We Built This City
by Starship
What is “We Built This City” really about?
If you’ve ever wondered what “We Built This City” by Starship is really about, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down.
Starship's 'We Built This City' is an anthem of the mid-1980s that critiques corporate and bureaucratic influences on music and arts, while celebrating the spirited creativity and cultural impact of rock and roll.
So… what’s this song really about?
In 'We Built This City,' Starship juxtaposes the commercialization of cities and music industries against the authentic spirit of rock and roll that originally characterized these spaces. The song uses imagery of corporate games and name-changing to portray a landscape in which true artistic expression struggles against commercial interests. The repeated refrain, 'We built this city on rock and roll,' works as a rallying cry, asserting the foundational role of music and creativity in shaping culture and identity. Through energetic melodies and resilient lyrics, the song captures a sense of nostalgia and defiance, suggesting that despite the encroachment of commercial forces, the soul of rock and roll persists in empowering the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who wrote 'We Built This City' by Starship?
The song was written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf.
Q: What year was 'We Built This City' released?
It was released in 1985.
Q: Why is the song 'We Built This City' often criticized?
The song is often criticized for its perceived cheesy sound and over-commercialized style, which some feel contrasts with its anti-commercial message.
Lyrics to “We Built This City”
69 ContributorsWe Built This City Lyrics
[Verse 2]
Someone always playing
Corporation games
Who cares? They're always changing
Corporation names
We just want to dance here
Someone stole the stage
They call us irresponsible
Write us off the page
[Pre-Chorus]
Marconi plays the mamba
Listen to the radio, don't you remember?
We built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
[Chorus]
We built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
Built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
[Bridge]
It's just another Sunday
In a tired old street
Police have got the chokehold, oh
Then we just lost the beat
[Verse 3]
Who counts the money
Underneath the bar
Who rides the wrecking ball
Into our guitars
Don't tell us you need us
'Cause we're the ship of fools
Looking for America
Coming through your schools
[Interlude]
I'm looking out over that Golden Gate bridge
On another gorgeous sunny Saturday
And I'm seeing that bumper to bumper traffic
Don't you remember? ('Member, 'member)
It's your favorite radio station
In your favorite radio city
The city by the bay, the city that rocks
The city that never sleeps
[Pre-Chorus]
Marconi plays the mamba
Listen to the radio, don't you remember?
We built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
[Chorus]
We built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
Built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
[Chorus]
Built this city (ooh-hoo)
We built this city on rock and roll
Built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
[Outro]
We built, we built this city, yeah
(Built this city) We built, we built this city
We built, we built this city, yeah
(Built this city) We built, we built this city
We built, we built this city, yeah
(Built this city) We built, we built this city
We built, we built this city, yeah
(Built this city) We built, we built this city
We built, we built this city, yeah