Michael Jackson - HIStory

Title track written by Michael with James Harris III and Terry Lewis, and recorded for the HIStory album. The song features backing vocals by Boyz II Men.

New pressings of the HIStory album in 1996 saw a slight modification to the opening of HIStory, which used parts of Mussorgsky's The Great Gates Of Kiev.

It was released as a double A-side single, with Ghosts, in many countries (but no USA release). It charted at no.5 in the UK, where radio stations favoured HIStory over Ghosts.

According to the engineer and Flyte Tyme mixer, Steven Hodge: 'HIStory', was historic in scope. For the mix Hodge was faced with 192 tracks sprawled over four Sony 3348 48-track digital tape decks. With two studios at Larrabee North studios in Los Angeles holding one pair each of the machines, Hodge chose one as the master deck and ran SMPTE time code to the other three. It took both SSL G-plus consoles to do the mix, which incorporated a full symphony orchestra, two choirs, backing tracks by Boyz II Men, scores of Jackson's own vocals and more samples than anyone could keep track of. "The best part, though, is we had to do the mix in one day" Hodge sighs. "Michael never did anything in a small way".


"History" is a song on Michael Jackson's album, HIStory. At the beginning of the song there are various quotes from the history of America including one from Michael Jackson from when he was in the Jackson 5. Some quotes are also put in the middle of the song including one from Martin Luther King. It was composed by James Harris III and Terry Lewis. The vocals are sung by Boyz II Men. The song lasts for 6 minutes and 34 seconds with the last minute being used for other quotes in American history such as ones about Rosa Parks, the Statue of Liberty, Disneyland, the Berlin Wall and the first man on the moon. A remix of the song was featured on Michael Jackson's 1997 album, Blood on the Dance Floor. On June 13, 2005, Jackson played this song on his official website in celebration of his acquittal.


Quotes in The Song
* Whatever I sing, that's what I really mean. I'm gonna keep singing this song. I don't sing it if I don't mean it. (Michael Jackson)
* Remember, it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow, a better and happier place.
* They made it. Charles Lindbergh was first person to fly in New York to Paris non stop.
* ...and that was some ancient history that'll probably stand for a long time.
* I Have a Dream. (Martin Luther King)
* I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation. (Martin Luther King)
* I am the Edison Phonograph (Thomas Edison)
* Mary had a little lamb with fleece as white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go
* Some men.... see things as they are and say "why?"....... I dream things that never were, and say "Why not?" (Robert Kennedy)
* It's one small step for a man......... One..... giant leap for mankind. (Neil Armstrong)


HIStory - Lyrics

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 fires deep in his eyes

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...

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

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

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...

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

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 create one family oh...

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

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