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Fall Out Boy’s Cover of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics, References, & Meaning
“We Didn’t Start The Fire,” written by Billy Joel & Fall Out Boy, is a song released on the 28th of June, 2023. Fall Out Boy takes us on a nostalgic journey through the cultural milestones since 1989 with their updated cover of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The meaning of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics by Fall Out Boy is awareness of history, culture, & responsibility for change in this world. Their rendition serves as a powerful reminder of the significant events that have shaped our world. From QAnon to Elon Musk, Kanye West and Taylor Swift’s feud, and the Black Lives Matter movement, Fall Out Boy effortlessly weaves in contemporary references.
Embedded below is the Official Lyric Video of the song from YouTube. Read the rest of the article while the music plays in the background. The complete lyrics of the song “We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Fall Out Boy are at the end of this article.
What Are “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy References About?
“We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics by Fall Out Boy explore the significant events and cultural shifts that have shaped our world. They embrace the spirit of the original song while adding their own hopeful twist to the chorus. Drawing inspiration from the past 34 years, they intricately weave together historical moments, pop culture references, and contemporary issues. With their recent album release and ongoing tour, Fall Out Boy continues to make their mark on the music scene. The line-by-line analysis of the meaning of the references in lyrics behind the song “We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Fall Out Boy is below.
Fall Out Boy’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics say we must embrace our past, act in the present, and shape a brighter future with determination.
Verse 1: A Tapestry of Influences and Cultural Shifts
Captain Planet, Arab Spring
Verse 1 of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy
L.A. riots, Rodney King
Deep fakes, earthquakes
Iceland volcano
Oklahoma City b…
Kurt Cobain, Pokémon
Tiger Woods, MySpace
Monsanto, GMOs
Harry Potter, Twilight
Michael Jackson dies
Nuclear accident, Fukushima, Japan
Crimean peninsula
Cambridge Analytica
Kim Jong Un
Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man
The first verse of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics by Fall Out Boy opens with a barrage of significant events and cultural phenomena. “Captain Planet” symbolizes environmental consciousness and the need for global cooperation. The “Arab Spring” means insurgencies and marches in the Middle East. “L.A. riots” and “Rodney King” allude to the racial apprehensions and civil restlessness of the early ’90s. Also, the mention of “Deep fakes” and “Iceland volcano” highlights the rise of technology and natural disasters shaping our world. “Oklahoma City bomb” recalls a tragic domestic terrorist attack, and “Kurt Cobain” and “Pokémon” represent influential figures in music and pop culture. The references to “Tiger Woods” and “MySpace” touch upon the worlds of sports and social media.
“Monsanto” and “GMOs” are debates on genetically altered organisms for scientific purposes. “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” are fantasy literature. Then, the verse concludes with the somber note of “Michael Jackson dies,” reminding us of the loss of an iconic musician. The mention of the “Nuclear accident, Fukushima, Japan” highlights a major disaster, and the “Crimean peninsula” references geopolitical tensions. “Cambridge Analytica” draws attention to the misuse of personal data. Kim Jong Un is an autocratic North Korean leader who is popular for bad reasons in the world. “Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man” represents the success of the Marvel cinematic universe.
Chorus/ Outro: Acknowledging the Eternal Fire and Our Role in It
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it but we’re trying to fight itWe didn’t start the fire
Chorus & Outro of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still go on, and on, and on
And on, and on, and on, and on, and on
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
The chorus of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Fall Out Boy acts as a resounding refrain. It asserts that humanity did not ignite the fire of these events but acknowledges our responsibility to fight against their consequences. Also, it emphasizes that the fire has always burned as long as the world has been turning. It suggests the perpetual nature of the challenges we face.
The outro restates the chorus. It highlights that the fire we face will continue burning even when we are gone. Also, it reminds us of our duty to confront the challenges and strive for a better world.
