We Built This City Lyrics

Performed by Jefferson Starship


WE built this city,
We built this city on rock an' roll x2

Say you don't know me, or recognize my face
Say you don't care who goes to that kind of place
Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight
Too many runaways eating up the night

Marconi plays the mambo, Listen to the radio
Don't you remember?
We built this city, We built this city on rock and roll!

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

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

Marconi plays the mambo, Listen to the radio
Don't you remember?
We built this city, We built this city on rock and roll!

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

It's just another Sunday, in a tired old street
Police have got the choke hold, oh then we just lost the beat

Who counts the money ,underneath the bar
Who writes the wrecking ball in two part guitar
Don't tell us you need us, 'cause we're the simple fools
Looking for America, coming through your schools

(I'm looking out over that Golden Gate Bridge
Out on another gorgeous Sunny Saturday,
not seein' 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

Marconi plays the mambo, Listen to the radio -
Don't you remember 'Cause

We built this city, We built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

We built, we built this city yeah
We built this city
We built, we built this city

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catchy and slightly cool | Reviewer: Anonymous | 1/12/12

I'm only 17 in my AS year of school and i have had to research starship for a piece of homework and all of the comments i've read so far are completely unfair this song was defining song for me and people today still sing it and nobody i know, knows any lead zepplin song yet everyone knows we built this city

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Catchy but silly | Reviewer: Christiaan Kruger | 1/9/12

My word, this song is stupid! It sounds like it belongs in some kiddies' puppet show. Anyone who says this song rocks has no idea what ROCK means. Sure it's catchy - but if you actually LIKE it, it's probably just cuz you used to get high to it in the eighties. Both the Jefferson bands were born lame. They have no sense of momentum and their rythm is weak. LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY LED ZEPPELIN!!!!!

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Terrible Terrible Song | Reviewer: Matt | 12/16/11

I am 40years old and a working musician. I only mention this due to comments below. I grew up in this 80s era. Many good bands have their terrible songs that they usually did to try and catch the wave of whatever is popular at the time. Those songs almost always sell very well and then become an embarrassment. Cheap Trick had "The Flame", Rod Stewart had "Do You Think I'm Sexy" Kiss had "I Was Made For Loving You" Etc. I can think of no better example than this God awful song. "Pac Man Fever" has more soul than this cheesy slap in the face of a song.

I agree with one reviewer that there's a lot of terrible music being made today but I sure wouldnt want this song to be my example of what is good. There's a lot of great music being made always, you just have to go beyond the radio to get it. Radio sells advertising not music. That's why it sucked then and it sucks now.

I actually use this song to annoy my friends because the chorus will stick in your head ALL DAY LONG and make you want to jump off a bridge to save your sanity.

Of course I would glady accept the royalty checks for this stinker.

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It takes me back to the 80's | Reviewer: Anonymous | 9/7/11

This song was one of hundreds and hundreds from the 80's, it never stuck with me until about 5 yrs ago I heard it called the worst song ever. I thought about that and from somewhere in the deep and forgotten corners of my mind I could suddenly remember a very specific time I heard this song on the car radio. I don't know why I'd suddenly remember this time over any other...? It was a beautiful summer day, probably July of 85, I was waiting at the light behind Bayview Village shopping plaza in Toronto to make a right onto Bayview Ave. I was a teen, the days were long and lazy, I worked hard and played hard, good friends and good times. I don't know why this song would bring back such a powerful and emotional memory all those years later, but now every-time I hear it I remember that day, and that time of my life, one of the greatest times of my life. Back in the 80's this song was just one of hundreds, now it's one of my all-time favorites.

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Awesome! Rock and Roll History! | Reviewer: Anonymous | 9/2/11

Every time I hear this song, it takes me right back to those "80s days". It may not be Starships' best song but it sure gets me singing and drumming on the table! And I love it, lots of energy there!
I think that if you are twelve years old and think you can actually be a credible reviewer of 80s music....well, you sure have lots to learn and you can only learn it by experiencing life and music.
This is one of those classic rock songs that LAID THE FOUNDATION OF ROCK AND ROLL thirty years ago.
Not to worry, thirty years from now, the twelve year olds might have gained enough life experience to be credible music reviewers.
In the meantime we can all still enjoy this stuff...and be teens again if only for a short time. Long live Gracie Slick and Starship!

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wbtc | Reviewer: hal | 8/22/11

Rocking! Written by BERNIE TAUPIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So why is every one trippin on the Starship/Lyrics?? Nominated for a GRAMMY ! That year ! TRY and sing this song live ! I'v heard all kinds ! Starship does this song justice a number one hit ! Who wouldn't want that??? or record this even today IF IT WOULD MAKE MONEY? ?? For God sakes 2nd worse song on this stupid fuckin list is Ebony and Ivory <<<So ..Even worse song .. I have heard a million worse songs ,, ER! Jefferson Starship, Starship ,Jefferson Airplane,Hot Tuna, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Craig Chaquico, Jack Cassidy, Mickey Thomas,Jorma Kaukonen, Papa John Creach ..! How the fuck you dummas Americans Gonna dis ,,, One Of what should be AMERICAS TREASURE!

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reply to WORST SONG EVER!!! | Reviewer: bullseye090 | 6/24/11

This is a great song, you clearly know nothing about good music. You're a 12 year old, you probably listen to junk like Bieber and Miley Cyrus and think they're the greatest singers ever. Don't try to review things you know nothing about, it was before your time. Go back and listen to your crap current pop and leave the great music to people who appreciate it.

