Lyrics for Sleep Now In The Fire as interpreted by piesupreme

Sleep Now In The Fire Lyrics
The world is my expense
The cost of my desire
Jesus blessed me with its future
And I protect it with fire
So raise your fists
And march around
Just dont take what you need
I'll jail and bury those committed
And smother the rest in greed
Crawl with me into tomorrow
Or I'll drag you to your grave
Im deep inside your children
They'll betray you in my name

Sleep now in the fire

The lie is my expense
The scope of my desire
The party blessed me with its future
And I protect it with fire
I am the Nina The Pinta The Santa Maria
The noose and the rapist
The fields overseer
The agents of orange
The priests of Hiroshima
The cost of my desire
Sleep now in the fire

Sleep now in the fire

For it's the end of history
Its caged and frozen still
There is no other pill to take
So swallow the one
That made you ill
The Nina The Pinta The Santa Maria
The noose and the rapist
The fields overseer
The agents of orange
The priests of Hiroshima
The cost of my desire
Sleep now in the fire

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Davetheinvincible
05-28-2004

Rated 0 
connected to the george orwell book, "1984" zak is a big fan of it. the "protect it with fire" relates to the way information is kept from the people in the book - everything the "party" doesnt want known, is burned.

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M-Opiate-A
06-14-2004

Rated 0 
i love teh video and the song is eargasmic

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discovery21
09-29-2004

Rated 0 
I hate to be the downer in this post-group, but let me ask every reader a question. How many people doing more than just listening to this great song? How many of you write to your congressman or woman, write you local newspaper, organize rallies, etc, etc. At the very least, how many of you are going to vote in the upcoming election? Personally, I can count all the people I know doing such on hand and that is more than just a little frightening. If we really are going to put to effect any positive change into this government of ours, we have to become involved. I personally am writing a series of fictional books that will highlight some of the themes touched here, but I am still just one person. Michael Moore is just one person. Zach is just one person. But if enough one persons get together and grow in numbers, then put to effect our desired goals. Otherwise, just sitting there, listening to RATM album does nothing except heightens the outrage and nothing else. By doing nothing, you do accept the fate handed down to you by your "leaders".
"So raise your fists and march around! Just don't take what you need!" Just don't take what you need, indeed!

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unknowingreally
10-12-2004

Rated 0 
This is another downer but, Its the American government we all know this, they are among the best minds in the world, with help from other countries!!. But its not just the Americans, they just have the upper hand no one can deny it. But we all seek power, we all want to win or at least be a runner up. I do agree with discovery21, we should all write to our congress-people, but we all know that nothing will happen... we're all humans (well most of us!!! lol), we all desire power, its what drives us. From having the power to see ur family do great things, to seeing ur country dominate the world... its all about power.

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unknowingreally
10-12-2004

Rated 0 
They are great riffs tho... very simple, yet you have to move ur body with the rhythm:) I love this song:)

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lebech10
10-14-2004

Rated 0 
***This is the correct meaning!****

To understand this lyric you most image USA goverment singing to you:

”The world is my expense
The cost of my desire
Jesus blessed me with its future
And I protect it with fire
So raise your fists
And march around
Just dont take what you need
Ill jail and bury those committed
And smother the rest in greed
Crawl with me into tomorrow
Or Ill drag you to your grave
Im deep inside your children
Theyll betray you in my name”

Not that hard to understand, USA is doing whatever benefits em, on the expense of the world. They will protect their power with ”fire” a metaphor for war and military use.

“Crawl with me into tomorrow
Or Ill drag you to your grave”

Follow the path of USA and their values or they will terminator you.

“For its the end of history
Its caged and frozen still
There is no other pill to take
So swallow the one
That made you ill
The Nina The Pinta The Santa Maria
The noose and the rapist
The fields overseer
The agents of orange
The priests of Hiroshima
The cost of my desire
Sleep now in the fire”

The pill is USA values – capitalism. Other countries have no other choice then to agree with USA.

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atthedrive-in
11-07-2004

Rated -1 
hahaha reading this is hilarious. you people are such suckers for the ratm gimmick. if you want true political left-wing social commentary, listen to at the drive-in, anti-flag or probably even britney fucking spears is more politcally minded than these pretenders.
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE ARE FUCKING MILLIONAIRES. are you gonna believe that they dont like capitalism? they ARE capitalism. every single dollar in every single bank account and every single CD in every single try-hard-anti-USA-13-year-old-boys bedroom, they OWE TO CAPITALISM.

i mean, i like ratm's music, and their lyrics are actually really clever. but could they stop pretending they hate corporate fat cats? they were on a major record label. the people paying for their meals were fucking fat cats.
and michael moore. dont even get me started on him. this guys even worse. oh yeah, he hates the US corporate capitalist stuff. SO WHY DOES HE CHARGE THOUSANDS OF BUCKS IF YOU WANT HIM TO MAKE A SPEECH AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL?

rage and michael moore hate the US's dog-eat-dog capitalism about as much as bill gates does.

