is the Messiah
@@grandmasteryoda4829 Jesus is the way truth and the light
@@newrev9er Hope one we will get there,mate.Salutes from Brazil.
.🤔😑🖕.
It's a message lost on a lot of people, even people who really like the song. *Looking at you, 50 year olds telling 15 year olds they caused global warning.*
"England got a new queen" words that would not be repeated for a century.
Edit: for all 'this didnt age well' folk .. does england got a new queen lately?
Or even for more
She’s only 94 not even that old
could be even longer bc there arent any girls close in line ://
@@okas425 smh, shes actually 19463824 years old
Only if you don’t count 1985
This whole song is a history lesson
This is the Forrest Gump of music
69 likes
@David Nash Ha Ha, its pretty much the story of my life
A bullet point list of the last century
Robert Erlandson my highschool history teacher actually played this song for us
3:09 the most pivotal point in history. The birth of Heavy metal. Long guitar solos, guitar riffs, badass!! I like the music anyway. It gets inside me!! Not the lyrics but the music. I can take anything from the 50's til Y2K rock but stuff today?? No way!!
i hear you on this one!
A 40-year history lesson in one song. Genius. Well done, Mr Joel.
I know the entire cold war
@@Sir_Squirrel_TheIV must be hard for Mr Joel to sing this live though due to all the events he mentions in this song from 1949-1989. Great song, though. From the hand of a genius clearly.
Exactly! He’s amazing
@@Sir_Squirrel_TheIV, Mr Joel sure is amazing. He grew up in a great time in music history. Great tune this.
Not really a lesson he just mentions everyone
It's 2024 and I can confirm, it's still burning.
🔥🔥🔥🇺🇸
Yes
...when we are gone ,it will still burn on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on🔥🔥🔥
Its burning more now that 2024 is the year of the dragon 😆
Yes, I agree 😉🍾🎉🇩🇪💯😀
Dude needs to write a Part Two, cuz the damn fire is still raging...
I came back to this song when ever the world lit again
Many people have updated it if you look on RUclips..
Afro-Americans and Antifa burning down America and the national guard does nothing.
@@Thrillseeker666 Police tear gassing peaceful protesters and pushing senior citizens on the ground
@@Thrillseeker666 And anti humans like you are the exact reason the fire is still raging. Bounce bigot, stupid isn't welcome here.
“We didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world’s been turning”
Great song.
I really hope Billy Joel lives for another 10 years and comes out with part 2 for this song. Other people have written their versions, but he is the only man who is right for the job.
Like Jim Daly, who's made several naming all the teams in the English league system in football (Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two).
@@heinzdoofenshmirtz8643 No he's talking about updated versions of the history
Hes said on a few occasions he wasnt going too. Thought it was too clunky to put to proper music, and he really disliked the melody. I think there is such a thing as knowing too much about music. Suck it up and make part 2!
Square Peg NO!!!!! This song sux! Please don’t punish again.
Fallout Boy did it
That's one hell of a history lesson, you pretty much covered over 50 years.
+countys32 I believe this was 1949 - 1989. Would love to here the next 40 years in 2029!
+Gemma Pettersen Me too, you never know he could release a sequel if He's still going :)
+Bradford Stadsvold 👍
+Bradford Stadsvold my history teacher makes us learn the song and everything behind the song
+Gemma Pettersen Pretty impressive in itself, since only four months had passed since the most recent event (Tiananmen Square) and the release of the song.
For someone who didn't start a fire, Billy Joel sure is defensive about it.
He DID
@@jacklyn6253 AND he has every right to be ...it IS his song. Legally & otherwise.
lol BEST comment so far. Made me laugh, and that's a GOOD thing!!
That's EXACTLY what someone who started the fire would say!
He is defensive about it because the accusation is always that they, the Jews, started the fire and this led to terrible persecution throughout history. This was a persecution his father has suffered keenly .
Probably one of the most unaccountable songs ever written. Billy and his fans didn't start the fire, but you all sure as hell kept it going and continue to benefit from its warmth and everyone knows it.
So ironic that this song is meant to sing out the woes of living in the 80s. I bet the people who wrote this song now will be begging to go back to the 80s, given how much worse our world is.
You don't get the real gist of the song, it is so much bigger and deeper than you give it credit for being. Everything in the song is about power and fame and politics and the cost to the people of the world. The images in the back mean just as much if not more than the lyrics. It shows things that were not mentioned in the song, the burning bras of the late 60's and early 70's, the burning of the draft cards, the torture of humans, all seen in the background because the average person doesn't want to know about those things and think they are insignificant. If you only really, really knew....