Verse 2: Modern Turmoil and Pop Culture Phenomena
More w… in Afghanistan
Verse 2 of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy
Cubs go all the way again
Obama, Spielberg
Explosion Lebanon
Unab…er, Bobbitt, John
B…ing Boston marathon
Balloon Boy, W… on Terror
QAnon
Trump gets impeached twice
Polar bears got no ice
Fyre Fest, Black Parade
Michael Phelps, Y2K
Boris Johnson, Brexit
Kanye West and Taylor Swift
Stranger Things, Tiger King
Ever Given Suez
The second verse of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy delves into more recent events and cultural phenomena. It mentions the loss in Afghanistan and the victory of the “Cubs” in the World Series. “Obama” and “Spielberg” represent notable figures in politics and the film industry. The reference to the “explosion in Lebanon” acknowledges a tragic event. Then, the verse moves on to the infamous “Unabomber” and “Bobbitt,” recalling acts of terrorism and sensationalized crime stories. “Bombing Boston marathon” alludes to the tragic 2013 incident. “Balloon Boy” refers to a media frenzy surrounding a hoax, while the mention of the “War on Terror” reflects a significant geopolitical context.
The reference to “QAnon” touches upon the rise of conspiracy theories. “Trump gets impeached twice” highlights a historical event, and the line about “Polar bears” losing their ice addresses the urgent issue of climate change. “Fyre Fest” refers to a failed music festival, and “Black Parade” signifies a significant moment in music. The mention of “Michael Phelps” and “Y2K” alludes to notable figures and the Y2K scare. “Boris Johnson” and “Brexit” mark a significant event in European politics. The verse concludes with a reference to “Kanye West” and “Taylor Swift,” representing memorable pop culture moments. “Stranger Things” and “Tiger King” allude to popular TV shows, while the mention of “Ever Given Suez” refers to the ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal.
Verse 3: Social Struggles and Calls for Justice
Sandy Hook, Columbine
Verse 3 of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy
Sandra Bland and Tamir Rice
ISIS, LeBron James
Shinzo Abe blown away
Meghan Markle, George Floyd
Burj Khalifa, Metroid
Fermi paradox
Venus and Serena
Michael Jordan 23
YouTube killed MTV
Spongebob
Golden State Killer got caught
Michael Jordan 45
Woodstock ‘99
Keaton Batman, Bush v Gore
I can’t take it anymore
The third verse of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics by Fall Out Boy delves into events that have sparked societal debates and reflect social issues. “Sandy Hook” and “Columbine” represent tragic school shootings. “Sandra Bland” and “Tamir Rice” speak on racial unfairness and police brutality. The mention of “ISIS” and “LeBron James” addresses the impact of terrorism and sports respectively. “Shinzo Abe blown away” refers to a fictional event, and “Meghan Markle” symbolizes the challenges faced by the British royal family. “George Floyd” represents a significant moment in the fight against racial injustice. The mention of “Burj Khalifa” and “Metroid” alludes to architectural achievements and video games.
“Fermi paradox” reflects the question of extraterrestrial life, and “Venus and Serena” represent the dominance of the Williams sisters in tennis. “Michael Jordan 23” signifies the basketball legend’s jersey number. The line “YouTube killed MTV” points to the shift in entertainment consumption. “Spongebob” represents popular culture, while the capture of the “Golden State Killer” marks a significant moment in criminal justice. “Michael Jordan 45” refers to his brief retirement and return to basketball. “Woodstock ‘99” alludes to a troubled music festival, and “Keaton Batman” and “Bush v Gore” represent notable figures and events in film and politics.
Verse 4: Contemporary Issues and Technological Advancements
Elon Musk, Kaepernick
Verse 4 of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy
Texas failed electric grid
Jeff Bezos, climate change
White rhino goes extinct
Great Pacific garbage patch
Tom DeLonge and aliens
Mars rover, Avatar
Self-driving electric cars
S-S-R-Is
Prince and the Queen die
World Trade, second plane
What else do I have to say?
