History Will Teach Us Nothing Songtext
von Sting

If we seek solace in the prisons of the distant past
Security in human systems, we′re told, will always, always last
Emotions are the sail and blind faith is the mast
Without a breath of real freedom, we're getting nowhere fast

If God is dead and an actor plays his part
His words of fear will find their way to a place in your heart
Without the voice of reason, every faith is its own curse
Without freedom from the past, things can only get worse

Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later
Sooner or later


Our written history is a catalogue of crime
The sordid and the powerful, the architects of time
The mother of invention, the oppression of the mild
The constant fear of scarcity, aggression as its child

Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later (sooner or later)
Sooner or later

Convince an enemy, convince him that he′s wrong
To win a bloodless battle, where victory is long
A simple act of faith, in reason over might
To blow up his children, will only prove him right

History will teach us nothing

Sooner or later, just like the world first day
Sooner or later, we learn to throw the past away
Sooner or later, just like the world first day
Sooner or later, we learn to throw the past away
Sooner or later, we learn to throw the past away


History will teach us nothing
History will teach us nothing

Know you human rights, be what you come here for
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)
Know your human rights, be what you come here for (sooner or later)