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.
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.
"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?
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.*
I remember my history teacher in 11th grade made us dissect this song and what each line was about. It was awesome. Damn that was a long time ago lol!!!
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
Comment on this song starter pack: (Choose your fighter) -Someone needs to make an updated version -This aged well -Ryan started the fire -Tubbo started the fire
“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.
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.
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 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.
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....
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
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 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 .
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.
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.
9/11, Gangnam style, whip nea nea, Logan’s apology,TH-cam disses, TH-cam boxing, Epstein’s cover up, “guns started doing the shootings now!” Gave you one verse you take over xD
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.
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
Didn't that happen a couple of years back when Cristiano Ronaldo hid some Coke bottles under the table at a press conference, cuasing the stock of Coca-Cola to go down?
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.
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 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.
@@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....
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.
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.
I can kinda imagen Billy Joel's spirit ending up in your kitchen, damned for eternity to sing about all the events that happen every day in the same kind of manner this song goes for at least 4 minutes a day. Would be kinda epic i think.
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).
But he can start saying the true. We already start de fire...we are all to blame. It' so easy to blame the others. My generation and the last one is the responsible of the end of this world. I don't hide. He did. I can't understand his thought
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!
If Billy is still kicking he needs to make a sequel to this song when he is 80 in 2029, a serious load of shit has happened since 1989 and this song needs updating.
The casual listener: This song is about 40 years of world history. Me an intellectual: This song is about Billy Joel standing in a kitchen for 40 years.
Cold take. The song is about Boomers knowing the world is getting more and more fucked up but them saying they are not at fault and are just victims of circumstance. That nothing is their fault.
@@anon-yw4wd Close. Don't hate the Boomers for everything. The song is simply this, "the world is fucked up, it has always been fucked up, and no matter how hard we try to make things better, the world continues to be fucked up and will likely be fucked up because it is the nature of man". For now. One day there will come a generation that will start to get things right.
I've seen three versions of this song. One was a Bardcore remix, then this one, then the fallout boy version. What I learned was this: We will always live in interesting times. No matter what era it is.
A song about how every generation has problems that it has to face and no generation ever had it easy. There has and will always be problems in this world. Very catchy song 🔥
Its not all bad, some of the events are good like the development of vaccines but a lot are just notable things like celebrities' rise to star dome or the fact that England has a new queen. Honestly I feel like that's what makes this such a good song its a barrage of events thrown out you but it doesn't focus on the negativity its just what was happening, things you would read about in the paper or hear on the radio and eventually watch on the tv.
I mean, our forefathers did have to fight 2 world wars without modern medicine, communications, or modern munitions. I'd argue they fought worse so we could have better.
"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
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.
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.
THE BOYS BROUGHT ME HERE
Me too... just watching it from the beginning 😊
Same from last night lol
@@engineerlonghorn The show "The Boys" on Prime
@@iliana82 oh, then disregard my question.
Same bro
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?
"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
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
The boys has some good AF soundtrack.
Yeah I’m here for the same
Myep
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
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.*
History teacher: You can't learn the entire history session in 4 minutes.
Billy: *Hold my piano*
I remember my history teacher in 11th grade made us dissect this song and what each line was about. It was awesome. Damn that was a long time ago lol!!!
But this song sucks.
@paul hutchins but I'm not a song.
@@cryptsub but you suck :)
@@SLeoPereS keep your gay fantasies fixated on Billy Joel, not me.
It's 25th July 2024, Let's See How Many People Love Listening To This Awesome And Timeless And Underrated And Legendary Billy Joel Masterpiece.
Crowder did it for me. I saw this song in its proper context
I ensure that my students listen to this song while we proceed through our syllabus on the Cold War
Randomly remembered that i have it in my playlist and now it won't leave my head😂
Thanks for your comments and support
@@luisasedre8962 have you been to any of my shows?
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.
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
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
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.
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 TH-cam..
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.
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!
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.
Singing this in a karaoke bar will make you a hero.
"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 😆😂😅🤣
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
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 ❤️
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.
Billy Joel: “Nobody started the fire.”
Office Fans: *slaps* “WHAT ABOUT RYAN?”
Ryan started the fire it was always burning since da worlds been turning
dream team fans: “WE DIDNT START THE FIRE >:(“
@@ryanhiccups u don't get it
Fwuffy what?
Sara Lynn It’s from The Office - you probably don’t watch it. th-cam.com/video/_qxZOB9GxQM/w-d-xo.html
History teacher (in 1989): you can't put the entire history of the past 40+ years in 4 minutes
Billy Joel: Am I a joke to you?
Purveyor.s of the victors propaganda @ history teachers
Doing my history work whilst listening, it helps me remember cold war events
Fax
Ha ha
@@sillywombat I'm gonna borrow your idea is that ok?
Song: we didn’t start the fire
Arsonist: *sweating intensifies*
Why did the arsonist stay near enough to the fire for it to warm him? Asking to get caught in my opinion
ayo u being too loud
Dabi: Am I a joke to you?
@@sephyr885 you name suggests that you started the fire, so I will ask you "did you start the fire?"
