Lyrics Analysis of Rage Against the Machine’s Down Rodeo Essay Example

having their backs against the wall and being unduly compensated and regarded for. Continuing with, “The clockers born starin' at an empty plate/Momma's torn hands cover her sunken face/We hungry but them belly full/The structure is set ya neva change it with a ballot pull” (Rage Against the Machine, 1996) which stress the prevalence of poverty among the lower social class. These lines speak of functions of poverty deeply rooted in the social system and unfortunately will not change regardless of governing authorities because the system works for the rich and is in the opposite for the poor. The first verse ends with, “In tha ruins there's a network for tha toxic rock/School yard ta precinct, suburb ta project block/Bosses broke south for new flesh and a factory floor/The remains left chained to the powder war” (Rage Against the Machine, 1996, n. p.).

These lines emphasize that more important issues of education and bettering living conditions amongst communities are said to be poorly addressed and with such, priority is given to those in power, authority, and affluent standing. There is an obvious disparity between social classes and the situations they are in. The pre-chorus delivers with, “Can't waste a day when the night brings a hearse/so make a move and plead the fifth 'cause ya can't plead the first/can’t waste a day when the night brings a hearse” and then eventually sings the chorus (Rage Against the Machine, 1996, n. p.).

These lines relay a message of social defiance and realize that human and social rights are unjustifiably limited by the government, especially in terms of the constrained exercise of such rights as freedom of speech. The

line which refers to pleading the fifth rather the first refers to the Amendments that are included in the United States Constitution. In this, there is also underlying emphasis that many are deprived of what they truly deserve. The second verse starts with “Bare witness to tha sickest shot while suckas get romantic/They ain't gonna send us campin' like they did my man Fred Hampton/Still we lampin' still clockin' dirt for our sweat/A ballots dead so a bullet's what I get” (Rage Against the Machine, 1996, n. p.).

The defiance against the intolerable treatment of government and unacceptable norms of the social system and the clamor of justice this time would not be unfairly dismissed. The second verse finalizes with, “A thousand years they had tha tools/We should be takin' 'em/[Expletive] tha G-ride I want the machines that are makin' em/Our target straight wit a room full of armed pawn to/Off tha kings out tha west side at dawn” (Rage Against the Machine, 1996, n. p.).

The verse only stresses the need for the need and urgency of change and how the injustice deeply rooted system and to those who govern have been stomached and that tolerance has run out. After a series of lines in the chorus, lines of “The rungs torn from the ladder can't reach the tumor/one god, one market, one truth, one consumer” (Rage Against the Machine, 1996, n. p. ), follow and stress the cyclical injustice that has been and will be the everyday way of life for many.

After repetition of the angst-filled line of “Just a quiet peaceful dance,” the song finalizes with whispers of “Just a quiet peaceful dance for

the things we'll never have/Just a quiet peaceful dance for the things we don't have” (Rage Against the Machine, 1996, n. p. ). These lines speak of the painful situation the unfortunate, marginalized, and discriminated will still be in because injustice is deeply rooted in the enduring system of the ruling government and society — the rich will only get richer, and the poor only poorer.