# Let's update "We Didn't Start the Fire" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792 "2007-01-13T03:07:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/1 "2007-01-13T03:07:15Z")
This song by Billy Joel has always been one of my favorites-as a history buff, especially. Since it was made in what, 1990, there’s probably a lot that should be added. If the song were to be made nowadays, or a sequel were penned, what events, people, etc, would be included? Some suggestions to get the ball rolling: (And anyone who wants to write their own parody lyrics, feel free!) -Iran-Contra -Oliver North -“Read My Lips” -Bill Clinton -Monica Lewinsky -Seattle/grunge -Kurt Cobain -Michael Jackson -Columbine -911 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/2 "2007-01-13T03:12:13Z")
There was a version on Dr. Demento many years ago called _I Didn’t Fart, You Liar!_ I looked up the lyrics, but I didn’t see some that I remembered; so I think there might be another parody out there. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/3 "2007-01-13T03:15:51Z")
Here are my contributions: [ul] [li]Desert Storm[/li][li]Iraq[/li][li]Fall of the Berlin Wall/German reunification[/li][li]Internet/Dot-com bubble[/li][li]Dolly the Sheep[/li][/ul] I know there are a lot more, but there you go. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/4 "2007-01-13T04:00:52Z")
[QUOTE=MsRobyn] [li]Desert Storm[/li][li]Iraq[/li][li]Fall of the Berlin Wall/German reunification[/li][li]Internet/Dot-com bubble[/li][li]Dolly the Sheep[/li] [/QUOTE] [li]Shuttle crash[/li][li]Paris Hilton[/li][li]Princess Di[/li][li]Tsunami[/li][li]Katrina[/li][\*]India/Pakistan/N. Korea get the Bomb ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/5 "2007-01-13T04:04:25Z")
Lyrics as sung: \*Bush appoints Dr. Rice Tampa Bay wins on ice Kim Il Sung gets the bomb Fight another Viet Nam We didn’t start the fire…\* Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/6 "2007-01-13T05:10:16Z")
We didn’t start the fire, II Apologies to Billy Joel George Bush, Saddam Hussien, Jefferey Dahmer, O.J. _Jesus vs. Santa Claus_, Fran’s a hurricane Real World/ Road Rules, Tim McVeigh, Richard Jewell, Dot-com speculators, “Master your domain?” Lewinsky’s in the Pentagon, Jordan’s back; Jordan’s gone Napster users, JFK Junior and the Y2K bug 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 tried to fight it PHEW --! Someone else take it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/7 "2007-01-13T15:27:55Z")
My contribution Not entirly sure I remeber the rythym though: Enron scandal, Powell resigns, Lance wins seven, steroid fines; Mutant mice, Taliban gone, SARS virus,XFL bombs. Boston finally wins. Smoking bans,Genome maps, Obese kids,Eminem raps; Atkins Diet, Viagra drug, Housing prices,Chunnel dug. Rwanda tribal war. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/8 "2007-01-13T16:08:50Z")
9/11 planes hijack; Osama’s bad attack Crash into Pentagon; and World Trade Towers gone New York City still goes on ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/9 "2007-01-13T18:37:44Z")
“No one thought _you_ did, you Long Island Lounge Lizard.” Okay that’s not really an update, so much as a reponse. The song just throws out events of the past 50 years, without commentary, in imabic pentameter with the first beat missing. Usually two to a line, sometimes one, and occassionally one to two lines, like JFK blown away What else do I have to say (Nothing, please don’t say anything more. Get off the radio and make room for something of greater topical importance, like “My Prerogative”) Kurt Cobain, a noisy gun Monica, Sore Loserman California dark of night Enron turned off all the lights People booing Michael Moore He won’t shut up about the war ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-update-we-didnt-start-the-fire/387792/10 "2007-01-15T06:54:22Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] There was a version on Dr. Demento many years ago called _I Didn’t Fart, You Liar!_ I looked up the lyrics, but I didn’t see some that I remembered; so I think there might be another parody out there. [/QUOTE] The only parody I recall hearing on the _Dr. Demento Show_ was “We Love Barney Fife,” a tribute to Andy Griffith’s bumbling deputy (duh).