Critic Robert Christgau once described “We Didn’t Start The Fire” as “the quiz from Junior Scholastic.” He wasn’t far off the mark, although Junior Scholastic usually isn’t as clever or entertaining. Billy Joel’s frenzied encapsulation of world history since his birth provides a vivid snapshot of nation-changing events, major disasters and minor triumphs-not to mention a catalogue of names which his entire generation has never forgotten, and subsequent generations have barely learned. Indeed, after teachers began using the song to help students select topics for history reports, Columbia created a special scholastic cassette release with the song, followed be a ten-minute explanation by Joel himself.
Billy Joel "We Didn't Start The Fire"

Billy Joel The Essential Billy Joel