Billy Joel Forgets The Lyrics To “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Then Slams The Song: Watch

Carl Williott | March 14, 2014 6:59 am

Billy Joel is back on tour, which will culminate with another of his infinity-night stands at Madison Square Garden. But first he performed in Toronto recently, and the Piano Man forgot the lyrics to his most inescapable song, “We Didn’t Start The Fire. “Wait a minute,” he said at the top of the first verse, cutting off the band before pointing out the inherent danger of performing the song live. “That ain’t right. All you gotta do is fuck up one word in that song and it’s a train wreck.”

After that, he let the crowd know what he really thinks about the 1989 hit. “It’s the same thing verse after verse,” he said. “Just the words change. ‘Na na na-na, na-na na,’ it’s one of the worst melodies I ever wrote.” It’s rare to see that kind of candor from a pop star not named Lily Allen. But, ever the professional, Joel finished the song for the crowd, and correctly guessed the flub would be “all over YouTube.”

Check it out below.

[via Rolling Stone]

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