Fall Out Boy
We Didn't Start the Fire
So Much (for) Stardust · 2023 · cover of Billy Joel (1989) · YouTube ↗
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  • Verse 1
  • Captain Planet, Arab Spring, L.A. riots, Rodney King Captain Planet: A 1990s animated TV show promoting environmentalism, featuring a superhero dedicated to protecting the planet.
    Arab Spring: A wave of anti-government protests and uprisings that spread across the Arab world in the early 2010s.
    L.A. riots, Rodney King: The 1992 Los Angeles riots, sparked by the acquittal of police officers videotaped beating Rodney King, leading to widespread violence and national discussions on racial injustice.
  • Deep fakes, earthquakes, Iceland volcano Deep fakes: AI-generated videos or audio recordings that convincingly replace one person's likeness or voice with someone else's, raising concerns over misinformation.
    Earthquakes: Natural disasters resulting from the shifting of Earth's tectonic plates, causing significant damage and loss of life.
    Iceland volcano: Eyjafjallajokull erupted in 2010, disrupting air travel across Europe for weeks with its ash cloud.
  • Oklahoma City bomb, Kurt Cobain, Pokémon Oklahoma City bomb: The 1995 domestic terrorist bombing by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.
    Kurt Cobain: Nirvana's lead singer, whose 1994 death, ruled a suicide, deeply affected music fans and sparked lasting discussions on mental health.
    Pokémon: A Japanese media franchise created by Nintendo that became a global phenomenon in video games, card games, and TV.
  • Tiger Woods, MySpace, Monsanto, GMOs Tiger Woods: A professional golfer considered one of the greatest ever, known for his career achievements and his dramatic comeback after personal and professional challenges.
    MySpace: An early social networking site that dominated the early 2000s before being overtaken by Facebook.
    Monsanto: An agricultural corporation known for genetically modified crops and Roundup herbicide, frequently embroiled in controversies over environmental and health impacts.
    GMOs: Genetically Modified Organisms, whose genetic material has been altered using engineering techniques, sparking ongoing debates over safety and ethics.
  • Verse 2
  • Harry Potter, Twilight, Michael Jackson dies Harry Potter: J.K. Rowling's fantasy novel series about a young wizard, which became one of the best-selling series of all time and spawned a major film franchise.
    Twilight: Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance novels, which became bestsellers and a successful film series with a devoted fanbase.
    Michael Jackson dies: The 2009 death of pop star Michael Jackson shocked fans worldwide and led to wall-to-wall media coverage.
  • Nuclear accident, Fukushima, Japan Fukushima: The 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, triggered by a tsunami following a massive earthquake, leading to significant nuclear fallout and displacing hundreds of thousands.
  • Crimean Peninsula, Cambridge Analytica Crimean Peninsula: Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, sparking international controversy and sanctions, and foreshadowing the larger conflict to come.
    Cambridge Analytica: A political consulting firm that improperly harvested data from tens of millions of Facebook users to target political advertising, becoming a landmark data privacy scandal.
  • Kim Jong Un, Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man Kim Jong Un: The leader of North Korea, known for his country's aggressive nuclear weapons program and unpredictable international posture.
    Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he played from 2008 to 2019, anchoring the most commercially successful film franchise in history.
  • 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
  • More war in Afghanistan, Cubs go all the way again More war in Afghanistan: The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, which saw various phases of intensity and international involvement over two decades before the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
    Cubs go all the way again: The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016, breaking a 108-year championship drought.
  • Obama, Spielberg, explosion, Lebanon Obama: Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States (2009-2017), the first African American to hold the office.
    Spielberg: Steven Spielberg, director and producer behind some of the most iconic films in cinema history, across genres from Jaws to Schindler's List.
    Explosion, Lebanon: The August 2020 port of Beirut explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, killing over 200 people and devastating the city. Caused by improperly stored ammonium nitrate.
  • Unabomber, Bobbitt, John, bombing Boston Marathon Unabomber: Ted Kaczynski, a former math professor who conducted a mail bombing campaign from 1978 to 1995, motivated by anti-technology ideology. Caught in part because he insisted his manifesto be published.
    Bobbitt, John: The 1993 case in which Lorena Bobbitt severed her husband John's penis following years of alleged abuse, becoming an obsessive tabloid story and a flashpoint in domestic violence discourse.
    Bombing Boston Marathon: The 2013 terrorist attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring hundreds, followed by a dramatic citywide manhunt.
