Which person is NOT mentioned in the lyrics of Billy Joel’s 1989 hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?
Harry Truman
Doris Day
Joe DiMaggio
Muhammad Ali
Fact: “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” released by Billy Joel in 1989, is a fast-paced anthem built on a driving beat and a rapid-fire list of names, places, and events. The song serves as a musical timeline of the Cold War era, spanning from Joel’s birth in 1949 through the late 1980s. Its lyrics catalog politics, culture, science, and entertainment, capturing the turbulence and transformation of the mid-20th century. The song opens with the line: “Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio.”
Correct Answer: Muhammad Ali