| History Never Repeats | |
| Cover: | History_Never_Repeats.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Split Enz |
| Album: | Waiata |
| B-Side: |
|
| Released: | March 1981 |
| Recorded: | AAV Studios, Melbourne, 1980 |
| Genre: | New wave |
| Length: | 3:00 |
| Label: | Mushroom Records |
| Producer: | David Tickle |
| Prev Title: | One Step Ahead |
| Prev Year: | 1980 |
| Next Title: | I Don't Wanna Dance |
| Next Year: | 1981 |
"History Never Repeats" is a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Waiata. The song remains one of their most popular.[1] It was also used as the title of two compilation albums by the band.
The guitar bridge in this song, played by Neil Finn, was originally featured in an old Phil Judd song, "Bergen Aan Zee". The band only played the latter song live.
The video was the 12th to be played by MTV upon its launch in 1981.[2] In 2001 the song was voted by members of APRA as the 57th-best New Zealand song of the 20th century.
Released in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal with different artwork and track listings.
| Chart (1981) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 4 | |
| scope="row" | ||
| UK Singles Chart[4] | 63 | |
| US Mainstream Rock[5] | 33 |
. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 288. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
