We Didn't Start the Fire
We Did not Start the Fire ( to German as " We have the fire is not lit ") is a pop song of the singer -songwriter Billy Joel. He was released in 1989 on his album Storm Front, as well as a single and reached # 1 in the U.S. Billboard charts. In Germany, he spent the end of 1989 to early 1990, a total of ten weeks in the top ten, the best finish was fourth.
What is unusual about this piece is the structure of the text, which - apart from the chorus - almost exclusively from the juxtaposition of key words to more or less important contemporary issues from 1949, the year of birth of Joel, until 1989, the year of publication, consists. The list is initially organized chronologically by year, in the last verse of the period 1964-1989 is then flew over in less detail. Are called names of personalities from politics and culture, political and social events, titles of movies, books and stage plays as well as items. The chorus refers to the fact that there were these problems even long before that. In some places circumlocutions are used. In this way, approximately 120 subjects will be addressed in 4:50 minutes.
Billy Joel explains the motivation for this piece with his interest in history. If he had not made career as a musician, he would allegedly have liked to become a history teacher. Other sources claim that the idea for this piece came about when Joel overheard the remark of a child that the "old people " (as Joel himself, who was then 40 years old) pitied, because in their life as little steeped in history had happened. Joel wanted to prove with this text the opposite.
Instead of striking translation "We have not kindled the fire " is sometimes the literal translation "We did not start the fire " are used. The title, however, does not refer to a gunfight ( "We have not opened fire "). The chorus includes expressly that the fire always burning ( "it was always burning" ) and refers to the fact that we would not have ignited ( " we did not light it ").
List of enumerated terms in the text
Parodies
The Hessian comedy duo bath salts has a modified version written with the title How willste your eggs, by Otto Waalkes comes the version we have reason to celebrate, which lists a number of alcoholic beverages, and JBO published in 1995, the version I sta'dd'n etz the celebration, are in the sights and various other facilities in Erlangen, the hometown of the Fun- metal band enumerated.
The song " They'll Never Stop The Simpsons" from the TV series "The Simpsons" is partly based on the song by Billy Joel.
The British Comedy -Music- Duo " Amateur Transplants " has gecovert this song also titled Final countdown. This provides various themes of a medical degree exam can be listed.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary coverte the Dutch band De Heideroosjes the song under the title De Wereld Draait Door, where she enumerates historical break points from the years 1989 to 2009 as the original.
Dan Brill, co-founder of the Canadian magazine Graphic Exchange ( gX ), published under the title "We did not trash your file" a version that will be enumerated in the name and products that were of importance for the graphics industry.