People Of The Sun

This song is not only just about the zapitista movement, it's about the whole history of the mexican country and its people, and the injustice it's endured over the years by various countries. Though it could be about the aztecs, aztecs were primarily in south america, not central america. The natives there were the mayans more so. 1516, obviously refers to the spanish as well as the french who occupied mexico later on. "Back cracked for tobacco" refers to spanish enslavery and forcing the natives to pick tobacco plants, as it was a blooming buisness back in the late 1500's and 1600's, and even more so when the first american colonists set up a colony in the 1600's. "Troops strippin' zoots, shots of red mist, Sailors blood on tha deck Come sista resist From the era of terror check this photo lens, Tha city of angels does tha ethnic cleanse" all refers to the los angeles riots in the 40's. "Zoot suits" were primarily mexican american kids (some were fillipino as well) who openly defied the impliment of cloth limits by the U.S. to reserve more cloth for the war effort. These zoot suits were very large and baggy, so it took a lot of cloth to make. One night, sailors who's ship had docked in the los angeles port went around the town and accosted some mexican girls. Because of this, a local group of zoot suits fought them and beat the sailors. The next night, hundreds of sailors flooded the streets of L.A looking for any mexican american or even hispanic kid and stripped them of their clothes, which is where the "troops strippin' zoots" lyric comes from. It was not just white sailors however, it was also african american sailors who took part in this, despite the racism geared towards them, many african americans had racism towards hispanics and asians. Even though the sailors were the ones beating all the hispanic and fillipino kids, the zoot suits were the ones being put in jail. It was a very corrupt time.

I agree with many your opinions and wanna add something. I think this song is about Mexico history, Mexican people, especially native people - American Indians. But i think this song is not only about a past, it is about past, present and future. "since 1516 minds attacked and overseen Now crawl amidst the ruins of this empty dream" - in 1516 began Spanish conquest. Some centuries Europeans dominated on indians lands. But they couldn't destroy Mexican natives, Mexican history, Mexican Culture. Next... The tittle of song is "People of the Sun". The aztecs, who lived in Mexico territory, called themselves so. 100% that this song talk about Zapatista's. Zack means that Zapatista's are new aztecs, that nowadays are fighting for their land like aztecs fought many centuries ago. "Tha spirit of Cuahtemoc alive an untamed" - yeah, Cuahtemoc (last aztecs leader) now live again. His spirit waked up in Zapata's strugle. It's a new strugle, a new era of Mexican history. "Tha fifth sun sets get back reclaim" - I found aztec's mythology. Their history consists of some "sun sets". The fifth sun set - is the new era, begining of a new life. I think Zack try to equate rising of Zapatista's in Chiapas with fifth sun set in aztec's mythology. "Mexica, That vulture came ta try and steal ya name". I think that vultures are American politics, who tried to steal the lands of indians, according project "NAFTA". But Zapata's have kicked bastard's asses. Like in Vietnam american troops got a good kick in ass in Tet. "Tha gut eaters, blood drenched get offensive like Tet". Tet - is the great Vietnam's holiday - Moon's New Year. When was a war in Vietnam, at this day was a great offensive of Communistic Vietnam. This day became a turning-point in a whole war. After this the public opinion began to appear against the war in Vietnam. So, IMHO, this song is about Zapata's. Sorry for my bad English, I'm from Russia. I have sitten near my computer for long time writing this post and searching the information.With dictionary :) Let's talk about this song. I don't understand some moment's: "Brigades of taxi cabs rollin' broadway like Hearses", "...on the one maya". What does Zack mean? Let's think... :)

this is a really nice first song

I think "It's coming back around again" might refer to the old saying "What goes around comes around" which basically refers to bad karma (do a bad thing, and bad things happen to you). In this case the Mexican government has oppressed and been unjust, and now the Zapatistas are fighting back, because the government had it coming.

I like how while this is an angry song, the lyrics show that they are smarter than mindless anger.

This song is about the Zapatista movement in Chapias, how the government tried to take thier land but the indians rebelled against them. the band does a good job putting this song together!

i loved this song before i knew the lyrics because of its anger and its passion, i loved it more when i read the lyrics. for the first time i heard an angry young mans song that didnt just go, death!!! EVERYTHING SUCKS!!!! fuck everyone cause im a silly mother fucker who cant verbalise anything more than to abuse without cause various institutions within society While people of the suns lyrics are raw and scathing, they also show that the writer has intelligence greater then his anger and he puts forward a song that shows the fury of a people and also explains and justifies there anger. read the lyrics by yourself if you like poetry, amazing

i've always thought this song is about the aztecs...i could be wrong though. not the whole song, but especially the lines about the "people of the sun" and "maya, mexica"...sounds like a reference to the aztecs to me.

i've always thought this song is about the aztecs...i could be wrong though. not the whole song, but especially the lines about the "people of the sun" and "maya, mexica"...sounds like a reference to the aztecs to me.

Let's get a couple things straight. Ghostly, thanks for the interpretation of the LA riots. That makes a lot of sense of the zoots reference.

But regarding the native people, the song is about both the Aztecs and the Mayans, as well as other smaller groups. Aztecs ruled south-central Mexico. They were not in South or Central America, despite what people on here keep announcing. The Mayans covered much of Central America and southern Mexico (it's a big country).

There were Mayan people and Mayan culture when the Spanish arrived. They weren't at the peak of their game militarily, but they were there and still are. A huge percentage of Guatemala, for instance, speaks Spanish as a second language. The Zapatistas are Mayan, with the exception of Subcomandante Marcos, who's Latino.

It's important to note that, despite what someone said here, the revolution isn't Mexico versus the US. It's more relevant to think of it as indigenous versus European settlers. Most Mexicans are mixed, but the dominant culture is Latino and nearly all the money is in Latino hands. The indigenous have no power and little money. They live on the land of their ancestors and yet they have no say -- especially since NAFTA -- in the laws and policies governing them. The latino government in Mexico is joined at the hip with the US government. The Zapatistas are trying to fight for their rights (as they see them) against corrupt leadership in both countries. They aren't anti-American, per se. I was in Chiapas in '94 during the revolt. They had nothing against me. They were noble, brave and desperate.

It was (and is) a beautiful struggle and bless Zach for honoring them in song and for getting other people interested in their cause. Turn it up to 11 and break off the knob!

i've always thought this song is about the aztecs...i could be wrong though. not the whole song, but especially the lines about the "people of the sun" and "maya, mexica"...sounds like a reference to the aztecs to me.