We Didn T Start The Fire Essay

Little did the world know, in midst of a struggling society, with a burning history, the music industry gave birth to a legend. As a young child growing up into a distraught world that taught him all he knows, Billy Joel, also known as the piano man, soaked up all he could. Joel is one with an aspiration-driven mind, whose thoughts consist of originating historical facts; hence, using allusion, ethos, and plethora of metaphors, he infuses the “fire” forming by the events in sequential order from 1949 to 1989.
Using a literal form of allusion, Joel is able to signify his meaning in terms of tune. Throughout the song, figures of art, music, and politics are spoken of. Joels implication of Pop Culture is to show what time period is spoken of, being the 50s. Using allusion, Joel is able to exemplify his meaning while dancing around the purpose of his song. Notably designing his lyrics, Billy calls onto the world’s history without mentioning it explicitly. Subsequently, Joel uses indirect and passing references to society's imperfections, “After we’re

Metaphor comes into use during all vocal synchronizations of the tune, as well as the “the fire” which symbolizes the hate in society that destroys us. Throughout Joel’s piece, fire is symbolized and used metaphorically, illuminating the negative repercussions of our ancestors actions, such as the nuclear bomb. Nonetheless, the Arms Race and the Cold War were slowly destroying our society. Demonstrated in the chorus, “We didn’t start the fire, it was always burning, since the world's been turning, We didn’t start the fire, we didn’t light it we were trying to fight it...” Famous photographs are burned in a fire, Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination being one of the photos as well as N. Van Lam’s execution. Alongside many others being consumed just like the title of the song, implying a metaphorical