@@carlahagood5917 i think (correct me if im wrong) but the main motivation/driving event that caused the song to be written was the vietnam war
@@armorpro573 Really? Worse? I agree i kinda hate modern society, but we have the best life in human history. Newsflash, wars, pandemics, corruption etc has always been happening. Today all these problems barely affect us. We had a deadly pandemic with a death rate that was below double digits? Thats unheard of in history.
Apart from the worldly stuff, we live like literal kings. We can get the tastiest foods, the most stimulating entertainment, the best healthcare all for a fraction of the cost of people in the past. Yeah housing prices are a rip off and insane, but at the same time thats really only in cities, if you would live in a place as populated as your grandparents would live in it would be the same price with inflation.
I struggle still, and im far from perfect, we all do, because thats how the human brain is wired. But all you guys saying today is much worse is just absolutely insane
@@Chickenwingsinthedings LOL I made that comment as rhetorical. Yes I know it's not all bad today, but still.
My 8th grade history teacher played this for us and then assigned us different lyrics to research the significance. Has stayed with me all this time. Thank you Mr. Ellis! Amazing teacher
I wish my history teacher would do something like this...
@@mag8256 my 85th grade English teacher played it for us
@@lankovnose7193 85th?
Wow...that's a cool teacher right there! I wish mine were like him!
We did this too! I remember the lyrics because of that and it's a song I'll always love
Half of the things he mentions are still very much relevant and still current issues and events. The fire truly does wage on.
When I first heard this song I was told that it was from a while ago but I thought it listed more modern things as well.
I'd be honored if some Billy Joel fans would take a quick listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of his classics HONESTY and VIENNA on my YT in tribute to the master of lyricism & composition. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Peace & stay safe.
“We didn’t start the fire”
that is the name of the song yes. smh@@beans00001
Yeah that because it all still the same people just with new names the illuminati the templars the government and the millions of other names they go by its all the same
Only Billy Joel could give a history lesson in over 4 minutes. Great song!
I thought Don McLean did a fairly good job of it, even though it was only a couple decades and a much smaller group of people.
I always love how such an old song can stay relevant and still get new top comments on it
Well bill wurtz did the history of everything in 20
Iron Maiden does it in every song
Ha! Loved that ❤️
One of these songs that I had forgotten - time and tide wait for no man, especially when the man can't swim very well - and then along came the BBC reminding me that I hadn't forgotten it at all, it was lying there waiting for me to wake up. Great song.
Sounds like something someone who started the fire would say.
FOESHOW
You’re onto something here
Hi albert
Sorry just trying socialize during quarantine
ye exactl... i mean i wouldn't know
I think this song came out in 1989. I was 17 at the time. Love the song but had no glue what the song was really about. I’m 50 now and this resonates with me on so many levels. It touched on politics, cultural differences, scientific, religion etc etc. What a master piece!
Faith No More - "We Care a Lot" is another good one. Similar message. A lot of people don't seem to understand that the entire song is sarcastically making fun of the virtue-signaling "leaders". 1987 and it's more relevant than ever before.
Yep I don’t know when it came out but definitely relate on a global scale down to a personal one
You had no glue!that is sad!!
Rip, no glue 😔
It came out in 2009
"I can't believe i started the fire"
~Ryan.
Ryan started the fire.
@Low xang yen the office u.s.
@Low xang yen the offfice is as good as adventure time and look how amazing that show was
Miyuru Erandahahaha
I was waiting for this
Ryan started the fire
we need an 2024 update of this Billy.
love from Morocco ❤
“Trouble in the Suez.”
He’s not only a history buff, he’s a psychic
Not to ruin the joke, (Don't press read more if you don't want OP's joke ruined)
he isn't a psychic, there had been multiple incidents that happened in the Suez years before 2021, like the 1956 Suez crisis, he could've maybe just referenced that instead.
@@TheGuyThatsNotFunny The song is referring to the 8 year traffic jam in the canal when it ended up in the middle of a conflict zone.
@@nargileh1 Given the fact it mentions Budapest (the centre of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956) and Krushchev (who became leader of the Soviet Union in 1953) its probably referring to the Suez Crisis in 1956, not the later closure between the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War.
Wait, he's not saying "trouble in the sewers"??
