We Didn't Start the Fire, Lyric Study - 100+ History References
In this multi-day class, we will go through the lyrics of the 1989 song, 'We Didn't Start the Fire.' We will do a brief summary of the references behind each verse.
Jenn Perry
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(882)
What's included
8 live meetings
6 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 7 - 9
Explore the historical tapestry behind Billy Joel's iconic anthem "We Didn't Start the Fire" in our comprehensive class. Delve into the context and significance of each reference, from "Harry Truman, Doris Day" to "Rockefeller, Campanella," unraveling the events, personalities, and cultural phenomena that shaped the post-World War II era. Gain a deeper understanding of the song's lyrical journey through history, and uncover the interconnected stories that define the tumultuous decades of the 20th century. Week 1 - Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, Television North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe Week 2 - Rosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom Brando, The King And I, and The Catcher In The Rye Eisenhower, Vaccine, England's got a new queen Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye Week 3 - Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron Dien Bien Phu Falls, Rock Around the Clock Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev Princess Grace, Peyton Place, Trouble in the Suez Week 4 - Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, Bridge On The River Kwai Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball Starkweather Homicide Week 5 - Buddy Holly, Ben-Hur, Space Monkey, Mafia Hula Hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-go U-2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the Congo Week 6 - Hemingway, Eichmann, Stranger in a Strange Land, Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasion Lawrence of Arabia, British Beatlemania, Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson Week 7 Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again,Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock Begin, Reagan, Palestine, Terror on the airline, Ayatollah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, heavy metal, Foreign debts, homeless Vets, Bernie Goetz Hypodermics on the shores, China's under martial law, Rock and Roller Cola wars Week 8 - Review + Games. ( Blooket)
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some of the above are serious topics, some of which may continue to impact our world today. This class is intended for mature students looking to learn more about significant events that impacted History.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Time Magazine, Smithsonian.Com, brittanica.com
Joined December, 2020
4.9
882reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
- I have a Bachelors Degree in Education and completed my student teaching in a History classroom. I have taught many History-Based classes on Outschool and am a Homeschool Instructor for 15 years. Reviews
Live Group Class
$48
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
45 min
Completed by 26 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-15
3-10 learners per class
