Politics and music are cyclical. An old song of Billy Joel’s still seems contemporary. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was on Joel’s “Storm Front” album and has been used by many savvy history teachers to help teach 20th century history. In this fast-paced song, names and events explode like volleys from a machine gun. The last verse goes like this:

“Wheel of Fortune”, Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide

Foreign debts, homeless vets,

AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz

Hypodermics on the shores, China’s under martial law

Rock and Roller Cola Wars, I can’t take it anymore

I have a version of this song adapted for Toledo. Sing along if you know the tune, and if you don’t, Google it! Here’s hoping some local teacher can use this to teach Toledo students about local lore.

Block Brothers, Jamie Farr, Golden Rule, what a star

Florence Libbey, John Berdan, Robert Lucas, Stranahan

Finkbeiner, Hazard Perry, Willys Jeep, Driggs Dairy

Crosby Gardens, Wildwood, Katie Holmes in Hollywood

Spark plugs, Libbey Glass, solar panels, Free Press

Owens Tech, U of T., Davis, and Penta’s free

Marshall Fields, Macy’s, Lion Stores, and Tiedtke’s

Tony Packo’s, Farmer Jack, we want more Churchills back

Chorus:

We didn’t start Toledo

It was always learning/Since the town’s been turning

We didn’t start Toledo

No we didn’t melt it/But we tried to help it

Mud Hens, Walleyes, ballpark seats are such good buys

Bullfrogs, LPGA, ladies’ golf has got to stay

Fallen Timbers, Fort Meigs, Lake Erie shores hold ships and kegs

Middlegrounds, Black Swamp, the Paramount brought some pomp

Manor House, Old West End, The Village and Westmoreland

Lathrop House, had to go, though a stop on freedom’s road

Mancy’s Steakhouse, serves up beef that’s quite a tasty treat

Beirut, Ciao’s, Ski’s and The Docks are tops

Chorus

’SPD plays for free, Toledo Blade’s got quite the fee

Marcy Kaptur, Jack Ford, Carty’s back; He’s the lord

Jeep plant, Owens Corning, General Mills gave us warning

Toledo Scale, Libbey Owens, PowerTrain kept jobs a-flowing

Toledo Trust, what a bust, so was Noe’s gold dust

Bulldog, Frankel, cooked books, why are there so many crooks?

Rolling trash days, traffic cameras,  call them revenue bonanzas

Peristyle, Miracle Mile, dear Sam Szor makes us smile

Chorus

Candice Coleman, COSI, Science place-lost in space

Erie Street had a market, cost too much, had to park it

Marina District, should we ditch it?  Who will pay for that ticket?

Westgate’s back, North Towne Mall, Southwyck’s had quite the fall

Christine Brennan, P.J., Jerry Anderson, Maumee Bay

Andersons’ general store, all you want and much more

Rosary Cathedral, Valentine Theater — both are open all year

Firemen, policemen, and unions take it on the chin

We didn’t start Toledo

But when we are gone, will it still live on, and on, and on …

Tags: Billy Joel, Opinion, Toledo

This entry was posted on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Guest Column, Opinion.
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