Russia sparked the fires in 1917 First workers revolution The first workers revolution in history Working people forced the bosses' backs against the wall First steps taken for a better life for all
It's a shame It's a crying shame When our past is buried And our victories go un-named It's a crying shame When our history books Talk of kings & men of fame
And in another country workers rose again 1919, 1919 in Berlin But they didn't learn the lessons From the Russians that they should Revolution, revolution was drowned in blood
It's a crying shame But the lessons plain It's a crying shame But the lessons plain
All things are possible
Hunger of the 30's Hunger of the 30's back again And the rich still rich And the poor still the same as they ever were And it seems to me We're still not learning from our history
And it's a crying shame Those who hold the future hold themselves in chains It's a crying shame Those who bear the pain hold themselves to blame It's a crying, it's a crying shame It's a crying shame
Look at Petrograd! Look at Barcelona Fight against the land Fight against the land & the factory owners Same fight today against another ruling class Learn a lesson from your past
It's a crying shame But the lessons plain It's a crying shame But the lessons plain It can happen again It's a crying, crying, crying shame But the lessons plain It can be done again!