Illuminati confirmed
Honestly, this is one of the best songs ever written.
Billy Joel Hated it but the people seem to dig it just groovy.
Couldn't agree more
Eh
@@cdybft9050 I reckon it's very difficult to remember the lyrics. It's basically news headline for decades.
THE BEST
Ryan started the fire!
it just started burning
Hey the temp’s still learning!!
I was waiting for someone to say that
why isnt anybody talking about ryan starting the firee!!!!
I was searching for THE OFFICE related comment.😂
Many people do not know the iconic song behind this dialogue!! xD
No I'm not, I'm not laughing.
No Bill “We Didn’t Start The Fire”…..we poured gasoline on it😢
We didn't. They did. 💙
This song feels it is still so relevant today.
Johnny C More verses could be made, that’s for sure!
Because it is. The events covered setup the modern world.
Because it is. All of this truly happened, and less then 100 years ago.
Movie Review Guy I want to write to Billy Joel and ask him to update this song to include George Floyd and the Hong Kong protest. (His last line “China under martial law, I can’t take it anymore!” Like coming to a full circle)
There’s a Band....they will Rise and Bring our focus back to the real issues
This was about world history from 1949-1989. Billy Joel own lifespan. Would be nice to do update version with additional lyrics to celebrate his 75th anniversary.
Fallout boy did an updated version
@@mattkielbania9082 Yes, but although it's a solid continuation lyrically, the play style and vocals are too hipster pop - just doesn't have the same raw angst Joel had doing this one.
@@Matt-mh5ud while I hear what you mean, there’s not someone else like Billy Joel right now. You take what you can get
@@mattkielbania9082we need to wait for 2029
He’s been asked many times if he would ever update the song, but he doesn’t want to do it
Strangely, this song seems fitting for our times
🙁
@@DonnieDarko1 🙁
@Nicholas Bray we didn't start the fire remasterd
China did hahahaha
@Smokey McB what thank you
My greatgrandmother last name was Pasternak, she was Russian Jewish inmigrant that came to Argentina, where I was born. She's supposed to be a close relative of writer Boris Pasternak, who is mentioned in this song. So proud! 1:41
My son had a history teacher that played this song and your assignment is to identify the references. Now that’s a freaking good teacher. Everyone loves music. Billy made a significant song That’s what we want for our childrens education to challenge them and learn
@Billy Joel ❤
My history still does
Ironically my History teacher made us write a version of this song with references to current events.
@@Jan7412 wow. That’s a great story how great teachers evolve. Unfortunately I can’t relay that to my son as he died last year summer at 35yo 2021 in my arms cardiac issues not drug induced. He was a talented bass player
Hit wrong button. I wanted to add that he would have loved to hear what you wrote. Glad you have at least 1 good teacher
One day Billy Joel was thinking. The world fucking sucks let's write an absolute banger of a song about it.
HAHA pure truth man!
Actually some kid told him he was sad billy Joel never lived through anything cool and it ate away at him and he said “eff that kid my life is so cool! Check out whats happened in My life time kid.” And thus a legend hit was born.
The world should thank that kid
Yeap, he made this song to flex on younger generations
He wrote it for somebody that said he was lucky because he grew up in the 50's when "nothing happened". Billy was like "excuse me, a bunch of stuff happened" So he wrote this song
And what he did burn those tunes. Fucking lit
An example of a song that becomes more powerful as it ages.
And the comments as well
jcahill277 because people become aware of its honesty and warnings...
onyourleftbooob billy Joel said that he hates this song so I doubt
@onyourleftbooob we didnt start the soc jus youtube.
@jcahill277 true !!
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
How'd you know?
noob
I don't understand why so many Vevo channels put half the lyrics to a song in the description, but then leave the other half out. Why do that? Why bother putting them in there at all if you can't just post the whole thing?
I just noticed that I agree
Niceguy3210 Ikr it's dumb
Search engine optimisation I'd guess. You put the most known lyrics so people find the song.
RetroGuy3210 maybe it's so this video is one of the first ones to come up when someone types in the lyrics? That's just a guess though. That's how I found this video. I forgot the song name and artist and typed in the only lyrics I knew.
RetroGuy3210 maybe they are trying to give you a sneak peak of the song. Just to show you what the song Is like
So no ones gonna talk about who actually started the fire? Because we all know it was Ryan, right?
