69 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Bullet In The Head Lyrics
This time the bullet cold rocked ya
A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika
Nothin' proper about ya propaganda
Fools follow rules when the set commands ya
Said it was blue
When ya blood was red
That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head
Blasted through ya head
Blasted through ya head
I give a shout out to the living dead
Who stood and watched as the feds cold centralised?
So serene on the screen
You was mesmerised
Cellular phones soundin' a death tone
Corporations cold
Turn ya to stone before ya realise
They load the clip in omnicolour
Said they pack the 9, they fire it at prime time
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And mutha fuckas lost their minds
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Yeah
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Run it!
(Guitar solo)
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Check-a, check-a, check it out
They load the clip in omnicolour
Said they pack the 9, they fire it at prime time
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And mutha fuckas lost their minds
No escape from the mass mind rape
Play it again jack and then rewind the tape
And then play it again and again and again
Until ya mind is locked in
Believin' all the lies that they're tellin' ya
Buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya
They say jump and ya say how high
Ya brain-dead
Ya gotta fuckin' bullet in ya head
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Yeah
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Uggh! Yeah! Yea!
Ya standin' in line
Believin' the lies
Ya bowin' down to the flag
Ya gotta bullet in ya head
Ya standin' in line
Believin' the lies
Ya bowin' down to the flag
Ya gotta bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head (8 times, building to a shout)
A bullet in ya head (7 times, shouted/screamed)
Ya gotta bullet in ya fuckin' head!
Yeah!
Yeah! (Sustained to end of drum roll)
A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika
Nothin' proper about ya propaganda
Fools follow rules when the set commands ya
Said it was blue
When ya blood was red
That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head
Blasted through ya head
Who stood and watched as the feds cold centralised?
So serene on the screen
You was mesmerised
Cellular phones soundin' a death tone
Corporations cold
Turn ya to stone before ya realise
Said they pack the 9, they fire it at prime time
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And mutha fuckas lost their minds
They say jump, you say how high
Yeah
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Run it!
They say jump, you say how high
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
They load the clip in omnicolour
Said they pack the 9, they fire it at prime time
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And mutha fuckas lost their minds
Play it again jack and then rewind the tape
And then play it again and again and again
Until ya mind is locked in
Believin' all the lies that they're tellin' ya
Buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya
They say jump and ya say how high
Ya brain-dead
Ya gotta fuckin' bullet in ya head
They say jump, you say how high
Yeah
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Believin' the lies
Ya bowin' down to the flag
Ya gotta bullet in ya head
Believin' the lies
Ya bowin' down to the flag
Ya gotta bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head (7 times, shouted/screamed)
Ya gotta bullet in ya fuckin' head!
Yeah!
Yeah! (Sustained to end of drum roll)
Song Info
Submitted by
piesupreme On Mar 06, 2001
More Rage Against the Machine
Killing In The Name
Guerrilla Radio
Bulls on Parade
Sleep Now In The Fire
Wake Up
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
"A yellow ribbon, instead of a swastika"
A yellow ribbon is used, in the United States, to signify support for its troops in foreign wars. A yellow ribbon was most recently used to show support of US troops in the Gulf War, the focus of the song. A swastika is the symbol of the Nazi Party, now illegal, in Germany, and of Nazism in general.
this is talking about the fighting in the wars being no better than the nazis but for some reason it is celebrated in america.
Excellent
Excellent
...In world war 2 Nazis wore swastika on their arm, and they were mark Jews with yellow ribbon to make them be obvious. I think meaning is that Jews, who had yellow ribbons, took Nazis place today ("A yellow ribbon, instead of a swastika"), becouse they holding most of the media, money, industry, and manipulating America to fight their wars. They doing same thing like Nazis then to common people, "bullet in the head" trough TV... P.S. Sorry becouse of my bad English.
...In world war 2 Nazis wore swastika on their arm, and they were mark Jews with yellow ribbon to make them be obvious. I think meaning is that Jews, who had yellow ribbons, took Nazis place today ("A yellow ribbon, instead of a swastika"), becouse they holding most of the media, money, industry, and manipulating America to fight their wars. They doing same thing like Nazis then to common people, "bullet in the head" trough TV... P.S. Sorry becouse of my bad English.
balcan boy
balcan boy
This isn't correct.
This isn't correct.
Yellow Ribbons are worn by Americans, to support the US army, in foreign wars.
Yellow Ribbons are worn by Americans, to support the US army, in foreign wars.
They're, generally, seen as quite controversial by liberals (RATM), as not everyone supports invading other countries.
They're, generally, seen as quite controversial by liberals (RATM), as not everyone supports invading other countries.
They're basically saying that American invading Iraq (what the song is about) is no different to the Nazis invading Poland..........
They're basically saying that American invading Iraq (what the song is about) is no different to the Nazis invading Poland..........
