Rage Against the Machine – Mic Check

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  General Comment:At the end of the song, Zack says the following twice
  
  "With this mic device
  I spit nonfiction
  Who got tha power
  This be my question
  Tha mass of tha few in this torn nation?
  Tha priest tha book or tha congregation?
  Tha politricks who rob and hold down your zone?
  Or those who give tha thieves tha key to their homes?
  Tha pig who's free to murder one Shucklak
  Or survivors who make a move and murder one back?"
  
  In this verse, he questions who has the power in the United States. Is it the masses, politicians, the President, cops? The last 2 lines refer to a man who murdered a cop for police brutality. The cop is referred to as a pig and the man a survivor. Cops have the power to assault people however when someone murders one they become terrorists.

  Flag Bowbow13on August 18, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:"To tha young R to tha E tha B to tha E tha L"
  
  gold lyric!
  
  

  Flag bkat004on November 19, 2010   Link

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  Song Meaning:First of all, I absolutely love this song. Great beat, amazing work with the guitar. Some of the lyrics are very clever as well. I love the comment that the line about the priest, the book and the congregation may be a metaphor for the government. Religion promises to take care of humanity's spiritual needs. Government promises to take care of humanity's temporal needs (whether or not it should do so is subject to debate).
  
  But I still think Zach is out of touch with reality when I hear lines like "Those naked and wageless/Now scream within cages/What, they make you pull your shit/Just to get your share, what?"
  
  You mean, you gotta WORK to survive??? WTF?!!

  Flag oussanon October 09, 2010   Link

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    I don't see what's out of touch about those lines. He's referring to the inequality in this country. How some (the poor, especially minorities) have to work harder than others (the wealthy) JUST to compete. I think it not only refers to money but education, jobs, and quality of life. He mentions this in one of the first verses: "Rippin' it up/For an even amount in each cup." This is certainly true, but there are a lot of factors influencing todays poverty (i.e. cultural, political, etc.)

    Flag Franny96on October 20, 2010  
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  General Comment:marquez, there's no doubt in my mind thats what that lyric is about. don't know what lyndonhamer is on about. also a shucklak is slang for a criminal.

  Flag huezon December 13, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:There's a Bob Marley album called Catch A Fire

  Flag Marquezon August 22, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:There's a Bob Marley album called Catch A Fire

  Flag Marquezon August 22, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:its actually "i'll be the fire only marley could catch"
  
  he's referring to his lyricism, this line is a rallying call some mexican guerillas used to use, the ones who love marley, of course.

  Flag lyndonhameron July 22, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:"Come with tha fire only Marley could catch"
  i don really understand the part with the fire?

  Flag .fire.on July 18, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:"Or survivors who make a move and murder one back?"
  Possiably call for sympathy with political assassins?

  Flag Virindimasteron April 24, 2008   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:I cant believe no one else thinks this!!
  
  basically, the sound of the track- riff and beat sounds totally like a dystopian soundtrack to me, like if 1984 were remade- this would almost certainly be in it- opressive government and killings in secret, but an eventual uprising. but no smoke without fire.
  
  
  rage is the fire.

  Flag lyndonhameron February 13, 2008   Link

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    Yeah I thought of '1984' when I read the line "Nameless cold millions gaspin' for air." A reference to the lower class or the "Proles" in the book. Jack London's 'The Iron Heel' has a similar class but by a different name. Those that are so far down the totem pole that they are insignificant despite their large numbers.

    Flag Franny96on October 20, 2010  

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