Ryan started the fire
"Dwight"
FIRE.....D....GUY
Copied
@@fzrrest no
Yep
I come back to this song anytime current events feel like they’re too much
I was thinking fitting song for right now. We really didn't start the fire.
Truth! And the majority of young Americans don’t know what half of these topics are about!
I know the feeling
@@SunflowerChild82 The sad part is how relevant this song sill is. half the things, if not more that he mentions are still problems to this day.
Same here, Whit.
This song is still being written and sung. Seems like never end.
My sophomore year of High School the History teacher offered anyone in the class 50 bonus points if they could sit down and write or recite the lyrics to the entire song. 11 years later now this song and it's every line live in my head rent free permanently. Easiest 50 points ever.
Literally came here to write about how my Sophomore year of High School my US History teacher told us we had a choice as a class:
Do the final exam created by the school board.
Or
We have to write a sentence or small paragraph explaining what each reference to the song was about.
He played the song on loop the entire hour. It was the most amazing ending to a class.
I did fantastic on that exam. Can't believe one of the first comments I see is someone else experiencing something the same as I went through.
Best wishes to you.
Doesn't really sound easy, but maybe fun
Yknow whats terrifying, my mom just told me the same thing, but it was her senior year in highschool,
Kinda funky,
XD That sounds like the best history assignment ever!
100 points to Gryffindor
I respect people who could sing this song without looking at the lyrics.
2 years ago me and my friends learned this but instead of singing it we just talked normally and everyone was confused
Aaah. The fruit of low hanging expectations.
I can sing along most of this song but that's about it :)
I can sing it but mis-pronounce a lot of the words
i can only sing like 4 of the parts fully
I think enough happened since this song came out to warrant an official sequel
Might as well wait and see how COVID plays out at least.
There is a sequel and it is called Ryan Started the Fire.
I doubt he'll do it. Billy actually doesn't really like this song. He's got a point it's not a particularly well made song. It's just catchy and loops a lot. The history is the only thing that makes it good enough. Honestly though I'm all for more musical history.
Agree. Include COVID.
yes, there's lots and lots. However I feel a sequel is almost never as good as the original.
This is screaming in 2024, what a time to be alive.
This song should be redone with today's headlines. Instant success.
"Season 1 just begun we were all nooby"
@@tomthemot between headlines and Fortnite is a big difference but ok...
@@tomthemot fortnite dinda dying
@@tomthemotnot that.
look up "we didn't start the fire 2"
So the story goes Billy Joel wrote this after being told by a 21 year old that nothing of interest happened while Joel was growing up. You know you're good when you get a hit out of an F you song you wrote to someone.
Maverick512000 he literally took Time magazine titles
That boy was the son of John Lennon btw.
Close, but still incorrect. It was a friend of John Lennon's son.
I stand corrected.
Maverick512000 that is typical of all lot of the younger generations.
This song got me through my History final no lie
“Kids, i am billy Joel, and today I’ll be teaching you history!”
Edit: I have more likes on a reply than on some of the comments here, wow!
good job
congratulations
I came bc of tub o singing it
@@mynameisjeffy3822 , who is Tub O?
One of the best songwriters. There’s only one Billy Joel.
This song needs to be updated every 40 years ie in 9 years from now
Eduardo Villalobos couldn’t agree more
China's on the Marshall Law, Coronavirus always strong. I can't take it anymore
Eduardo Villalobos listen to Love it if we made it by the 1975 it will give you a similar feeling!
Covid-19, Kobe and crew crashing, US-Iran breaking down
True story: Why did Billy Joel Write “We Didn’t Start the Fire?” Joel said that he wrote the song because he really likes history a lot. In fact, he once mentioned in an interview that if he did not become a musician, he would probably love to become a history teacher. So he wrote a catchy tune of his life events. It was his third #1 hit and it was on the album Storm Front - his second to last album which was when he retired when his wife divorced him (she drew the cover of his last album - River of Dreams). Of course he did one more album in 2001 but it went nowhere as it was an orchestral piece - but it did well in those circles, charting #83.
@@tofu9107 That is interesting as well. He also says something I also knew - he does not particularly love the melody as he thought it was too simple and sounds like a dentist drill. He was in the end surprised this was such a huge hit but plays it for his fans although for him, it is the easiest song to play.
he gives off, like most capitalism-conditioned liberals, like he's excusing the actions of his sick generation. things don't just happen, ffs.
"Is that Billy Joel tapping on our pickle jar?"
"Yes, dear, he came with the house!"
