# "We Didn't Start the Fire" type songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 15, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880 "2009-06-15T21:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/1 "2009-06-15T21:54:13Z")
Looking for “We Didn’t Start the Fire” type songs - 1. Similarly quick and tricky lyrics consisting of lists of things - like REM’s End of the World and Life is a Rock. 2. Similarly quick and or tricky lyrics but doesn’t have to be lists of things like Barenaked Ladies’ One Week. 3. Similarly lyrics consisting of lists of things, but doesn’t have to be quick and or tricky. 4. Actual covers, expansions, or parodies of “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/2 "2009-06-15T22:21:32Z")
“I Do The Rock” – Tim Curry “Life is a Rock” – Reunion ---
**Author:** ![MishMash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@MishMash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MishMash)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/3 "2009-06-15T22:25:48Z")
[“88 Lines About 44 Women” by The Nails](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ITtKae130) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/4 "2009-06-15T22:30:24Z")
Neither are quite what you are asking, but… ``` "My Favorite Things" (from *Sound of Music*) ``` and ``` "When You Are Old And Grey" (by Tom Lehrer) ``` ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/5 "2009-06-15T22:39:43Z")
“One Week” wasn’t a list of things? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/6 "2009-06-15T22:51:45Z")
“Subterranean Homesick Blues” was probably the blueprint for those kind of songs. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/7 "2009-06-15T23:14:00Z")
“No Handlebars” by Flobots. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/8 "2009-06-15T23:34:01Z")
[We Care A Lot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwL6gS6HyTQ&feature=related) by Faith No More. A list, and several quick and tricky bits. ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/9 "2009-06-16T00:33:30Z")
A classic from The Temptations. [Ball of Confusion](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy_aahkIdEI) > [@The Temptations](#): > > Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation. > Ball of confusion. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/10 "2009-06-16T00:35:42Z")
“Welcome”, by Australia’s The Church. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/11 "2009-06-16T00:39:44Z")
Neil Diamond’s _Done Too Soon_ ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/12 "2009-06-16T00:46:23Z")
A couple by The Tubes: [Proud to Be An American](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJmB75jzzIE) and [What Do You Want From Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgjfi1DU1mQ) ("…hell, a herd of Winnebagos–we’re giving them away!!!). ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/13 "2009-06-16T00:50:04Z")
[“Liposuction”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOArCACRcC4) by Da Vinci’s Notebook comes to mind first. _If your waist line is a’surgin’ And in need of some reversion And your overall weight dispersion’s Gettin’ on the verge of perversion I’m encouraging an excursion To go searchin’ for a surgeon And get your emergency purgin’ of the burgeonin’ fat emergin’ from your chin!_ ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/14 "2009-06-16T00:54:39Z")
Tom Lehrer’s [The Elements](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJjJBs2OFkg&feature=related), which goes through the Periodic Table. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/15 "2009-06-16T01:01:07Z")
Cheryl Wheeler’s [“Potato”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uLUVI3Y0q0) She was walking through the woods with James, her border collie, when the chorus of the Mexican Hat Dance kept running through her head, using only the word potato. To make matters more difficult, she decided to sing it so that each line started with a different syllable. Later, when she was driving to a concert, she started on the verses. PO ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to po ta to ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/16 "2009-06-16T01:29:30Z")
> [@Ferd\_Burfel](#): > > A classic from The Temptations. > > Ball of Confusion > > [QUOTE=The Temptations] > > Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation. > Ball of confusion. [/QUOTE] How about… [QUOTE=The Moody Blues] Desolution Creation Confusion Evolution Illusion Pollution Saturation Population Annihilation Revolution Confusion Illusion Conclusion Starvation Degredation Humiliation Contemplation Inspiration Elation Salvation Communication Compassion Solution [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/17 "2009-06-16T01:30:36Z")
_Reasons To Be Cheerful, part 3_. - **Ian Dury and the Blockheads** ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/18 "2009-06-16T01:32:37Z")
Rush - You Bet Your Life "Anarchist reactionary running-dog revisionist Hindu muslim catholic creation/evolutionist Rational romantic mystic cynical idealist Minimal expressionist post-modern neo-symbolist Armchair rocket scientist graffiti existentialist Deconstruction primitive performance photo-realist Be-bop or a one-drop or a hip-hop lite-pop-metallist Gold adult contemporary urban country capitalist" ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/19 "2009-06-16T01:33:49Z")
It looks like what you’re looking for are [patter songs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patter_song). [Wikipedia has an incomplete list of them here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_patter_songs) I’m not sure it qualifies, but I have long thought that “[Since I Gave Up Hope I Feel a Lot Better](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tY6-ii5rFc)” by Steve Taylor reminds me of REM’s “It’s the End of the World…” ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/20 "2009-06-16T01:44:07Z")
No one’s mentioned “Give Peace a Chance” yet? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880.md?page=2)