Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Greed!
Causing innocent blood to flow
Entire culture, lost in the overthrow
They came to seize and take whatever they please
Then all they gave back was death and disease
My people were left with no choice but to decide
To conform to a system, responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
'AIDS is killing the entire African nation
And a vaccine is still supposedly under preparation
But these governments they don't mind the procrastination
They say "We'll kill them off, take their land and go there for vaction"
My people's culture was strong, it was pure
And if not for that white greed
It would've endured
My people were left with no choice but to decide
To conform to a system
Their souls encaged
Their minds enslaved
I feel the rage
It's brutality can never be undone
But the sun is not yet set
The bass and drums and microphones a threat
That's when ya investigate the crimes from the inside
And see that they're responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
Ya cram ya culture down my throat
Say I'm inferior when I find that I choke
Ya fill my mind with a false sense of history
And then you wonder why I have no identity?
Well I'll strike a match and it'll catch and
Spread the insight we need
A tiny fire, burning bright
Shedding light on the darkness of greed
A yes yes y'all
And ya don't stop
Shedding light on the darkness of greed
A yes yes y'all
And ya don't stop
Shedding light on the darkness of greed
Causing innocent blood to flow
Entire culture, lost in the overthrow
They came to seize and take whatever they please
Then all they gave back was death and disease
My people were left with no choice but to decide
To conform to a system, responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
'AIDS is killing the entire African nation
And a vaccine is still supposedly under preparation
But these governments they don't mind the procrastination
They say "We'll kill them off, take their land and go there for vaction"
My people's culture was strong, it was pure
And if not for that white greed
It would've endured
My people were left with no choice but to decide
To conform to a system
Their souls encaged
Their minds enslaved
I feel the rage
It's brutality can never be undone
But the sun is not yet set
The bass and drums and microphones a threat
That's when ya investigate the crimes from the inside
And see that they're responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
Responsible for genocide
Ya cram ya culture down my throat
Say I'm inferior when I find that I choke
Ya fill my mind with a false sense of history
And then you wonder why I have no identity?
Well I'll strike a match and it'll catch and
Spread the insight we need
A tiny fire, burning bright
Shedding light on the darkness of greed
A yes yes y'all
And ya don't stop
Shedding light on the darkness of greed
A yes yes y'all
And ya don't stop
Shedding light on the darkness of greed
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This song is mainly about AIDS attacking the African nation and how we as a country are doing less than shit about it. This is the same stuff bono from U2 fights for, but he does it more peacefully. It is also what "we are the world" was for and what the "what's going on" was supposed to be about. Notice how those other people and songs just want to spread awareness about AIDS in Africa, while Rage shoves their opinions up our government's ass by not only making us aware of the problem but trying to persuade our government to do something. A beautiful song all around.
You know what's really ironic? Last year, in what could be viewed as a photo-op, Bush pledged Africa millions of dollars to help fight the spread of AIDS. By this summer, that pledge decreased dramatically, less than one third of the proposed (and who could blame the Bush administration, with the Iraq war, the huge deficit, etc.) At the same time, the administration enacted on the wishes of the uber-conservative and all but stopped government financail support for groups encourage safe sex and family planning. Unfortunately, this caused many of their operations in Africa to shut down, worsening the plight of people threatened by this epidemic. Ten years later after this song was released, white men still play the judge of life and death for whatever reasons they adhere to and the Africans afflicted suffer for it.
this comment isnt about the song, but rather venting about the u2 stuff. everyone loves them, critics, moms, kids, police...even though they were once a very political band. rage is only liked by teens but moms and police hate it only b/c of their declaration to free mumia. i ahte the fact that those people against rage cant see past them trying to free mumia and see the deeper meaning to what else they are preaching against.
this is a great rage song
i think you forgot the allusion to the europeans coming over and enslaving the native indains and them dieing from dieses and from the hands of the Europeans. Also it talks about the africans being enslaved by Europeans and the same thing happening with them. the AIDs things is just part of it not all of it
this is my favorite rage song. like other rage songs its about politics and all that jazz
This My Personal Favorite of RATM's. its just so great.
we didnt enave the indians.suewe gave them disease through blankets. caused more of them to die than jews did during the holocaust. and moved them on a reservation. but then we found out that the land we gave them was good. so we took that and sent them on to a different one that was smaller. but then we found out that the land we gave them was good. so we sent them on another one that was even smaller.and their they stood having to walk through the "trail of tears" where more than a thrid died......again........
But we NEVER enslaved them..........
But We did enslave the blacks.
God i hate my fore fathers.
Oh yeah Europeans were also the reason for all the shit that goes on in AFrica. Those crazy white bastards
I know it's been what 6 years but Replying to Apathetic Tragedy and carrera. You don't believe/think/call pushing people into a single place where they are only allowed to live in this small areas enslavement? Lemme give you a REAL history lesson. This land when the Europeans started to settle here was nothing but people enslaving other people. Their own people other peoples. This is where most countries sent their prisoners, their unwanteds to serve as indentured servants. Most died before their servitude was over or before they even reached land.<br /> So if someone set you in a room for you entire life and spread your seed so your children could spend their whole life there, changing their speech their language culture everything to what their "captures" expected and knew you wouldn't consider yourself a slave? O.o Native Americans as well as many other peoples were enslaved by the Europeans and other peoples in just that way. As for the "Trail of Tears" that was just the Cherokee Nation as well as their forming Tribes. Other Nations went through similar or much worse "movements." And another fact, STDs and other diseases were also passed not through just blankets but rape, torture, and close contact violence with others carrying the little buggers. :) The song is a very great song, and I'm sure it can be used to describe and relate with many peoples but I think it's speaking from the African stand-point here. :) oh god rambling again ._. Being a History major sometimes make me undesirable.
I know it's been what 6 years but Replying to Apathetic Tragedy and carrera. You don't believe/think/call pushing people into a single place where they are only allowed to live in this small areas enslavement? Lemme give you a REAL history lesson. This land when the Europeans started to settle here was nothing but people enslaving other people. Their own people other peoples. This is where most countries sent their prisoners, their unwanteds to serve as indentured servants. Most died before their servitude was over or before they even reached land.<br /> So if someone set you in a room for you entire life and spread your seed so your children could spend their whole life there, changing their speech their language culture everything to what their "captures" expected and knew you wouldn't consider yourself a slave? O.o Native Americans as well as many other peoples were enslaved by the Europeans and other peoples in just that way. As for the "Trail of Tears" that was just the Cherokee Nation as well as their forming Tribes. Other Nations went through similar or much worse "movements." And another fact, STDs and other diseases were also passed not through just blankets but rape, torture, and close contact violence with others carrying the little buggers. :) The song is a very great song, and I'm sure it can be used to describe and relate with many peoples but I think it's speaking from the African stand-point here. :) oh god rambling again ._. Being a History major sometimes make me undesirable.
Hey im from Australia and ive never heard this song before, did they put it on a cd? Was it not released in Australia or something?
This song is on the Crow movie soundtrack.
I think the meaning has been well covered - wiping out Africa by not helping them against AIDS.
Its an unreleased track on 'Live & Rare' the albumm itself is just live tracks from evil empire and ther self titled album, appart from darkness and another track called clear the lane, both of which are studio tracks but unreleased, I dont know how easy it is to find the album where you live, but its rare in england, I still managed to get a copy though!