@@sephyr885 I agree with your name
And the world is still burning
And as long as there's still fuel for the fire, there will always be a world TO burn. Somehow comforting when you look at it that way.
How do we stop burning the planet?
@@treheronGet rid of the small hats
Comment on this song starter pack:
(Choose your fighter)
-Someone needs to make an updated version
-This aged well
-Ryan started the fire
-Tubbo started the fire
Ryan and Tubbo were starting fires for the first time in history.
Someone needs to make an updated version
Shut up
@Thot Patrol USA ok
Turbo started the fire
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 😉🍾🎉🇩🇪💯😀
“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. 🌎🔥🌈🙏☮️✌️☮️🕊️
incredibly relevant
Couldn't agree more.
It always was. The message of this song is that the world was always as bad as it is today
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
“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
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
Can't beat the fire of human nature for things to go bad! Llo!
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.
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
Somebody: “I’d be cool if someone could fit 50 years of history in one song.”
Billy Joel: “Hold my beer.”
😄
I believe the bet he made with a friend was similar to that actually lol.
@MUFC2 22 billion lightyears away space probe commander 1 is still searching for who the fuck asked
Love it! 👌
Billy would never ask someone to hold his beer, he'd just chug it down before doing something.
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....
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
"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
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.
These lyrics are still relevant today.
Always a fan of Billy Joel. Wrote some great songs. Always wanted to see him in concert.
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
"England's got a new queen" hits wayyyyy different now
Rip liz
rip
Yep rip Elizabeth
Yeah it really does
There ganna change it to we got a new king now
history teacher: you can't learn the past 50 years in 5 minutes
Billy Joel: *observe*
Also Billy Joel *"I can do it 4 minutes tops"*
You should say listen
Why read newspaper. Its all in one epic compilation now
My middle school history teacher had us memorize this song. Hadn't heard in it a long till today while I was doing errands.
20 minutes 13 billion years:
"History of the world I guess"
“JFK blown away”.It was mind blowing
Literally (and figuratively)
Imagine him writing a reboot for 2020, shit would be 30 minutes long
I have wanted them to add to this for years. Pickup where it left off, bring it current, and title it - "fuel for the fire".
Was thinking about this tbh
We're not that special
WE need it NOW!!!
Literally just 2020 would take at least 5 minutes, Nevermind the few decades since he wrote the original
Dwight: "Ryan started the fire!"
Also Dwight: "Today, smoking is going to save lives."
THE FIRES SHOOTING AT US - Andrew Bernard
Finaly, a comment that don't say anything about 2020. Man, you are the best
Exactly what i thought of when i saw this song pop up
Wring lots smiled deadly cancer nit ssel light oudddf
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 .
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.
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!
..for those of us that lived thru all that..no research was necessary but just enjoyed the music.
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.
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.
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
This is screaming in 2024, what a time to be alive.
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
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
9/11, Gangnam style, whip nea nea, Logan’s apology,TH-cam disses, TH-cam boxing, Epstein’s cover up, “guns started doing the shootings now!” Gave you one verse you take over xD
yeah, I was thinking the same thing.....
@@TheJagdog Who cares about whip nae nae and Logan Paul and other gay TH-cam stars? Get a life.
Amazonas starts burning
*We didn't start the fire*
Farmers:
we did
@@atomixgfx6150 No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
no, it was the Kindle fire
Well, we did
2024 anyone?
Shut up you bot
This, as I told my granddaughter--should be offered as a college course in humanity.
"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"
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
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"
Bro this feels like the story of the US. We didn't start the fire we've been trying to stop it.
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
I love how the "Cola Wars" finally pushed him over the edge.
Well, yeah... If someone tried to give me Pepsi instead of Coke back then, I'd be flipping tables (that weren't bolted to the floor).
Didn't that happen a couple of years back when Cristiano Ronaldo hid some Coke bottles under the table at a press conference, cuasing the stock of Coca-Cola to go down?
@@Amadeus-ms9lt that was more because of sponsorship not happened in the 80s
RC Cola has left the chat.
No way that’s Cola Wars. I thought it was Color Wars, like racism or something
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
August 2024, Flames up to our necks!!!
“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
"Honey, Billy Joel is in our kitchen singing and drumming with our utensils again."
"Just ignore him dear."
Underrated comment 😂😂
and the baby's rattle!
And he lit a fire in our picture room!
🤣🤣🤣
😄
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
This could be 'we cant stop this fire' or 'we didnt starr the fire'. hard to tell
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
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"
"Don't worry . . . Daddy's home!"- Billy Butcher
Im from where you're from lmao
@@flemingtembo4005 I'm from where you're from where they're from
@@PRYDAX aint you twats lucky i showed up
You know something 💪🏾😂
Butcher isn't its Home lander Will Die...
I like how this song will forever be relevant, it’s an absolute masterpiece
"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"
Hughie Campbell, World's Biggest Billy Joel fan
Bradley Ashworth ah... a man of culture who’s seen the boiiiiis!
Episode 4👌
The only Billy he likes.
