Ashes in the Fall

Definately one of my favourite Rage songs.

I think this song is about economic globalization, the wave of free market reforms that were implemented since the 1980's all over the world. The chorus, "this is the new sound, just like the old sound", fits perfectly, for free market reforms were the return to the pre-WWII laissez-faire policies that left terribly high levels of social inequality, injustice, and political and economic power in the hands of a small corporate elite.

"Aint it funny how the factorys doors close Round the time that the school doors close Round the time that the doors of the jail cells Open up to greet you like the reaper" Clearly this part refers to free-market policies in the west and the closing of factories to move production to sweatshops in the third world. Outsourcing, reduction of education funding, and the criminalization of poverty.

This song is about poverty, unemployment and social inequality increasing thanks to economic policies that are made only for the benefit of the rich multinational corporations. This is about how the promises they've made about a new era of prosperity were broken.

Thanks for the acknowledgement, lyndonhamer. The album just freaks me out. There's plenty of anger and bitterness in the other two, but this just seems apocalyptic. Ashes In The Fall, to me, is the pinnacle of said sensation. The 1984 (Orwell's book, truly nightmarish stuff) references only make matters worse. Zach's style of writing is more abstract and imagery-based on TBOLA, though still full of contempt for injustice and capitalist madness, though I've also had some thoughts on the whole major label hypocrisy issue. So, that's why this album really feels so unsettling lyrically (but also the music has a very disturbing quality, if you ask me) I think Zach was in some sort of way "predicting" most of the things that were about to happen in the next few wears. I bought this in 2003 and the world was already fucked up in the whole Bush-Conservative-Oil company cesspool. The winning point of it is that Zach's words, like I said, are somewhat less straightforward, they've become (sadly) truly timeless, still full of power.

This is probably my favorite Rage song ever. The metaphors and imagry Zack uses are exremely powerful. Just some more analyzing:

"Like swollen stomachs In Appalachia" Applachia being the poorest area of the United States, located in the general area of the mountains in name. Trust me, I've been there... if you've ever wondered where cars from thirty years ago and old school busses go to die, its in the front yards of Appalachia.

"Like the priests that fuck you As they whisper holy things" This is probably supposed to just mean mislead or at worst betray, this song was written before the whole widespread accusations of Catholic priests for molesting members of their parishes. Makes it more poingent after all that though.

"A mass of tears have transformed to stones now Sharpened on suffering Woven into slings Hope lies in the rubble of this rich fortress Taking today what tomorrow never brings " This is pretty straightforward, and probably my favorite part of the song. Just saying that the pain and suffering have caused a revolution.

zack doesn't hate white people, he is a band with a white person!

This is the new sound Just like the old sound Just like the noose wound Over the new ground

In other words, history WILL repeat itself just as droutkast said. This war with Iraq just might be the breaking point, it's coming, just know when it is.

We ned to realize that we really can't just sit here and be bossed around, we HAVE TO STAND UP! We can't let down or they have won. They want us to lie down, and take the punches, because they need the money. Money is our enemy, not Iraq, and as soon as the American people realize this, it will have already have been too late.

Hitler got them to think that their country was chosen by God and that there was this certain "devine race" that they were blessed with. This is the type of thing that Zach is talking about in the lyrics: "Listen to the fascist sing Take hope here War is elsewhere You were chosen This is god's land Soon well be free Of blot and mixture"

This is a perfect example of the beauty I find in Rage songs. You can interpret them in nearly infinate ways. This song is the most flexible, in my opinion.

"This song has a creepy feeling to it... well, the entire album has. Something like the end of the world is near or something like that."

its cool that SOMEONE realised this. basically, lately, i've become obsessed with something called "dystopia", (if you dont know what it is, look it up) - and basically, i feel like in the future, when i make a feature animated film about a world thrown into anarchy and dystopic settings, i'll put rage as the theme music.

they mean so friggin much to me.

I think what the song really says is warn about goverment exploiting and manipulating poor hungry people by spreading fascistic ideals.

"Ain't it funny how the factory's doors close Round the time that the school doors close Round the time that the doors of the jail cells Open up to greet you like the reaper"

Outernationalist nailed the interpretation of this verse.

Zack was heavily into the Zapatista movement and the problems within the Mexican education system. US corporations opened Maquiladoras, or factories, in Mexico, in order to take advantage of the devalued Mexican peso. Within 10 years, the US corporations closed the factories and moved to Asia, leaving the Mexican laborers nothing, no pension and no severance.

Mexico's educational infrastructure is highly dysfunctional. Education is a privilege, not a right. The govt provides free schooling until the 6th grade. From 7th grade until completion, the family pays for textbooks. Children of poor families are mostly likely to drop out.

The corruption of Mexico's justice system has reached it's breaking point. Their prisons are revolving doors. The Poor and marginalized - most waiting to be tried, remain indefinitely incarcerated.

Although, most prominent in Mexico and third world countries, these issues (on some level) are happening everywhere govt and corporations put profits ahead of people.