It's not as if you didn't get the warning
You got the transcripts and recordings
History has a way of signing us up in the morning
But you're a late starter make it easy to ignore it
Later not recall it - yo
You had unfettered access to the facts
But the fact is your back was turned to the atlas
Nothing like not being in the crash test
To help you make your mind up - unknowingly the young sign up
The enemy of our enemy is still our enemy
So why are you arming them? Is this insanity?
That's how the Taliban began
Watch 'em as they turn around and aim their weapons at Americans
Hows it feel to be a widowmaker
Taker of the father of the family?
Your tragedy is fate - that's and stakes - so scoff at the Saigon link
Flash those pearlies
Take us way past the brink
And we you knew you were frauds
But onwards we went to war
Nothing could be said to convince you
We've already seen it before.
Someone could've told you it'd end like this
We did you didn't listen you can't take a trick
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
No one could have ever hoped to sway your mind
We've been there before but it's not your time
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
There's something familiar
About the story you told me
The way that you mouthed it, was not what you sold me
Well yes I'm one of many, yet you ignored the signs
You made it personal, don't spin me that line
You can't relax, 'cos it occurred on your watch
History will judge you 'cos you're all that we've got.
Is anyone listening? Are you fucking insane?
Am I to sit watching as it plays out again?
The truth is - we knew this - people aren't stupid
you play the innocent because you think we let you do it
If we think you're too ruthless
Show you where the point of the boot is
It's all about where the fuck the proof is
You keep an eye on the new kid - he's liable to do shit
If you don't keep a check on it - beyond your electorate
Peace in Iraq man, stay in Afghanistan
Lookin' for Osama, getting killed by the Taliban?
War on drugs? War on terror, 9-11?
We knew where Johnny stood - where's Kevin?
Don't get me wrong - like alarm clocks from Heaven
Going off when the country woke up in '07
But there's no letting up - yo, we're just getting up
Off the canvas - that very fact demands that
We stay as vigilant as can be - Transparency?
Another AWB - but we'll see
Even as we applaud
And we show them the door
thought we'd warn you that we're wary
'cos we've already seen it before
Someone could've told you it'd end like this
We did you didn't listen you can't take a trick
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
No one could have ever hoped to sway your mind
We've been there before but it's not your time
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
Someone could've told you it'd end like this
We did you didn't listen you can't take a trick
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
No one could have ever hoped to sway your mind
We've been there before but it's not your time
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
[Muttering]
It's not as if you didn't get the warning
You got the transcripts and recordings
History has a way of signing us up in the morning
But you're a late starter make it easy to ignore it
Later not recall it - yo
But the fact is your back was turned to the atlas
Nothing like not being in the crash test
To help you make your mind up - unknowingly the young sign up
The enemy of our enemy is still our enemy
So why are you arming them? Is this insanity?
That's how the Taliban began
Watch 'em as they turn around and aim their weapons at Americans
Hows it feel to be a widowmaker
Taker of the father of the family?
Your tragedy is fate - that's and stakes - so scoff at the Saigon link
Flash those pearlies
Take us way past the brink
But onwards we went to war
Nothing could be said to convince you
We've already seen it before.
We did you didn't listen you can't take a trick
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
We've been there before but it's not your time
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
About the story you told me
The way that you mouthed it, was not what you sold me
Well yes I'm one of many, yet you ignored the signs
You made it personal, don't spin me that line
You can't relax, 'cos it occurred on your watch
History will judge you 'cos you're all that we've got.
Is anyone listening? Are you fucking insane?
Am I to sit watching as it plays out again?
you play the innocent because you think we let you do it
If we think you're too ruthless
Show you where the point of the boot is
It's all about where the fuck the proof is
You keep an eye on the new kid - he's liable to do shit
If you don't keep a check on it - beyond your electorate
Peace in Iraq man, stay in Afghanistan
Lookin' for Osama, getting killed by the Taliban?
War on drugs? War on terror, 9-11?
We knew where Johnny stood - where's Kevin?
Don't get me wrong - like alarm clocks from Heaven
Going off when the country woke up in '07
But there's no letting up - yo, we're just getting up
Off the canvas - that very fact demands that
We stay as vigilant as can be - Transparency?
Another AWB - but we'll see
And we show them the door
thought we'd warn you that we're wary
'cos we've already seen it before
We did you didn't listen you can't take a trick
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
No one could have ever hoped to sway your mind
We've been there before but it's not your time
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
We did you didn't listen you can't take a trick
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
No one could have ever hoped to sway your mind
We've been there before but it's not your time
Lookin' back 2020 mistakes I got many
And the truth is that I'd probably do it again
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The song is most definitely written about Australia entering the war in Iraq.
It basically makes the point that Australian leaders of the time, namely Howard, went against public opinion and/or deceived the public into believing Australia needed to be involved in the conflict ("Someone could've told you it'd end like this / We did, you didn't listen you can't take a trick" and "unknowingly the young sign up"). The chorus is sung as if looking back in retrospect and points out that history just seems to repeat itself over and over ("And the truth is that I'd probably do it again")
It should be mentioned that the song also mentions the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) and the controversy that appeared around it around 2005 multiple times ("The enemy of our enemy is still our enemy / So why are you arming them? Is this insanity?" and "Another AWB - but we'll see").
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWB_Limited#Oil_for_food_scandal