😂😂😂😂
I'd love that
😅😅😅
Hell of a deal
@@bushidotestu1997 what else do i have to say
Sir there’s a fire atop the mountain and it’s talking.
“ we’re not reporting that to anyone unless they ask”
But also there’s a fire talking on the top of the mountain and no one can make it do anything the fire is God himself and He loves mankind enough that He sent His son and annointed Him as Chief of the Church and king over all creation!
He burns forever as if He was in a furnace.
Wow
I wish he would write 3 more verses, covering 1990-2019.
It's your chance, buddy. Go for it!
Aku i agree with your positivity
yeah, I was thinking the same thing.....
@TheJagdog Who cares about whip nae nae and Logan Paul and other gay RUclips stars? Get a life.
@Shay True Blue Aussie Are you being sarcastic or is that the avg Australian Bogan's thought process? I'm actually interested...
Ryan started the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning ( *everybody* )
Oh how the turns have tabled
well then gwyn is keeping it burning, we gonna rekindle it?
Best comment ever? Ryan started the fire😂
@@debbieguccione6707 Thx bro :)
Dwight lol
People saying this song needs to be re-written have it all wrong, keep what's there and just add on to it... We can have an epic song that grows as the world keeps f'n up.
The ballad of fuck-ups.
So an ever growing catalog of our stupidity? Honestly I'd be down
this song is about the problems in the past honestly they could make another one just of the last 2 years
This song will be there for a new race when ever humanity disappears
Hayden Travis the song of human fuck ups
“JFK blown away”.It was mind blowing
Literally (and figuratively)
No brainer that lyric
Once at college, our tutor dedicated the whole lesson to teaching us the meaning of these lyrics. Best lesson I ever had!
Mark Gales I had a HS teacher do the same thing and then we had to write our own versions of the song at the end of the semester. So much fun and interesting.
My 8th grade History teacher did the same thing, only we had to actually explain one of the events mentioned in this song. Shit was fun at the time.
Liz Fair t
it's not like there is a lack of stuff to write about as of event XD for lyrics
you must have obtained a great deal o knowledge during your studies...:)
Mark Gales gay
"Hey honey, why has Billy Joel been hanging out in our kitchen for the past 30 years?"
"I think he came with the house..."
Good, now tell the piano man to play a song
He's one of those presences that just never leaves
Brilliant✌
Funniest comment ever lol 😂😂😂
Brilliant comment 😆😂😅🤣
I try to analyze the video:
The kitchen from 1947 the family moves in and has just married.
Later they have a son.
(Small detail the woman wears earrings that resemble an atom to represent the atomic joy of the 50's.) The Son grows up graduating and has a daughter(?) The daughter lives with her grandparents and learns violin. She later has a rebellious phase and has a boyfriend she also has a daughter who attends the funeral of her great-grandfather. The whole family is present at the funeral and mourns. So far, Billy Joel has remained an undiscovered observer of the family that has watched her over the years without ageing. In the last kitchen sits the wife of the first man alone at the kitchen counter and the kitchen is surrounded by rubble and fire (now my theory: The last kitchen is a remnant of the house that was destroyed after a war "The fire has escalated" ) I think in the last seconds the woman first notices Billy Joel what one recognizes through the "flashback" in which she apparently realizes that she and her family were observed all the time.
I think the video has to do more about how all sorts of events could happen during the life of a human being. Some being more bigger than others and we really never notice the majority of them. In other words, we only feel the impact of a few while the majority we are oblivious too. The video starts off during the end of the 1940’s or beginning of the 1950’s. Either way I think they were trying to portray the way the majority of society conforms and that is “I’m going to settle down with the woman I love by getting married, finding a decent paying job, buy a house, start and raise a family till I get old and die.” All while the world was and still is burning. I also think that the reason at the end you notice everything going back to the beginning is because I think they were trying to symbolize that same cycle getting ready to begin again and that’s how it’s always been since the world’s been turning with civilization.
🤣
This. Is. Art.
Man.. How he delivers the last line of the last verse.. never fails to bring a tear to my eye.. ‘I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMOOO’ !!! ‘
Makes me want to go flip my kitchen table
It ends so quickly :(
@@Nonmuss Perpetually.
@@allen4758😂😂😂
Talk about dramatisation brings a tear to my eye please like how old are you? Ya can call me what you want and you can say what you want but when I see stupid I have to call it out.....sorry.
