The song is a call to working people to understand the class nature of society and the damage that capitalism is causing to the world. It calls for an end to be put to the class system by ending the capitalist system.
Chorus 1 (tune A)
The time has come to learn from the past,
Of why the world is divided by class.
The kings and queens the lords and church who stole all the land,
Control the lives of those who work with brain and with hand.
Verse 1 (tune B)
Think back to hundreds of years that were feudal
You could not say that your life was your own.
The revolts of the peasants
Were not met with clemency:
War between classes was born.
But then as capitalism grew stronger
And the power of the gentry grew weak
So the king got the chop
And with Cromwell on top
Came the rule of the bourgeoisie.
Chorus 2 (tune A)
The time has come learn from the past.
We've had enough of this ruling class.
With stocks and shares and re-location profit is their game.
They play with lives of those who work with hand and with brain.
Verse 2 (tune C)
But can the world afford a system
based on greed and exploitation,
Where people's needs are trampled on
to suit big corporations?
The planet's scarce resources must be
saved for generations,
Not squandered to fulfill the dream of
global domination.
Chorus 3 (tune D)
Tho' the task will be enormous,
We can see no other path,
but to fight the might of capital's proponents.
For there really is no prospect
Of a world in harmony
If we do not put an end to the rule of the bourgeousie.
Verse 3 (Tune C)
So will you seize the day and join us?
We should set our targets high
For another world is possible
But only if we try.
Shall we leave the world a better place
And know that when we die
We have played our part in history
Not stood there idly by
Chorus 4/5 (tune A - sops tune D)
The time has come learn from the past,
Of why the world's divided by class.
The kings and queens the lords and church who stole all the land,
control the lives of those who work with brain and with hand.
The time has come learn from the past,
We've had enough of this ruling class.
We have to build a world in harmony.
To put an end to tyranny.
Coda:
How long shall we wait
Not until it's too late
The time has come to learn from the past,
Of why the world is divided by class.
The kings and queens the lords and church who stole all the land,
Control the lives of those who work with brain and with hand.
Verse 1 (tune B)
Think back to hundreds of years that were feudal
You could not say that your life was your own.
The revolts of the peasants
Were not met with clemency:
War between classes was born.
But then as capitalism grew stronger
And the power of the gentry grew weak
So the king got the chop
And with Cromwell on top
Came the rule of the bourgeoisie.
Chorus 2 (tune A)
The time has come learn from the past.
We've had enough of this ruling class.
With stocks and shares and re-location profit is their game.
They play with lives of those who work with hand and with brain.
Verse 2 (tune C)
But can the world afford a system
based on greed and exploitation,
Where people's needs are trampled on
to suit big corporations?
The planet's scarce resources must be
saved for generations,
Not squandered to fulfill the dream of
global domination.
Chorus 3 (tune D)
Tho' the task will be enormous,
We can see no other path,
but to fight the might of capital's proponents.
For there really is no prospect
Of a world in harmony
If we do not put an end to the rule of the bourgeousie.
Verse 3 (Tune C)
So will you seize the day and join us?
We should set our targets high
For another world is possible
But only if we try.
Shall we leave the world a better place
And know that when we die
We have played our part in history
Not stood there idly by
Chorus 4/5 (tune A - sops tune D)
The time has come learn from the past,
Of why the world's divided by class.
The kings and queens the lords and church who stole all the land,
control the lives of those who work with brain and with hand.
The time has come learn from the past,
We've had enough of this ruling class.
We have to build a world in harmony.
To put an end to tyranny.
Coda:
How long shall we wait
Not until it's too late
Contributed by John Hamilton - 2005/12/17 - 22:37
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