  • Balloon Boy, War on Terror, QAnon Balloon Boy: A 2009 media hoax in which a Colorado family falsely claimed their six-year-old son was trapped inside a runaway helium balloon. The boy was safe at home the whole time.
    War on Terror: The global military campaign initiated by the U.S. after September 11, 2001, targeting terrorist organizations, primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    QAnon: A disproven far-right conspiracy theory claiming a secret cabal of Satanic pedophiles ran the U.S. government and was being opposed by Donald Trump. Became a significant political and social phenomenon.
  • Verse 4
  • Trump gets impeached twice, Polar bears got no ice Trump gets impeached twice: Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2019 (Ukraine pressure) and 2021 (incitement of the January 6 Capitol attack), the only president to be impeached twice.
    Polar bears got no ice: Arctic sea ice loss due to global warming is destroying the habitat polar bears depend on for hunting, with populations declining sharply.
  • Fyre Fest, Black Parade, Michael Phelps, Y2K Fyre Fest: A catastrophically failed luxury music festival planned for 2017 in the Bahamas. Attendees arrived to find disaster relief tents, cheese sandwiches, and no headliners. Its promoter Billy McFarland was convicted of fraud.
    Black Parade: "The Black Parade" (2006) by My Chemical Romance, one of the defining rock albums of its era and a touchstone for a generation of music fans.
    Michael Phelps: The most decorated Olympian of all time, with 23 gold medals across four Olympic Games.
    Y2K: The Year 2000 bug, a widespread fear that computer systems would fail at midnight on January 1, 2000 due to how they stored dates. Largely a non-event after massive remediation efforts.
  • Boris Johnson, Brexit, Kanye West and Taylor Swift Boris Johnson, Brexit: Boris Johnson was a leading figure in the Brexit campaign and later became Prime Minister, overseeing the UK's departure from the European Union in 2020.
    Kanye West and Taylor Swift: At the 2009 MTV VMAs, Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to declare Beyonce deserved the award, igniting a years-long public feud and cultural moment.
  • Stranger Things, Tiger King, Ever Given, Suez Stranger Things: A Netflix sci-fi series premiering in 2016, set in 1980s Indiana, known for its nostalgia, supernatural elements, and ensemble cast. A defining streaming-era hit.
    Tiger King: A 2020 Netflix documentary about Joe Exotic and the world of private big-cat ownership. Watched by seemingly everyone during COVID-19 lockdowns.
    Ever Given, Suez: In March 2021, the container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal, blocking one of the world's busiest shipping lanes for six days and disrupting global trade.
  • 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 5
  • Sandy Hook, Columbine, Sandra Bland and Tamir Rice Sandy Hook, Columbine: Two of the most devastating school shootings in U.S. history. Columbine (1999) shocked a generation; Sandy Hook (2012), where 20 children aged 6-7 were killed, reignited the gun control debate.
    Sandra Bland and Tamir Rice: Sandra Bland, a Black woman found dead in a Texas jail cell after a 2015 traffic stop arrest; Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Black boy shot by police in Cleveland in 2014. Both deaths fueled the Black Lives Matter movement.
  • ISIS, LeBron James, Shinzo Abe blown away ISIS: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a militant group that seized vast territory in Iraq and Syria, known for extreme brutality, mass executions, and coordinated terrorist attacks worldwide.
    LeBron James: Widely considered one of the greatest basketball players ever, also known for his outspoken activism on racial justice and education.
    Shinzo Abe blown away: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in July 2022 while giving a campaign speech, shocking the world. Japan has some of the strictest gun laws on earth.
  • Meghan Markle, George Floyd, Burj Khalifa, Metroid Meghan Markle: American actress who married Prince Harry in 2018. Their relationship with the British royal family became one of the most-watched tabloid dramas of the decade, raising questions of race and the monarchy.
    George Floyd: George Floyd's death under a Minneapolis police officer's knee in May 2020 sparked global protests against police brutality and systemic racism, galvanizing the Black Lives Matter movement.
    Burj Khalifa: The world's tallest building at 828 meters, located in Dubai, a symbol of 21st-century architectural ambition.
    Metroid: Nintendo's long-running sci-fi action series, beloved for its atmospheric exploration and its pioneering female protagonist Samus Aran.
  • Fermi paradox, Venus and Serena Fermi paradox: The contradiction between the high estimated probability of extraterrestrial civilizations existing and the complete absence of any evidence or contact. If the universe is so vast and old, where is everyone?
