History
A.O.S Lyrics
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With my mother and father quite like I want to do
There's some family history, I'd rather not go lookin' through
Family history will repeat, look through your history, you're sure to meet
Someone a walkin' much the same pathway as you
It's just family history, like it or not you're passin' through
Like you're runnin' in circles, until you don't know where it ends
Can't know where you're goin' until you know just where you've been
What's with my uncle, I want to know, we never see him whenever we go
To some family reunion, no one dares to say his name
It's against the rules in our secret family history game
Family history, need to learn, lest old troubles will return
Come back and haunt you, you'll hear them rattle their chain
You'd better break it, it might just drag you down again
Family history seems like fate, but you can break it, it's not too late
To ask a few questions, it's time to face up to your fear
Because it lies there waitin', it's comin' back again next year
The song "History" by A.O.S tackles the topic of family history, including the importance of knowing one's past to avoid repeating the same mistakes as well as the struggles of confronting uncomfortable or hidden family truths. The singer expresses a desire to learn more about their family history and be more connected with their parents, but also acknowledges the difficulty in facing certain aspects of their past.
The first verse conveys the singer's lack of knowledge and connection to their family history, admitting that there are certain parts they would rather avoid. However, the chorus emphasizes that family history is an inevitable part of one's life and that it can repeat itself if not actively examined.
The second verse references a family bible and old pictures as symbols of the recurring patterns and cycles within a family. The singer wonders about the absence of an uncle and the secrecy that surrounds his name, suggesting that there may be hidden family tensions or traumas that are not openly discussed. The final chorus urges listeners to confront their own family history so as not to repeat past mistakes, even if it is a difficult process.
Line by Line Meaning
Family history, I don't know too much, family history, I don't keep in touch
I don't have much knowledge of my family's history, and I don't stay in contact with my parents as much as I would like to.
With my mother and father quite like I want to do
I don't have the relationship with my parents that I desire.
There's some family history, I'd rather not go lookin' through
There are certain aspects of my family's history that I'd prefer not to explore.
Family history will repeat, look through your history, you're sure to meet
Patterns and behaviors from your family's past are likely to resurface in your own life.
Someone a walkin' much the same pathway as you
You may encounter someone who is on a similar path as you due to your family's shared history.
It's just family history, like it or not you're passin' through
Your family's history will impact your life, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.
Family bible, dates and names, faces in pictures look much the same
The family bible contains important information such as dates and names, and the people in old pictures may resemble those in your current family.
Like you're runnin' in circles, until you don't know where it ends
Examining your family's history can feel like going in circles, and it may be hard to determine where it all began or where it will end.
Can't know where you're goin' until you know just where you've been
Understanding your family's past is crucial in order to navigate your own path into the future.
What's with my uncle, I want to know, we never see him whenever we go
I am curious about my uncle and why we never see him at family gatherings.
To some family reunion, no one dares to say his name
My family has a taboo surrounding my uncle and nobody is willing to talk about him at reunions.
It's against the rules in our secret family history game
We have an unspoken rule in our family to not discuss certain aspects of our history, and my uncle's absence is one of those things.
Family history, need to learn, lest old troubles will return
It's important to study and understand your family's history, or else old problems may resurface.
Come back and haunt you, you'll hear them rattle their chain
The ghosts of past family problems may come back to haunt you if you don't address them.
You'd better break it, it might just drag you down again
The negative aspects of your family's history can weigh you down and hinder your progress, so it's important to confront them and break the cycle.
Family history seems like fate, but you can break it, it's not too late
Your family's history may seem predetermined, but it's possible to change your future by breaking free from negative patterns.
To ask a few questions, it's time to face up to your fear
In order to break the cycle, you need to ask questions and confront any fears or discomfort that comes with it.
Because it lies there waitin', it's comin' back again next year
If you don't deal with your family's history, the problems will continue to resurface in the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TIMOTHY PAGE O'BRIEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wesmcquillen
"One of the best songs on the album, but also one of the most obscure. All these years later, the only clue to the origins of the track lies in the song credits for Wilbrandt, Buhlert, and Lovsky. Are those the members of A.O.S.? Fay Lovsky shed some light for me.
“Klaus Buhlert and I made this song together for a project,” she described over email. "He sent me the instrumental … I thought of a melody to sing and I wrote the words.“ Buhlert built the instrumental side partly by using loops of a recording session he produced for the 1991 album "Alone, For a Second,” a collection of Erik Satie compositions arranged by Thomas Wilbrandt. Buhlert gave a copy of “History (Repeats Itself)” to Wilbrandt as a thank you for use of his arrangements in the loops.
A few years later, Wilbrandt found himself in a position to submit an audition tape to Oliver Stone and Budd Carr for use in Natural Born Killers, and "History (Repeats Itself)” found its way onto that tape. Stone and Carr rejected the rest of Wilbrandt’s submissions, but loved the song. Despite having precious little to do with the song’s creation, Wilbrandt took ownership of the song and got it onto the soundtrack.
Buhlert was really the brain behind A.O.S., and had recorded a full album. Lovsky contributed vocals to a few other songs, but Wilbrandt had no other connection to it. Unfortunately for A.O.S., Lovsky explains, “Klaus’ project, involving cooperation with other artists besides me, didn’t seem to catch on with any record company."
From the forum post: "https://www.echoingthesound.org/community/threads/3846-A-O-S-quot-History-(Repeats-Itself)-quot-Does-anyone-have-any-info-about-this-band"
@nickparsons337
This song has haunted me ever since I heard it in Natural Born Killers as a kid. There's something eerily timeless about it.
@callawolf531
Same here, though that's how I felt about a lot of the music in that film. It had a pretty haunting (as well as a little jarring) soundtrack as a whole.
@jasonpeters9865
Lol, whole damn soundtrack with movie is errie.
Was 17 when it came out on VHS, 1994. We use drop acid watch. Never viewed Rodney Dangerfield same after. One of those moments. Like 5 years earlier in 1989, saw "A Clockwork Orange" staying up late at slumber party when I was 12.
@callawolf531
@@jasonpeters9865 I feel the same about Rodney, after seeing him in NBK I always was like 'damn, I can't believe he was Mallory's dad.' First time I saw the film was in 2001 when I was 14, my older brother showed it to me. I found it to scary, but was super intrigued and ended up getting the Directors Cut on VHS. I ended up watching it a lot during high school because I ended up liking the chaotic nature of the filming.
@vorsybl
Gimme sum shrooms, Mal, mine ain't kickin in yet.
@lindsey1776O
What’s worse is we have been watching it for the past 2 yrs happen in real life
@Tiger8566
Yeah, Plagued Moth...
@magpiecore
bless the people who while listening to this cant think of anything worse than a breakup
@meowbruhhh4586
Yup, also plagued moth
@samtenn
yep