FAWM: "No one learns much from history"

No one learns much from history

1 week ago by @mikeskliar

No one learns much from history

mikeskliar

00:00

Liner Notes

#banjo I wrote this lyric last night... didn't have any music for it and thought about just posting it as lyrics only, but figured I'd make one last attempt- got out my old five string banjo (with the fifth string tuning assembly broken, so its now a four string banjo, which i actually flatpick, not being used to those banjo individual fingerpicky thingys..) .. anyway, enjoy.

not sure what I think of it all

Lyrics

I can hear distant voices, whispering wisdom like a code
Faint wheel marks in the dust, tracing the path of an ancient road
But all our wagons want to take that new highway
Thinking things would be different today

Theres only one truth as far as I can see
In the end no one learns much from history

I could cite you examples, we all could all name six or seven
All those little things that stop us from making this place heaven
Every generation’s gotta screw it up themselves
The knowledge that was out there, stuck on dusty shelves

The mistakes of the past come back, guaranteed
In the end no one learns much from history

Bridge-
you thought we were immune/
but here it comes, the same old tune

I’ve lived long enough now to see a pattern that always repeats
Everything’s a cycle, sooner or later, success turns to defeat
We could have seen this coming if we had that crystal ball
The spectacular rise, the tragic fall

Theres only one truth as far as I can see
In the end no one learns much from history

Comments

@guatecoop 1w

I really love the banjo sound and this is so pleasant. Another Skliar special that could only be you—with whatever instrument you are using. Excellent!

@aaronnathans 1w

So true! Very incisive. As a parent I see how my kids need to make mistakes for themselves to learn the lesson. Book learning isn't nearly as effective. Loving the banjo. I enjoyed this!

@ayeahmur 1w

Sadly I think you're right. Or they seem to take it as a challenge to go and learn the wrong things. People!

Tough truths. Very well conveyed.

@coolparadisoMod 1w

Yup the banjo was a good choice! Unfortunately I think you are spot on! We don’t! Really nice Mike!

@davidtaro 1w

The thought regularly crosses my mind too, so it’s nice to hear it articulated so well in a song. Unfortunately the more distant that history becomes the less and less we seem to pay it any heed. This comes across like an old Woody Guthrie number, love that banjo. Good words, Mike.

@the3queens 1w

Greater truth was never spoken. I sure wish they did. I'm glad you stuck it out and tried one more time. Nice lyrics.

@daddyschu 1w

Nicely done sir! The inability to learn, or willful decision NOT to learn is indeed aggravating. I feel like I might have a song about that buried inside somewhere.... hmmmmm.