It Can Be Done
The Redskins Lyrics
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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
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!
The Redskins' song "It Can Be Done" speaks about the revolutionary movements that took place in Russia in 1917 and Berlin in 1919. The lyrics applaud the working class for taking the first steps towards a better life in history with the worker's revolution in Russia. The workers rose against the factory owners, which led to a revolution drowned in blood. Despite this, the song suggests that we can learn from our history and rise again. The song then laments how the victories of the working class often go unnamed, and it's a shame when our history books only talk about kings and men of fame.
The song also touches upon the hunger of the 1930s and how the rich are still rich, while the poor remain the same. It suggests that the ruling class today is the same as it was then, and we are still not learning from our history. The repeating phrase "It's a crying shame," emphasizes the disappointment and sadness felt towards this lack of progress.
The song calls for people to learn a lesson from their past, fight against the ruling class, and take steps towards creating a better life for all. The repeated phrase "It can be done again" instils the hope that revolution is still possible, despite the pain and shame of past failures.
Line by Line Meaning
Russia sparked the fires in 1917
The first workers revolution in history happened in Russia in 1917
First workers revolution
The workers rose against their employers for the first time ever
Working people forced the bosses' backs against the Wall
The workers forced their employers to listen to their demands
First steps taken for a better life for all
The workers wanted better working conditions and pay for everyone
It's a shame
It is disappointing
It's a crying shame
It is heartbreakingly disappointing
When our past is buried
When our history is forgotten or ignored
And our victories go un-named
And our accomplishments are not recognized
When our history books
When the books about our past
Talk of kings & men of fame
Only discuss those who were wealthy and well-known
And in another country workers rose again
In another country, workers stood up against their employers too
1919, 1919 in Berlin
In Berlin, in the year 1919
But they didn't learn the lessons
But they did not learn from the experiences of others
From the Russians that they should
From what happened in Russia
Revolution, revolution was drowned in blood
The uprising was met with violence and many people were killed
All things are possible
Anything can happen
Hunger of the 30's
Food shortages during the 1930s
Hunger of the 30's back again
People are going hungry again like they did in the 30s
And the rich still rich
And those who have money are still wealthy
And the poor still the same as they ever were
And those who are poor are still poor
And it seems to me
It appears to me
We're still not learning from our history
We are not paying attention to what happened before
Those who hold the future hold themselves in chains
Those who control what will happen next are limiting themselves
Those who bear the pain hold themselves to blame
Those who are suffering because of the actions of others are partly responsible
Look at Petrograd!
Look at what happened in Petrograd!
Look at Barcelona
Look at what happened in Barcelona
Fight against the land
Fight against the people who own the land
Fight against the land & the factory owners
Fight against the people who own the land and the factories
Same fight today against another ruling class
We are still fighting against those who have power and control
Learn a lesson from your past
Take knowledge from what has happened before
It can happen again
It is possible that it will happen again
But the lessons plain
But the message is clear
It can be done again!
We can do it again!
Contributed by Ava Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@EIREriddick13
Never heard of this band ,Love them A+
@user-bk3gn7wl1e
My teenage kicks. I remember when they played on the Tube and they brought on a striking miner to talk during one of their songs only for someone to pull his mic.
@saturn16
Banging! great tune!
@saborfrancias
I love this 🎶
@owensmith4293
Great memories of this
@EAZTHARLEM
SWEET !!!
@johnweingardt1095
No, that’s Chris Dean (whose vocals were as soulful as Paul Heaton’s were).
Listen to “Ninety-Nine And-A-Half Won’t Do”
As a non-racist (traditional) skinhead in the late 1970s, throughout the 1980s, I welcomed and loved the Redskins
@lasickaelena7506
👍🙋
@alejandrojorquerapaegelow2179
⭐
@davewalkden9978
Is that Paul Heaton at 01:45?