# "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:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/61 "2009-06-16T21:36:33Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > 1. Actual covers, expansions, or parodies of “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. [Pet Names for Genetalia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBcq4jXdORk) ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/62 "2009-06-16T22:24:37Z")
“[La Vie Boheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Vie_Boheme)” from the rock opera Rent is a group patter song. Among the things mentioned are > [@](#): > > # Carmina Burana > > # Apathy > > # Entropy > > # Empathy > > # Ecstasy > > # Václav Havel > > # The Sex Pistols > > # 8BC > > # No Shame > > # Marijuana > > # Sodomy > > # God > > # Sadism and masochism > > # Salons > > # Native Americans Tribal Chants > > # Vocoders > > # Electric cellos > > # High Holy Days > > # Bubble Wrap > > # Lawn chairs > > # Handcuffs > > # Iced tea > > # Musetta’s Waltz (and indirectly, Tango: Maureen from RENT) > > # Anarchism > > # MIT > > # ACT UP > > # AIDS > > # AZT It’s a pretty long song and has an interlude in the middle, which if you consider it part of the song, would increase the subjects mentioned in it by quite a bit. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Jorge\_Burrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Jorge\_Burrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge_Burrito)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/63 "2009-06-16T22:31:07Z")
Any number of songs from Animaniacs would work. I am thinking specifically of the nations of the world song, but there are others. ---
**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 17, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/64 "2009-06-17T04:46:54Z")
I could’ve sworn someone mentioned the Major General’s Song but I can’t find that post now. Anyway, to the alternate universe poster: I see you and raise you [one parody](http://lifeboat.com/ex/bios.charlie.kam): I am the very model of a Singularitarian I’m combination Transhuman, Immortalist, Extropian, Aggressively I’m changing all my body’s biochemistry Because my body’s heritage is obsolete genetically, Replacing all the cells each month it’s here just temporarily The pattern of my brain and body’s where there’s continuity, I’ll try to improve these patterns with optimal biology, (“But how will I do that? I need to be smarter. Ah, yes…”) I’ll expand my mental faculties by merging with technology, Expand his mental faculties by merging with technology, Expand his mental faculties by merging with technology Expand his mental faculties by merging with technology [lyrics here](http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0626.html?printable=1) ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/65 "2009-06-17T07:16:24Z")
“Identity Theft” by Nellie McKay probably counts. [Past Shows | A Prairie Home Companion](http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2008/01/26/) Use the embedded player on that page, and skip to about 48 minutes in. If you like her, keep listening. “Mother of Pearl” doesn’t qualify for the OP, but it’s hilarious. She’s in several other spots on that show. \*\*\* Ponder ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/66 "2009-06-17T08:39:53Z")
Nobody’s mentioned the Major General’s song yet? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/67 "2009-06-17T13:23:06Z")
Does “Rio” by Duran Duran count? ---
**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:** [June 17, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/68 "2009-06-17T14:16:43Z")
Kristopherson has “The Pigrime” and “The Taker” ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/69 "2009-06-17T16:29:40Z")
A couple of examples for #2: “Miss Shapiro”, from either “Diamond Head” by Phil Manzanera, or “801 Live” “Ca Plane pour Moi” by Plastic Bertrand And for #3: “Under Heavy Manners” by Robert Fripp, from the album of the same name ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/70 "2009-06-18T20:42:24Z")
“Come Together” The Beatles ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/71 "2009-06-18T23:24:56Z")
[Bulbous Bouffant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uuCNAwXGaQ) by The Vestibules [Mainstream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEx4cvBdzcE) by Thea Gilmore ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/72 "2009-06-18T23:55:15Z")
“The Philosopher’s Song” as done by Monty Python. [Starts around 1:21](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_WRFJwGsbY) ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/73 "2009-06-19T02:37:52Z")
“Sam” by the Meat Puppets is ridiculously fast. The lyrics are interesting too. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVp2pdv0HeE) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/74 "2009-06-19T02:45:52Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > 1. Similarly quick and or tricky lyrics but doesn’t have to be lists of things like Barenaked Ladies’ One Week. ["I Want You"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqGnsP4wOf0)by Savage Garden certainly qualifies. This was their first hit, and I really liked its uptempo style, so I looked forward to hearing more from them. Boy, were my hopes destroyed when their next few hits like “Truly Madly Deeply” and “I Knew I Loved You” came out. What a pile of feces those songs were. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/75 "2009-06-19T13:53:25Z")
Musical theatre has a whole bunch of them, including “You’re The Top” from Anything Goes, “Jelicle CATS,” and my favorite “Hard-Candy Christmas” from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Bare Naked Ladies also has the theme to the Big Bang Theory. But the absolutely bestest example is the masterpiece of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s [Águas de Março](http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/waters.html), translated into English as Waters of March. The first time I heard it I was totally blow away. In Portugese or English, it is the numero uno. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/76 "2009-07-01T03:48:12Z")
Here’s one that’s both cool and sad: [Bell Labs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFfdnFOiXUU) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/77 "2009-07-01T04:51:44Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Nobody’s mentioned the Major General’s song yet? Another fun Gilbert & Sullivan song that fits the bill: [“As Some Day It May Happen”](http://lyricwiki.org/Gilbert_And_Sullivan:As_Some_Day_It_May_Happen) from _The Mikado_. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/78 "2009-07-02T15:14:22Z")
fits as a “list song” anyway: In the Year 2525 by Zager and Evans [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In\_the\_Year\_2525](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Year_2525) ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880/79 "2009-07-05T12:10:40Z")
1. **Ponch8** must have missed this one: [Savage Garden - Affirmation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpvwxK7F2BI) Also: [Half Man Half Biscuit - Breaking News](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBM_MIT9EOM) Another parody of ‘Major General’: [Amateur Transplants - ‘The Drugs Song’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXROnzpsrlg) 2) [Jonathan Coulton - ‘I Feel Fantastic’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knzMFC6s4Bw) [Aztec Camera & Mick Jones - ‘Good Morning Britain’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQEq3rtMlTc) 3) Hillman Minx - ‘I’ve Had Enough’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-didnt-start-the-fire-type-songs/499880.md?page=3)