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80's calling 50's | Reviewer: Georgios Pavlidis | 1/15/11

I've got nothing new to add only epigramize what others before me elaborated upon: 80's-consequent corporate rock commemorating the 50's when rock was free. (N.B.: Today it may be FOR FREE, courtesy of Megaupload, but not FREE, as in FREEDOM). Greetings, good vibes, peace, love.

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Whoever of you is who, | Reviewer: 'J.A.' | 10/27/10

anyone of you, please be aware & a good recipient of my relevant message that's just your lawyer's right, whoever that is, to call me, today by the latest, please, 00562 548 29 31,
so I can find out & so on, my purposes: A good moral, my future, music etc., greetings, Ifoundittout@yahoo.com, note: Only The Corrupt don't approve of me, so I don't approve of any right or obligation, whatsoever that I can fail to exist, i.e. according to, what my good news is, all about & forever to be, 'why & when,' since my future hangs by a 'sought' thread that doesn't exist as my own fault!

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Song is a reflection on the 60's and 70's in San Francisco | Reviewer: Manny | 9/18/10

This song is about San Francisco where Rock n Roll ruled in the 60's and 70's. Haight-Ashbury had too many runaways eating up the night coming in from all over the country. We all had transistor radios and "listened to the radio" .. don't you remember? There was radio station KYA and the KYA Oneders DJ Basketball team that played against local High School Faculties, and there was KFRC. We built this City on Rock and Roll. The DJ interspersed in the song is Les Garland from KFRC referring to the "City by the Bay"... This is a feel good song referring back to the days when music was coming through our schools...before corporations took over the airwaves.. It's got a great tune and lots of nostalgia for those who can remember... The reason it's the "Worst Song Ever" is because that's how Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Starship described it on an MTV interview because he didn't like it affiliated with Jefferson Starship. Sorry Paul, Grace sang it and it was GOOD!!!

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It's A Statement Against Disco | Reviewer: Rick | 6/30/10

"We Built This City" is basically a statement in support of rock and roll over the glitz, super techno charged, glam rock, and monotonous, drone of disco music. It is also about the sell out to co by music artists (Jefferson Airplane and Star Ship included) to corporate America. Marconi is a throw back to the basics and roots of popular American music. Don't get me wrong, I am a product of the disco era and love my share of the music. You have to place the song in historical context. It is a statement of the time as JS and the writers saw it. Worst song ever? Give me a break. Who is the snob here? The song makes me dance, sing and think.

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this song is terrible. | Reviewer: Anonymous | 6/8/10

okay, being a jefferson starship fan, my dad and i can both agree that this song is terrible...compared to their songs like "Jane." It's a little annoying, and yes it does 'summarize the style of the 80's" but very badly. Jefferson Starship weren't always that kind of band. we've been listening to them for a while, and this song was a shocker. it's terrible, compared to teh rest of their career.

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A Superb and Catchy Song | Reviewer: Anonymous | 6/3/10

I don't usually write reviews, for anything. But I felt the need to write one here. Although I am only 14, I would like to believe I have a pretty good ear for music. I love almost all types from classical, to rock and roll, to pop, even to hip hop on occasion. Now after reading arguments both for and against this song, I have the urge to put in my two cents. This song is fantastic. I first heard in dance class and haven't been able to get it out of my head since. The first chance I got I bought it on iTunes. Now, I'm not sure the lyrics make a whole ton of sense. It is completely possible that is referring to the way of life that existed in the 80s, but I honestly cannot say, because I was not alive in the 80s. However, I do have to say to anyone who says this song is terrible because the lyrics don't make sense, that, in my opinion, you don't really have a full understanding of music. Music isn't just about the lyrics, it is about the music itself. It is about feeling the rhythm and let the melody flood your ears. It is about expressing feeling through sound, through music. Those who dislike the song for the lyrics are taking the song much too literally. You aren't supposed to look just at the words on the outside, you have to find the deeper meaning. Not only behind the lyrics themselves, but behind the melody, rhythm, and tone of the song. I happen to be listening to this song right now, and I can't help but sing along. You don't have to look at the lyrics and deeper meaning if you don't want. Just listen to the beat and dance. This song is extremely catchy and fun to listen to. If you want to take it really literally, perhaps you shouldn't be a music critic anymore. Oh, and by the way miss "12 year old" you obviously still have a TON to learn. Try to be less arrogant, and try to appreciate varying opinions, and try to dance a little more.

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Fun Song That Never Gets Old!!! | Reviewer: Frank | 5/21/10

Ive been listening to this since 1985. I was 16 years old in high school and yes it was THE 80'S....

Its sad for those of you who cannot understand what the 80's was all about. "We Build This City" and "Sara" are classic songs from that era. It was also the year of "Take On Me", "Dont You Forget About Me", and "Summer Of 69".

So to all you Negative Feedback Twits, if you can't write anything positive on the songs mentioned above.........THEN DON'T!!!!!!!!

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reply to WORST SONG EVER!!! | Reviewer: george | 4/27/10

You probably should keep quiet, if you are actually twelve your favorite band is most likely somebody like JLS, and where do you start with them. This is a song from history, it's a classic. Who cares if the song doesn't make sense, if you actually listened to the music instead of pointing out whats wrong with it you would see that it is actually a prime example of the era. The era when music was good and wasn't a bunch of boy bands, like JLS. Ever since bands like Jefferson stopped playing music, it has taken a turn for the worst, this is evident when you look at the artists playing, such as George Michael, Seal and Kenny G. Even though some people tried to keep it alive, like OASIS, even the great Noel and Liam Gallagher couldn't stop it becoming the farce that it is today. When I hear rap, I feel as if my ears are being raped by three crack fiend monkeys on steroids. In short what I am trying to say is just listen and pay tribute to the dying era, don't criticize just listen.

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