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whatitistofinch
11-29-2004

Rated 0 
i agree with grimer on the most part, except for the one part about "the cost of my desire"...the song says verbatim that "I am .... the cost of my desire"....the existence of America is the cost paid by (the world?) for its own greed. minor point i know, but it adds to meaning.

as for you atthedrive-in, the song never really takes that negative of a tone on greed, it just points out its existence and then says okay...sleep in the bed you made.

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Gummy
12-28-2004

Rated 0 
When i was first reading thru the lyrics i thought the song was being sung from the Point of View of the devil or something. the world, his desire and the references to Christ and Fire. but no, it's from the POV of America, and therefore capitalism and therefore Greed as well.

"The World is my expense, The Cost of my desire" I think that the 'desire' is the whole ideology of America and Freedom and Democracy and capitalism. and that statement means that they would destroy the world to protect that ideology

"Jesus Blessed me with its future, And I'll Protect it with fire" I'll protect the Ideology with fire/war . Ie. starting wars to stop the spread of communism/tyranny

I was going to write more but icant be bothered now... but you get some idea of what I'm getting at. most of you seem to be on the right track abouty greed, and that capitalism is the opitimy of greed and america is the embodiment of capitalism. But having said that, I could be wrong, i dont know a lot about US war history, ie what started these wars etc.

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kaker
01-03-2005

Rated 0 
Its well that you're all thinking. Regardless of how much money a band with a political message makes, this forum, what you say is their goal. Their goal being to make you think... to agree with them, or disagree. I think many of you take for granted how much information and oppurtunity you have at your fingertips - it's not available to everyone, even in the united states. Keep thinking, your thougths will evolve, goals will become clear, and you will find meaning in everything you do.

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OpinionHead
01-05-2005

Rated 0 
I love this song...alot actually. Sometimes, I don't care if Rage and Michael Moore are uber-millionaires. They bring attention to the suffering in the world. Hyprocrisy doesn't exist in a world that runs on greed.

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MasterShake1979
01-18-2005

Rated 0 
I look at it this way, They may have made some good money from their records and such, but they still spreaded the word around. A lot of people are just fakes, say a few things, raise some eyebrows, make some money, and never go back to it. Rage atleast had the integrity to go on and let the world know the evils in society, government, and that it is in every corner. From what I have read, Zack lives in a apartment, not a very nice one either, in a crappy part of L.A. So apparently, having that money did'nt spoil him.

And I do believe that Rage did like Democracy, after all, Zak was very interested in the Zapatist Movement in Mexico, a Movement for freedom, Democracy and a better life for the Mexican people, I just think they hate the fact that America's Democracy is a joke. And it is, look at the last two elections with Bush, both stolen, and I know that some right wingers who wander in here will throw their little fit, but it's jsut a fact, that fuck stole the election, both of them. And they hated all that shit, lies, corruption, war, racism, and yes,capitalism.

Capitialism is a very wicked thing, and the sad thing is, it was not meant to be that bad of a thing. It was meant to be a free, honest, prosperous form of economy, bt as time went on, it was more and more tainted with lies and corruption. Take people like Donald Trump, someone like him, having millions of dollars, and he recently filed a chapter 11 or 13, a bankruptcy file. He did not have to pay his bills for 6 months, then bought his fiance' a 35,000 dollar engagment ring. People like me or you hate the idea of having to file bankruptcy, but when it is the only choice, we have to. And it stays on our credit for some time, making things hard to do anything. Granted it is easier now then ever before, but still, it's a nightmare. And for him to file is jsut a slap in the face of every hard working american person, who wakes up in the morning, work his or her ass off for 8 to 12 hours( if not more) come home to a normal house, with kids, and food, go to bed and do the same damn thing over again the next day. And could be doing this for years and never get ahead with bills, health care, food, clothing for the family, or anything. THat is where the line needs to be drawn. The upper class gets away with too much and do nothing good for thier fellow man. Hell half the time I don;t have mouch money from my job, but if someone needs help, I do it. That is what makes middle and lower class people more human, because we are always there to help out even when we can't.

