Queen Elizabeth II will certainly be remembered as the world’s longest-serving head of state and the first British monarch to reach her platinum jubilee, among many other accolades, but she will also forever be recalled as one of the many individuals mentioned by Billy Joel in his 1989 hit single, We Didn't Start the Fire.
As millions who have heard the tune around the world are well aware, the queen is mentioned near the beginning of the song, which reached #1 in the US and charted around the world.
The pop classic has remained in the rotation of radio stations and minds of many around the world, cementing its status as a classic.
“Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe Dimaggio,” the rapid fire lyrics read.
“Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen, Marciano, Liberace, Santayana, goodbye,” Joel continues.
Sadly, however, with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, she joins the ranks of many singers, world leaders, and artists mentioned in Joel’s song who are no longer alive.
In fact, out of the 100 names (and places) mentioned in Joel’s song, only Brigitte Bardot, Bob Dylan, Chubby Checker, Bernard Goetz (known to many as the subway vigilante), are among those who are still alive.
Prior to the queen’s death, singer Doris Day’s passing in 2019 also had many recalling the lyrics of the song.
Some on Twitter noted they only knew of Day because Joel’s song, while others acknowledged her vast career.
I only know who Doris Day is because her name rhymes with Johnnie Ray
— Mike Murphy (@mcwm) May 13, 2019
…who I also only know from the @billyjoel song “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
Some will only know her as a name in We Didn’t Start The Fire by @billyjoel but #DorisDay an icon of Hollywood’s golden years has passed #DorisDayRIP
— Eric P Bishop (@EPBAuthor) May 13, 2019
“Harry Truman, DORIS DAY, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio...”
According to the book, In Their Own Words: Songwriters Talk About the Creative Process, Joel says he wrote the song when he turned 40, and looked back to the year he was born, 1949, to begin telling a story through to 1989.
In the book he also noted that it was one of the few times he decided to write the lyrics first and the music second.
“It’s one of the worst melodies I’ve ever written. I like the music though.”
Regardless of what Joel thinks of the melody, it's safe to say his decision to reference Day in the song has seared her name in pop-culture history, and with every listen We Didn't Start the Fire receives, Day lives on.