Nazis wore swaztikas to support their troops. Americans wear yellow ribbons
Nazis wore swaztikas to support their troops. Americans wear yellow ribbons
I agree with most of your interpretations. I would just like to add that "Bullet in the Head" is a statement from Orwell's 1984, in which the protagonist, who is at first independently minded in the end because a faithful follower of his government's propaganda. In the book, Orwell describes this as recieving a bullet in your head.
Here is the exact excerpt from 1984, second-to-last paragraph:
Here is the exact excerpt from 1984, second-to-last paragraph:
"The voice from the telescreen was still pouring forth its tale of prisoners and booty and slaughter, but the shouting outside had died down a little. The waiters were turning back to their work. One of them approached with the gin bottle. Winston, sitting in a blissful dream, paid no attention as his glass was filled up. He was not running or cheering any longer. He was back in the Ministry of Love, with everything forgiven, his soul white as snow. He was in the public dock, confessing everything, implicating everybody. He...
"The voice from the telescreen was still pouring forth its tale of prisoners and booty and slaughter, but the shouting outside had died down a little. The waiters were turning back to their work. One of them approached with the gin bottle. Winston, sitting in a blissful dream, paid no attention as his glass was filled up. He was not running or cheering any longer. He was back in the Ministry of Love, with everything forgiven, his soul white as snow. He was in the public dock, confessing everything, implicating everybody. He was walking down the white-tiled corridor, with the feeling of walking in sunlight, and an armed guard at his back. The longhoped-for bullet was entering his brain."
It's a powerful book and very prophetic, sadly.
Whenever I hear someone talk about how cool the latest TV commercial, soft drink, talentless pop artist etc is, I simply tell them that they're a victim of the in-house drive by. Thanks Rage!
That is awesome, I'm so going to start saying that to people... Not to the point of being annoying, of course. I have other, more exciting means to accomplish that end!
That is awesome, I'm so going to start saying that to people... Not to the point of being annoying, of course. I have other, more exciting means to accomplish that end!
"I give a shout out to the living dead who stood and watched as the feds cold centralized"
He is being facetious, he is giving props to those who stood around and let them sign the 1913 income tax and federal reserve bill, this law or mandate that gave control of this nations sovereignty and right to print and control the peoples money to a couple of fat cat crooks who we must now defeat....if not then we have a bullet in our head. spread the message and inform others educate yourself
"secret of the oz" google
Insightful comment, thanks. :)
Insightful comment, thanks. :)
I was listening back in 1996 but I wasn't hearing it back then. Now I'm wide awake and I think this is EXACTLY what it's about.
I was listening back in 1996 but I wasn't hearing it back then. Now I'm wide awake and I think this is EXACTLY what it's about.
This song is about how media and the material products of the new age have great influence on today's society and culture. It is suggested here that through these, a sort-off brainwashing or 'mind rape' occurs; media is thus used as a way to sell propaganda or political messages, and is thus a potent weapon against the people, much like a 'bullet in the head'.
This song is about propaganda here in the USA, and how we are all too blinded by materialism to realize that.
"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika" - In the US, a yellow ribbon is a symbol showing you "support the troops", not realizing why they are actually at war. Just like the swastika, only here in America. The movement started in 1979 with the hostage crisis in Iran, to "show support for the hostages", and was later used during the first gulf war to "show support for the troops". It was also used during Gulf War II and the Afghanistan war to "show support" as well. Basically, it is blind patriotism.
"They load the clip in omni color" - Omni color is what used to be used by TVs and movies for color. Zack uses it to show that we are too blinded by movies and tv to give a crap about being brainwashed by propaganda.
"Sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz" - in 1969-1971, a group of Native Americans took over Alcatraz. Eventually, they dwindled, but 15 were left in 1971 and the feds came and removed them. Rumor has it the feds used sleeping gas to remove them.
You guys need to read up on your history :)
"Said it was blue When ya blood was red"
I know this probably isn't what Zack had in mind, but I can't help but to think that these two lines could refer to the nobility (blue blooded!) or the upper class. From that idea I can derive two meanings:
The people who fight in wars these days are the poor, not the rich. (Still the rich people are the ones that decide when we go to war.)
The prevailing propaganda claims that it is somehow noble to die in a war, when it actually only is very sad and unnecessary. (At least if you die for the causes the current US wars are fought.)
atthedrive-in Were not here to discuss how much money rage make and keep (they give alot away, more than most bands) Were here to discuss lyrics, so give it a go or fuck off! do you really think you have more integrity than zack?
zack is just telling the braindead sheeple of america to wake up
"A bullet in ya head (8 times, building to a shout) A bullet in ya head (7 times, shouted/screamed) Yeah! (Sustained to end of drum roll)" That's what i call punctual lyrics:)