All in All, Rage is one of the best bands from the 90's. They open up people's eyes and minds to the everyday bullshit that is pumped into our heads.

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atthedrive-in
01-27-2005

Rated 0 
"And it is, look at the last two elections with Bush, both stolen, and I know that some right wingers who wander in here will throw their little fit, but it's jsut a fact, that fuck stole the election, both of them."

please tell me right now how bush stole the elections. in what fashion, in what capacity, in what situations did he steal either election. i want you to actually provide hard evidence to back up your ridiculous Michael Moore-dictated fabrication.

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srvhendrix
02-11-2005

Rated 0 
greed, its about greed.
"Im deep inside your children
Theyll betray you in my name"

greed is imbedded and someone greedy enough would betray their own parents for it

"The noose and the rapist
The fields overseer
The agents of orange
The priests of Hiroshima
The cost of my desire "

we lynched, pillaged, raped, we enslaved, we killed many in Hiroshima, all for the desire of wealth and power

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OpinionHead
02-28-2005

Rated 0 
I agree there, hendrix. But the conundrum comes in here, why does it take somebody living somewhat comfortably to alert others to the suffering of the world. It seems to me those who feel those contradictory feelings are not being hypocritical, but altruistic. Contradiction in logic is only found when somebody when feels emotionally opposite about an issue. I hate greed, yet I live rather well for being below the poverty line in this country. I can see why so many immigrants are happy to work in our menial labor jobs. I work with Bosnian immigrants who have worked at my employer for longer than I've been there and they seem contented. Without a doubt, I think you have to be born in poverty to understand what poverty is. All those who wax philosophical about the poor days of college, get your heads examined. You were probably richer than some tinpot dictator.

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benmuzz
05-29-2005

Rated 0 
On the subject of Rage being 'greedy', they donated all the profits from their Evil Empire tour with U2 to causes like the Mumia Abu-Jama benefit. Zack does loads of good, like setting up community centres, lectures etc. What you've gotta think, atthedrive-in, is that you probably wouldn't be aware of the intricasies of the Zapatista movement without Rage, or the Shining Path in Peru, or any of the other injustices around the world. This is especially true of those who dont live in the states, like myself. I wasnt aware about those FBI counter intelligence documents untill I heard Wake Up. It would have unlikely that i'd have even heard Rage's messages if they hadn't signed on Epic.
Anyway, i rekon that if your as gifted as Rage are, you deserve to be rewarded.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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LyricalGuerilla
06-25-2005

Rated 0 
First off: I love Rage and probably always will, regardless of who accuses them of pretending. Secondly I thought they were more along the lines of being Syndicalist/Anarcho-Syndicalist. Especially if you watch some of their videos and see the half red, half black Anarcho Syndicalist flags.

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BlahBl1nkM3
06-28-2005

Rated 0 
the guitar solo in this is so cool

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flanger
10-29-2005

Rated 0 
I think MOST rage against the machine fans are aware of the hypocrisy of a band that preaches marxist ideas while signing to a major record label that will see 80% of the total profits the band makes.

They have been my favorite band for the past ten years, so I will points some stuff out in their defense. If you think they are hypocrites, don't listen to them, or do, it actually doesn't affect the quality of the music itself.

1. Musically, they were great. Bodycount and RATM were the only two bands of the genre to ever pull it off, and it was better than the sum of rock and rap. It had the qualities of both with neither of the shortfalls, it didn't have the pointless lyrics of rock or rap, or the repetitive music of rap. They had awesome solos, such as the one in this song which was actually feedback cut up with a killswitch on morello's guitar, and great chorus and verse riffs. I would say the MAJORITY of interest in music lies in the music itself, regardless of what the band does, says or signs with.

2. If rage against the machine hadn't signed with sony, you would have never heard of them. Independant bands make 500% more profit on reach record sale, but sell only a tiny percentage compared to labels. Without a label to pay off the radio stations (such as pink floyd tried over two decades ago), you don't get your music on the airwaves.

3. Tom Morello drives in to feed the homeless in an 80k SUV. Tim C. is a certified retard, if you've ever seen any interviews with him. Brad Wilk doesn't seem to have any political motivations, he was just along for the ride. That's the band, they were good at playing music and not much else. When the music started to get repetitive, zack de la rocha left the band. He isn't hording profits from record and concert sales, a lot of his share of the money made went to buying back mexican paintings and artifacts from south america from private owners for public domain. Also, when you cut zack rocha from the picture, you get audioslave, further proof none of the rage musicians were too politically driven anyway. Morello IS a hypocrite, but he was good at guitar, and this is music we are talking, they aren't politicians.

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