HIStory

This article is about HIStory. You may have been looking for HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I.

"HIStory"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Released	June 20, 1995 (original) May 20, 1997 (Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson)
Recorded	February 5th, 1994-March 28th, 1995 Early 1997 (Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson)
Studio	Flyte Time Studios (initial tracking) Larrabee Sound (vocals and later overdubs)
Genre	R&B/Pop
Length	6:37
Album	HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson James Harris III Terry Lewis
Producer(s)	Michael Jackson James Harris III Terry Lewis
Singles chronology
Previous	"Blood on the Dance Floor"
Next	"Ghosts"
Track list
Previous	"2 Bad"
Next	"Little Susie / Pie Jesu"
Music video

"HIStory" is a song written by Michael Jackson released as the thirteenth track on the second disc of the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album. It serves as the sixth single from the album, being released as a part of the "HIStory/Ghosts" double a-side single, put out on July 30, 1997. It's important to note, however, that the original track isn't featured on the single but rather Tony Moran's remixes.

Boyz II Men are featured on the backing vocals.

Background

"HIStory" was co-written and produced with James Harris III and Terry Lewis, and recorded between February 5, 1994-March 28, 1995. The track samples multiple historical audio quotes, most notably from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Muhammad Ali.

Live performances

"HIStory" was performed live as the closing song throughout the HIStory World Tour. While doing so, Michael would wear a sparkly white jacket, not used for any other song.

Samples

"HIStory" features the biggest amount of samples in a Jackson song ever, from musical compositions to historical audios. These include:

• A 1970 interview with Michael
• "Beethoven Lives Upstairs"
• "The Great Gate of Kyiv"
• "Charles Lindbergh Report" of Lindbergh's 1927 landing in Paris
• Report on Hank Aaron
• Ted Kennedy's 1968 eulogy for brother Robert F. Kennedy
• 1939 "Farewell to Baseball" by Lou Gehrig
• 1940 "Greetings to the Children of England" radio address by Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret
• Muhammad Ali
• Thomas Edison
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 speech "I Have a Dream"

Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson

"HIStory (Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson)" is a club remix of "HIStory" done by Tony Moran in early 1997 and released as the thirteenth track on the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album.

Lyrics

• HIStory
• Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson

[Verse 1]
He got kicked in the back
He say that he needed that
He hot willed in the face
Keep daring to motivate
He say, one day, you will see
His place in world history
He dares to be recognized
The fire's deep in his eyes

[Pre-Chorus]
How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land
And how many struggles must there be
Before we choose to live the prophet's plan
Everybody sing

[Chorus]
Every day, create your history
Every path you take, you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty

[Verse 2]
Don't let no one get you down
Keep moving on higher ground
Keep flying until
You are the king of the hill
No force of nature can break
Your will to self-motivate
She say this face that you see
Is destined for history

[Pre-Chorus]
How many people have to cry
The song of pain and grief across the land
And how many children have to die
Before we stand to lend a healing hand
Everybody sing

[Chorus]
Every day, create your history
Every path you take, you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day, create your history
Every page you turn, you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony
All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

[Bridge]
How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land
And how many children must we see
Before we learn to live as brothers
And leave one family, oh

[Chorus]
Every day, create your history
Every path you take, you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day, create your history
Every page you turn, you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony

[Outro]
A soldier dies
A mother cries
The promised child shines in a baby's eyes
All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

New force
New force
New force
New force of a

New force
New force
New force of a
You are the king

New force
New force
New force of a
You are the kingdom

New force
New force
New force of a
You are the kingdom

New force of a
You are the kingdom
New force of a
You are the kingdom
New force of a
You are the kingdom
New force of a
You are the kingdom
New force of a
You are the kingdom
New force of a
You are the kingdom
New force of a
You are the kingdom

HIStory

Keep, keep, keep, k-k-keep movin'

[Verse 1]
He got kicked in the back
He say that he needed that
He hot willed in the face
Keep daring to motivate
He say one day you will see
His place in world history
He dares to be recognized
The fire's deep in his eyes

[Pre-Chorus]
How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land?
And how many struggles must there be
Before we choose to live the prophet's plan?
Everybody sing

[Chorus]
Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep, keep, keep, k-k-keep movin'

[Verse 2]
Don't let no one get you down
Keep movin' on higher ground
Keep flying until
You are the king of the hill
No force of nature can break
Your will to self motivate
She say this face that you see
Is destined for history

[Pre-Chorus]
How many people have to cry
The song of pain and grief across the land?
And how many children have to die
Before we stand to lend a healing hand?
Everybody sing

[Chorus]
Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day create your history (history)
Every page you turn you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry (chivalry)
Every child should sing together in harmony
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep, keep, keep, k-k-keep movin'

All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin' on higher ground
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Don't...keep movin'
Don't...keep movin'
Don't...keep move keep move keep move keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep movin'
Keep move, keep move, keep move, keep move
Keep movin' on higher ground

HIStory
HIStory
HIStory
HIStory

[Pre-Chorus]
How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land?
And how many children must we see
Before we learn to live as brothers
Before we learn to love our family?

[Chorus]
(Every day create your history)
History
(Every path you take you're leaving your legacy)
Legacy
(Every soldier dies in his glory)
His glory
(Every legend tells of conquest and liberty)
And liberty, now
(Every day create your history)
History
(Every page you turn you're writing your legacy)
(Every hero dreams of chivalry)
All around the world we sing
(Every child should sing together in harmony)

HIStory
HIStory
HIStory
HIStory

Gallery

CD back cover

CD

"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the HIStory gallery, click here.