English Speech: Billy Joel

By Matthew Short 11.2

Song: “We Didn’t Start the Fire”

Lyrics: “Bay of Pigs invasion” (Verse 4)

The era of the 1960s was a period marked by political tensions and global disaster. It was a
time when the world was on the brink of a potential collapse. And at the heart of this era, we
find two significant events mentioned in the lyrics of Billy Joel's song "We Didn't Start the
Fire".
These two events were the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Revolution which led to the
cause of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Found in the lyrics “Bay of Pigs Invasion” in verse four,
which links itself to the Cuban revolution.
The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, shook the foundations of Cuban society. The
revolution sought to overthrow the president and establish a government in Cuba. Fidel
Castro and his revolutionaries fought for social justice, and a departure from the influence of
foreign powers, mainly the United States. The lyrics of Billy Joel's song serve as a powerful
reminder of the nature of the Cuban revolution. It represents a time of change, where the
Cuban people, inspired by Castro's ideals, fought for a new Cuba, free from oppression and
foreign control. However, the revolution also set the stage for the events that would follow.
One of those events, linked to the Cuban Revolution, was the Bay of Pigs invasion. The Bay
of Pigs Invasion, mentioned in Billy Joel’s song was, a failed military operation carried out
by the United States in April 1961, aimed to overthrow the newly established Cuban
government and restore American leadership. The invasion involved a group of Cubans
trained and supported by the United States, who launched an attack on the southern coast of
Cuba.
But the Bay of Pigs invasion ended in disaster. The Cuban forces, strengthened by their
revolutionary spirit and the support of the Cuban people, successfully resisted the invasion. It
was a significant blow to the United States, further entrenching the Cuban government and
cementing its ties with the Soviet Union at the time. The consequences of the Bay of Pigs
invasion were gruesome. It heightened the already tense relationship between the United
States and Cuba. It created a sense of hostility within the Cuban government, leading to their
alignment with the Soviet Union. And it was in the aftermath of these events, the Cuban
Revolution and the Bay of Pigs invasion, that the world witnessed the Cuban Missile Crisis, a
moment in history that brought humanity to the brink of a nuclear war. The Cuban Missile
Crisis, in October 1962, was a direct result of the growing Soviet-Cuban alliance. In response
to the threat from the United States, the Soviet Union, under Nikita Khrushchev who is
mentioned in Billy Joel’s lyrics, secretly deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba. These missiles
had the potential to strike major cities across the United States, increasing tensions between
them.
Billy Joel's lyrics, mentioning the Cuban Revolution and the Bay of Pigs invasion, serve as an
emotional reminder of the sequence of events that led to this critical moment. The Cuban
Missile Crisis was resolved through intense negotiations and a balance of power. But it
served as a wake-up call to the dangers of nuclear warfare and the urgent need for
peacekeeping and restraint. Looking back and Reflecting upon the lyrics in "We Didn't Start
the Fire," of “ Bay of Pigs Invasion” in verse four, let us remember the importance of the
Cuban Revolution and the Bay of Pigs Invasion. They were moments in history that led to
one of the most critical moments of the 20th century and serve as a reminder of the
importance of understanding the events that shape our world and the consequences of our
actions.
Thank you

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