    Venus and Serena: Venus and Serena Williams, sisters who dominated women's tennis for over two decades, winning a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles.
  • Verse 6
  • Oh-oh-oh, Michael Jordan, 23, YouTube killed MTV Michael Jordan, 23: Michael Jordan wore jersey number 23 throughout most of his career with the Chicago Bulls, becoming perhaps the most iconic number in sports history.
    YouTube killed MTV: YouTube launched in 2005 and rapidly became the dominant platform for music videos, effectively ending MTV's cultural relevance as a music channel.
  • SpongeBob, Golden State Killer got caught SpongeBob: SpongeBob SquarePants, the Nickelodeon animated series launched in 1999, which became one of the most enduring and meme-generating cartoons in TV history.
    Golden State Killer got caught: Joseph James DeAngelo, responsible for at least 13 murders and 50 rapes across California in the 1970s-80s, was identified and arrested in 2018 through consumer genealogy DNA databases.
  • Michael Jordan, 45, Woodstock '99 Michael Jordan, 45: When Jordan returned from his first retirement in 1995, he initially wore number 45 because his number 23 had been retired by the Bulls in his honor. He switched back to 23 shortly after.
    Woodstock '99: A music festival meant to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Woodstock. Instead, it descended into riots, sexual assaults, and arson, becoming a symbol of cultural rot and festival mismanagement.
  • Keaton, Batman, Bush v. Gore, I can't take it anymore Keaton, Batman: Michael Keaton played Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 and 1992 films, bringing a darker, more psychological tone to the character that defined the superhero film genre for years.
    Bush v. Gore: The 2000 Supreme Court ruling that effectively decided the presidential election in favor of George W. Bush over Al Gore, halting the Florida recount. One of the most contested decisions in Court history.
  • 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 7
  • Elon Musk, Kaepernick, Texas failed electric grid Elon Musk: Entrepreneur behind SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and his acquisition of Twitter/X, making him one of the most influential and controversial figures of the era.
    Kaepernick: Colin Kaepernick, NFL quarterback who began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality, becoming a flashpoint in a national debate about protest and patriotism.
    Texas failed electric grid: During a severe winter storm in February 2021, Texas's power grid collapsed, leaving millions without heat or electricity for days in freezing temperatures. Dozens died.
  • Jeff Bezos, climate change, white rhino goes extinct Jeff Bezos: Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, who transformed retail, cloud computing, and space tourism while becoming one of the wealthiest people in history.
    Climate change: The long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns driven primarily by human activity, causing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ecosystem collapse.
    White rhino goes extinct: The northern white rhinoceros is functionally extinct. The last male, Sudan, died in 2018. Only two females remain, neither capable of natural reproduction.
  • Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Tom DeLonge and aliens Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A vast accumulation of plastic debris in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly twice the size of Texas, highlighting the scale of plastic pollution and its devastation to marine life.
    Tom DeLonge and aliens: Former Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge became a prominent UFO researcher, founding To The Stars Academy and working with former U.S. intelligence officials to push for government disclosure of UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) data.
  • Mars rover, Avatar, self-driving electric cars Mars rover: NASA has sent multiple rovers to Mars, from Sojourner (1997) to Perseverance (2021), exploring the Martian surface and searching for signs of ancient life.
    Avatar: James Cameron's 2009 sci-fi epic, which became the highest-grossing film of all time upon release, pioneering 3D cinema and CGI world-building.
    Self-driving electric cars: The promise and growing reality of vehicles that drive themselves, led by Tesla and others, reshaping the automotive industry and raising new questions about safety and automation.
  • SSRI’s, Prince and The Queen die SSRIs: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, a widely prescribed class of antidepressants whose mainstream adoption reflects a generational shift in how mental health is discussed and treated.
    Prince and The Queen die: The musician Prince died in 2016 from an accidental fentanyl overdose; Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022 after 70 years on the throne. Two very different ends of very different eras.
  • World trade, second plane, what else do I have to say? World trade, second plane: The September 11, 2001 attacks. The moment the second plane hit the World Trade Center's South Tower live on television made it undeniable: this was not an accident. Everything changed.
  • Chorus
  • We didn't start the fire (we didn't start it)
  • It was always burning since the world's been turning (oh)
  • We didn't start the fire (we didn't start it)
  • But when we are gone, it will still go on (oh-yeah)
  • Outro
  • And on, and on, and on, and on
  • And on, and on, and on
  • We didn't start the fire (fire)
  • It was always burning since the world's been turning