Well I never really wanted to teach history
I had a degree in migration and ethnic studies
But somehow that was enough to qualify me
To teach the past to the future Toronto bourgeoisie

I was a bit nervous so I asked for advice
From a retired professor who I always thought was nice
He smiled and stroked his beard and rolled his 8-sided dice
And said there’s only one thing to remember and I’ll tell you twice

He said Thailand was never a colony
And an island is surrounded by a lake or a sea
These are things we can say with some certainty
And you will never escape from your history
No you will never escape from your history

I told him I understand what you’re saying, logically
But I’m not sure how to apply it pedagogically
He just sat there and repeated, one day you will see
That you can never escape from your history

So before I started teaching I decided to test his theory
I had a couple months’ vacation and my time was free
I thought what better destination than Germany
Which was once a nasty place for people like me

I saw a German hairstylist in a German hair salon
Her eyes were blue and her hair was blonde
I fell in love in a second and I put her in this song
I thought despite our antagonistic histories we could probably get along

So I asked her for a date and to my surprise she said yes
We went out for some bratwurst and I had to confess
I was looking for the truth of what my professor professed
She just smiled and said “that’s romantic, I guess.

And I understand the question but I think the point is moot
Yes I am a German atheist, you’re a Canadian Jew
But the past only hurts the present if you want it to
Remember it but don’t let it dictate terms to you
Remember it but don’t let it dictate terms to you.”