This song was one hell of a way to end the 80’s era since it was released only months before the 80’s ended, which is the era that spiked on the Cold War which is a good amount what this song is about ( was actually made due to the fact that a 21 year old at the time told Billy that nothing happened around the 50’s)that’s why I find this song brilliant.
The "trouble in the Suez" particularly angered Mr. Joel.
Uh the Cold War didn't "Spike" in the 80's... everything this song is about is post WWII 50's, 60's, 70's. The Berlin Wall fell down in 1989. This song is literally about the "American Dream" of Post WWII, and the cluster fuck of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970's and finally with the materialism and train wreck of the 80s... this song is depressing on many many levels... because the kids of the 80's who are now the kids in their 40's are saying "We are paying for the fire which began before us"... I look at this video and I want to cry.
@@AlcyoneSong the cold war literally stsrted after WW2 ended with disputes on who gets which part of germany/austria
That's why somebody needs to tell this to nothing has happened since the 90s
@@AlcyoneSong Just like every other generation :/
I had a Cold War history assignment, so i listened to this song for revision... I mean I failed but it was a good song at least.
You actually have to study the things he mentions in the lyrics. :P
I remember playing part of this song for a project about political statements in the media. It was a good fifteen years ago that I did that.
You would have missed the Cuban missile crisis then lol
You shoulda got at least a pass, if not a straight A! Shame on those examiners! 😄
Thats like 50 years of history. A song seriously can't put all in a nutshell. Though this was a good attempt to do so. Seriously, read into more or watch some videos on it. Its interesting.
Um, wow. I’m still in awe. Thank you Sir
A history lesson in 4 minutes! That's what I'm talking about!
Yes because saying the names of important historical figures is a great form of education
I'm here for a history project
+Hollyx x me too!
He's obviously referring to these things and people IN CONTEXT. That will admittedly be lost upon people who tend to think in literal terms like yourself.
brent guinn You must be fun at parties.
The fact that you can rewrite this song to every single generations trauma speaks volumes. Music transcends time.
Also, that some of these are still relevant or similar to current events, trippy
fall out boy just did!
@@valentinacanani1906 This version is in chronological order...
The Fallout Boy Version is ... A fucking timeline cluster-fuck.
Yes, you can throw in lyrics to fit the current age but I wouldn't compare Fallout Boy's absolute historical mess to this one.
One of the two: Every Event in Chronological Order - A fantastic tool of teaching.
The other: Discombobulated, barely linked events thrown out varying sometimes by decades.
Their version isn't 'bad' as far as sound, but as far as being a useful teaching tool... Eh... The Original can actually teach a timeline, the new one can't.
Yeahj but it is weak compared to the original @@valentinacanani1906
Why is everyone so obsessed with 'trauma' these days?
Family: trying to live their lives
Billy: don't mind me I'm just here the whole time
He came with the house.
The guy who sold it was like "Well, yeah he's been here since before it was even built trying to use things as instruments. He pretty much eats nothing, is always awake, and will attempt to use your possessions as drum sticks."
@@saintdaveofl.a4729 ain't no complaints
@@sebasedtionvettel Billy Joel is too powerful to get complained about. The Legends say that if you disrespect him in any way he'll take your toes and use them as drum sticks.
At least he helped with the baby, kid probably knows him as "Uncle Billy" now.
@@saintdaveofl.a4729 and he'll entertain the kids for free so you take your Valium and drink your whisky!
August 2024, Flames up to our necks!!!
"Trouble in the Suez" seems pretty relevant right now,
My thoughts exactly
This song was on the radio yesterday and I had the same thought!!!
Literally came here to say that
Yo I was gonna write that!
I hate you. You stole my idea that I came here specifically to write.
Wife: “Honey, why is Billy Joel in our kitchen?”
Husband: “Don’t make eye contact, he’ll go away soon.”
Wife: Looks at Billy Joel
Billy Joel: Starts screaming and running
@@tubb1 got here form there too..😭
They can’t see him
😂
10 years later:
Wife: I really think we should say something
Husband: what did I say. He’ll leave soon
Billy Joel: continues singing for 10 more years
I think this song is a great reminder that no matter what history keeps on moving, nothing is ever truly the end, even this pandemic, it will end eventually and become part of our history, as Billy Joel said, the fire was burning ever since the world was turning, so it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Hope you have a great day!
Hence it's always current. Trouble in the Suez... queen of England will be dead by the end of the year.
