Russia sparked the fires in 1917 First workers revolution The first revolution 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 cla** 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!