The final verse of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics by Fall Out Boy touches upon recent events and contemporary issues. “Elon Musk” represents technological advancements, while “Kaepernick” signifies the impact of activism in sports. The mention of the “Texas failed electric grid” addresses a significant energy crisis. “Jeff Bezos” and “climate change” highlight the influence of powerful individuals and the urgency of environmental issues. Also, the line about the “White rhino” going extinct reflects the ongoing threat to biodiversity. The “Great Pacific garbage patch” represents the environmental crisis of plastic pollution. “Tom DeLonge and aliens” alludes to the musician’s interest in extraterrestrial life.
The “Mars rover” signifies scientific achievements, and “Avatar” represents groundbreaking filmmaking. Then, the mention of “self-driving electric cars” points toward technological advancements. “S-S-R-Is” refers to antidepressant medications, and the line “Prince and the Queen die” signifies significant losses in the music and royal worlds. The mention of the “World Trade” and the “second plane” alludes to the September 11 attacks. Also, the verse concludes with the acknowledgment that despite the events mentioned, there is still much left to say and address.
What Are “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics by Fall Out Boy?
These are the lyrics of Fall Out Boy’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” via Genius:
[Verse 1]
Captain Planet, Arab Spring
L.A. riots, Rodney King
Deep fakes, earthquakes
Iceland volcano
Oklahoma City b…
Kurt Cobain, Pokémon
Tiger Woods, MySpace
Monsanto, GMOs
Harry Potter, Twilight
Michael Jackson dies
Nuclear accident, Fukushima, Japan
Crimean peninsula
Cambridge Analytica
Kim Jong Un
Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man[Chorus]
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it but we’re trying to fight it[Verse 2]
More w… in Afghanistan
Cubs go all the way again
Obama, Spielberg
Explosion Lebanon
Unab…er, Bobbitt, John
B…ing Boston marathon
Balloon Boy, W… on Terror
QAnon
Trump gets impeached twice
Polar bears got no ice
Fyre Fest, Black Parade
Michael Phelps, Y2K
Boris Johnson, Brexit
Kanye West and Taylor Swift
Stranger Things, Tiger King
Ever Given Suez[Chorus]
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it but we’re trying to fight it[Verse 3]
Sandy Hook, Columbine
Sandra Bland and Tamir Rice
ISIS, LeBron James
Shinzo Abe blown away
Meghan Markle, George Floyd
Burj Khalifa, Metroid
Fermi paradox
Venus and Serena
Michael Jordan 23
YouTube killed MTV
Spongebob
Golden State Killer got caught
Michael Jordan 45
Woodstock ‘99
Keaton Batman, Bush v Gore
I can’t take it anymore[Chorus]
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it but we’re trying to fight it[Verse 4]
Elon Musk, Kaepernick
Texas failed electric grid
Jeff Bezos, climate change
White rhino goes extinct
Great Pacific garbage patch
Tom DeLonge and aliens
Mars rover, Avatar
Self-driving electric cars
S-S-R-Is
Prince and the Queen die
World Trade, second plane
What else do I have to say?[Outro]
Fall Out Boy’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still go on, and on, and on
And on, and on, and on, and on, and on
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning
What Is the Conclusion of Fall Out Boy’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Lyrics Meaning?
In Fall Out Boy’s rendition of “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” the lyrics share a thought-provoking perspective on significant events and cultural phenomena. Through their clever weaving of historical occurrences, pop culture references, and contemporary issues, the song encourages us to recognize the ongoing challenges and take responsibility for combating them. It stands as a resounding call to action. This reminds us that although we didn’t spark the flames, we possess the power and responsibility to combat the aftermath. The song’s conclusion emphasizes the perpetual nature of these challenges and the importance of our continued efforts to create positive change.
I thought about this song a lot when I was younger. All these important people and events — some that disappeared into the sands of time — others that changed the world forever
Fall Out Boy on “We Didn’t Start The Fire” via People
Comment on the meaning behind the song “We Didn’t Start The Fire” lyrics by Fall Out Boy below or on the Twitter handle “@laviasco”. We have also analyzed “Love From The Other Side” by Fall Out Boy.