"Hey guys, the world will always be burning... Have a great day!" 😂
@@nwatry build a boat
@Noah Watry oh go carry coals to New Castle.
The point is that the world is not turning. Wake up we are not spinning at 1000 miles per hour at the equator or flying around the sun at 66600 miles per hour or following the sun at 500000 miles per hour
trust your common sense GOD gave you
I was born 1955 and admit I only get about 80% of these relative events or people in my 70ish years of life. I have replayed this hundreds of times with the lyrics and am starkly ashamed. My daughter was born with a severe defect from Thalidomide and as a soldier for 2 decades, many notations are things I experienced or lived through. I sincerely wish each and every high school would play this and discuss each notation and why it is in the lyrics. History is important!
Doesn't matter why you're here, you like good music that's all
yeah all these gate keeping jerks pretending like theyre smarter than everyone because "oh look at me uuuh i liked the song before avengers" like the song wasnt popular before the movie came out
But this song sucks.
@@cryptsub frick you dude
finally, the real heroic comment. Old fans of this song must be happy that the Avengers made this song more famous lmao
This song sucks
This song is about everything and nothing at the same time.
True
It's almost like a crib sheet for Cold War history that Billy found on the ground and decided to put to music
So is every other song lol
@@apseudonym well, not only cold war, they listed one ww1 event that I noticed
@@nugget2366 Which one? The song is in chronological order.
Nobody’s gonna talk about the fact that this song is basically going over historical events of the Cold War while the family grows up?
true
I think Vietnam too. That's when they were burning their draft cards.
thank you Captain Obvious
@@beastmerc84 ..and moving to Canada, do they not teach history anymore?
@@beastmerc84 ... back then they were burning bras too, look it up
and they actually spit on returning vets from that war
look up the song "5 dead In Ohio"
Here after Nov 5th 2024. An updated version from 2016 to now would be just as relevant.
I hate it here.
If this song were written today, it would probably cover the entirety of 2020.
True
Edrei Zahari lets start with us killing the leader of Taliban
World War 3, Corona. the problematic rise of athoritarian leaders around the world, often using the current crisis to enhance their power, Killer Bees....
2020’s not over yet, we can still make this a good year
@@Seraphim737-l1i dont forget Australia literally burning
Billy Joel echoes a very important point: there's nothing new under the sun. Humans have always done bad, and always done good. We're all moved by the same virtues and vices as we ever have been. We should not feel like our time is this totally unprecedented series of problems. There have always been problems, yet we have always endured. It's oddly hopeful.
yeah that why i hate the term "in my days everything was better", because chances are you were either an ignorant or you just new to real life problems.
Hell i guess kids when they grew up they will start saying "i miss the good all days of 2020 when i did nothing but streaming and staying at home"
That’s mildly comforting
In a ‘there’s not much you can do to escape’ kind of way, y’know
Don't think we'll survive what we've done to our mother earth......
'Same shit, different generation.'
@@Haiesta I think it more it a "No matter what shit is going down, humanity will endure."
We're tough creatures, who've been to space, built weapons that could end life as we know it, and created the largest knowledge base in history; the internet. We'll survive, I garentee it
“JFK, blown away” I mean you need courage to say this in a song
Russian in afganisthan
misfits "bullet" listen to it and come back XD
My favorite part of the song is that he ends with the cola wars. Why the cola wars?
@@nevergivingup3434 guess we will never know
@@nevergivingup3434 Why not? Perfectly summarizes the time of mass-marketing and TV
Can't beat the fire of human nature for things to go bad! Llo!
2015 is almost over with and the fire is burning brighter than ever.
Vince the Deer Not really, were like two thirds done it...
Vince the Deer Thats exactly what the song means. Your generation tends to think that the fire is much worse then the older generation. Billy Joel wrote the song because a youth told him things are really bad now and tried to tell Billy Joel that nothing happened in the 50s, which wasn't true at all because their was the Korean War and Suez Canal. So the song is about how the younger generation tends to overthing how problems now are much worse than years before.
+Clayton Berry Yeah. Especially with the creation of the internet, it's much easier to see the bad in the world, despite the fact that it was *much* worse less than 50 years ago.
+ilovemywife Sannhetsverd that's rich.