@@dsfpiuhasdf Always has been
Saketh Reddy fuck yea
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
@@despacito4668 dont forget Australia literally burning
He should do an updated version of this song on everything that’s happened since this came out.
Fall Out Boy brother.
Someone already did! "Fall Out Boy" released their version last year 🙂
@@KittyDavis omg really??!! How did I miss that lol? Thank you 😃
Welcome! 😊@@rachelrattan7585
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
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
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.
The world was always fucked, but the music was better then.
Yes, but who originally fucked it? Try not to think too hard about it, now...
it ain't gettin unfucked anytime soon 💀
I think a lot of music is on par with older music, it’s just that some of it is artificial
@@ReRiver_EasHar_NYC patriarchy, civilization, statist forms of organization
something along those lines
😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
“Hun, how long has that strange man been here?”
“Nobody knows, meh. He’s practically family”
Squatters haha
anyone who can sing an awesome song in my house is no stranger to my family ^_^, Billy... who? Who cares, you can eat our dinner tonight buddy!
@@pandemonic66 Also, he can not start the fire FOR FREE :D
I can kinda imagen Billy Joel's spirit ending up in your kitchen, damned for eternity to sing about all the events that happen every day in the same kind of manner this song goes for at least 4 minutes a day. Would be kinda epic i think.
Holy shit this blew up
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.
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).
But he can start saying the true. We already start de fire...we are all to blame. It' so easy to blame the others.
My generation and the last one is the responsible of the end of this world. I don't hide. He did.
I can't understand his thought
@@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.
Me knowing this song from top to bottom makes me feel powerful, love Billy Joel ❤
If Billy is still kicking he needs to make a sequel to this song when he is 80 in 2029, a serious load of shit has happened since 1989 and this song needs updating.
thats our final for US history. we need to make 2 more verses containing events from 1990-2016
Or 2019. Better chance of him still living then.
+Kalani Castro nice
easy. just use donald trump for all of it. you could write a book on all the shenanigans he has pulled
+Sketch Sheets Wow, hilarious and original. Enlighten me on what he's done.
The casual listener: This song is about 40 years of world history.
Me an intellectual: This song is about Billy Joel standing in a kitchen for 40 years.
He's the faucet guini and he waits and watches TV from a wierd angle
Cold take. The song is about Boomers knowing the world is getting more and more fucked up but them saying they are not at fault and are just victims of circumstance. That nothing is their fault.
@Liza you don't understand humour
He is a bad cook, lamenting on the fact, that his food is still not done for the 4 minutes, because he forgot to start the fire.
@@anon-yw4wd Close. Don't hate the Boomers for everything. The song is simply this, "the world is fucked up, it has always been fucked up, and no matter how hard we try to make things better, the world continues to be fucked up and will likely be fucked up because it is the nature of man". For now. One day there will come a generation that will start to get things right.
"Back in the day we didn't have Wikipedia so I made a song about everything that happened in history"
- Billy Joel
Ever heard of encyclopedias? Yeah, they were around even before Billy Joel was born.
@@markk_g I was literally quoting what he said, these are his words, he was making a joke in an interview lol
Didn't he say the song was about notable events he was alive for?
I've seen three versions of this song. One was a Bardcore remix, then this one, then the fallout boy version. What I learned was this:
We will always live in interesting times. No matter what era it is.
there was also a pretty fun one made by the Jimmy Fallon show to promote Endgame. Summaried the MCU films up to endgame.
I love that Billy is just being the creepy guy watching the decades go by and the American family changing over time
.😐😑.
That's not beluga, its an imposter
Listen and watch The Offspring - Kids aren't alright. th-cam.com/video/7iNbnineUCI/w-d-xo.html
@@ArMANRazoR why
@@Shaeffen_ Meaningful lyrics, aren't they.
"England's got a new queen"
*Queen Elizabeth laughs in immortal*
Chest Er she will not die even if she gets corona our god the immortal will proval
Yup
2020 version would be “England’s got the same queen”
The reference is about her becoming queen after her father died in 1952
@Karen Emery she's the second liz tho
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
We dont get music like this anymore
A song about how every generation has problems that it has to face and no generation ever had it easy. There has and will always be problems in this world. Very catchy song 🔥
This comment is brilliant.
Its not all bad, some of the events are good like the development of vaccines but a lot are just notable things like celebrities' rise to star dome or the fact that England has a new queen. Honestly I feel like that's what makes this such a good song its a barrage of events thrown out you but it doesn't focus on the negativity its just what was happening, things you would read about in the paper or hear on the radio and eventually watch on the tv.
@@ponysrule101 The vaccine thing is specifically about the polio vaccine. not vaccines in general
@@somerandomperson4488I still remember iron lungs. Polio is no joke...
I mean, our forefathers did have to fight 2 world wars without modern medicine, communications, or modern munitions. I'd argue they fought worse so we could have better.
*"RYAN STARTED THE FIRE"*
-Michael Scott & Dwight
the most iconic line that Dwight ever read
:3
Yessssss
Yes
😂😂😂😂😂
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.
Someone should remake this song but starting from where Billy Joel left on this song.