+Vince the Deer
But never forget.. we didn't start it.
this song do be hitting different
undeniably onion just dont
Yeah i know 2020 has been crazy Hong kong thats still happening did you know about that? Australia burning, Brexit, Afganistan war crims Corona, SpaceX, Trump impeachment then America happened oooo boy what have they done, 2020 boys
@@foxinc.3153 not to mention the border clash between China and India
Ikr
2020, we didn't start the fire but some people definitely poured gas all over it.
and put it in a dumpster
No the Australians started the fire
mukbang urmum then the protesters made it worse
@Pratik Pokharel yeah but the riots are dumb we are destroying our our communities and innocent people are getting caught in the crossfire
@@rainingcomplete3018 two wrongs don't make a right
This is weirdly my favorite song of his. I was telling my family it’s a 4 minute history lesson. Song is still relevant today.
"We didn't start the fire"
or
"Billy Joel becomes increasingly aggressive as he explains 20th century history"
But he's so right with what he is singing about..!!
"JFK, blown away!"
@@jockeyfield1954 "What else do I have to say!"
The song is an indictment of human civilization as a whole. It's showing that there really wasn't a "golden" decade. Horrible crap's been happening since the dawn of time.
While it might not be an American thing to say, it's certainly a Christian one, whether Billy Joel was going for that or not.
"might have committed arson"
One thing I love about Billy Joel's songs is they tell a story. Piano Man is about him. Uptown Girl - Being married to all but a supermodel, Christine Brinkley. We Didn't Start the Fire - We all know the history in this one. And these are just three of them.
Now I gotta play Piano Man..was a cocktail waitress in my day...Sooo TRUE
He even mentions the shot, right before the queen, and 2020 is way off. Now Tom MacDonald is singing about the fire. America is going through overthrow. Do you miss me? You have a ba nana republic. Hang out with the go rillas at Kevin's Corner.
@@jasonc0065 what
@@chrisi7127 Billy Joel is anti-shot, and it isn't 2020.
@@jasonc0065 I'd much rather get the polio vaccine than be stuck in an iron lung for the rest of my life.
He didn't start the fire, but his music burns the candle of Rock and Roll.
Thanks great fan ❤❤❤
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300th like
@@billyjoel4332 wow, the real Billy Joel! It’s not like it’s a fake account, or anything.
Yooo that’s fax
I like how this song will forever be relevant, it’s an absolute masterpiece
I find this song rather sobering and comforting. It always feels like the world was better in the old days but it keeps reminding us that it is quite the opposite and it was rather worse in more ways than one. Pick your poison I guess.
As George Steiner once wrote, nostalgia endures from fiction, a comfortable place more stable than historical truth
It was a much slower burn back then
The world is full of injustice and pain but all we can do is try to leave our mark to try and better it in one way or another.
@@someoneawesome8717 i feel like we ended more fires than we started, throughout the last few decades. Bad things will forever happen, but one or two bad things happening doesn't mean the world got worse, the world was always worse, and the bad things that happen are only reminders of it.
@@othamneil8958 unfortunately I live in an area where at best the people who were singing this when it first came out are at best trying to stop new generations from extinguishing fires they find useful (like the oil industry) and at worst are trying to get their kids to start fires without any idea about the consequences
learning history with Billy Joel
I learned more history from this song and the old Carmen Sandiego cartoon then I ever did in class, lol :-)
+Jean Gentry yeah same
So knowing the titles of historical events is, 'learning history'. Sure thing...
I learned more history from this song and school house rock than I did in class.
just look shit up as he sings mahboi
He is right he didn’t start the fire Ryan started the fire
I've been scrolling looking for this comment x)
@@Noowanda same
By dwight and michael
Copued
@@fzrrest i haven’t seen one like this but spell correctly it’s Copied not copued
Election night in the US and listening to this. I wonder what tomorrow will be like.
"Ryan started the fire" -The Office
Finally found someone that also watches the office
I came here after watching that scene
Yes
Yes.
I'm not a big fan of "The Office"
This song is just a catchy way to say "same shit, different day", and I love it
What lyrics!! What song! I memorized the lyrics when I was 10 years old. Now I am listening at age 40. Thank you Billy.
the song isn’t 30 years old tho
@@itzsw1fty490 it's 32 years old actually
@@itzsw1fty490 he isnt gonna memorize the song at age 0
Some songs just stay with you
@@andknuckles101 8
It was always burning. Its still burning now, here in 2024.
Every generation could sing that way
@@demoix well espcially the younger generation for som reason older people love to blame the young for their issues😂
That’s the whole point of the song. The fire will keep burning because the people born today didn’t start it, it’s been around since the start of recorded history.
Water is burning...