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 read
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 centralized
So serene on the screen
You were mesmerized
Cellular phones soundin' a death tone
Corporations cold
Turn ya to stone before ya realize
They load the clip in omnicolour
Said they pack the nine, they fire it at prime time
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
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high

Run it!

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

Checka, checka, check it out
They load the clip in omnicolour
Said they pack the nine, they fire it at prime time
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
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
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head
A bullet in ya head!
A bullet in ya head!
A bullet in ya head!
A bullet in ya head!
A bullet in ya head!
A bullet in ya head!
A bullet in ya head!
Ya gotta bullet in ya fuckin' head!

Yeah!

Yeah!



Lyrics submitted by piesupreme

Track duration: 05:07

"Bullet in the Head" as written by De La Rocha/commerford/morello/wilk

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Bullet In The Head song meanings
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65 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment: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 :)
    Flag coold00don January 13, 2013   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:"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
    Flag pinnaclebasson January 14, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree, it's largely on the Gulf War and how the US and to some extent the world is politically mirroring the Nazi Party. Media is just as damaging as a bullet in your head, because you lose thought.
    But here's something else; Bill Hicks talked of how the Gulf War isn't a war, as a war is two armies fighting.

    "There's no threat to America anymore! We are the evil empire. Of course excluding the countries we arm first. "Oh Iraq have incredible weapons"- "How do you know that?" - "Well...we looked at the reciept. What time does the bank open? 8? We're going in at 9." No, it wasn't the Persian Gulf War, it was the Persian Gulf Distraction. And the Elite Republican Guard, gees. They were talking about them in these hush tones, like they were the bogeymen or something. And after a few months of carpet bombing, they went from the Elite Republican Guard to the Republican Guard to THE REPUBLICANS MADE THIS SHIT UP ABOUT THERE BEING GUARDS OUT THERE. We hoped you enjoyed your fireworks show."

    I may be paraphrasing but that in my mind is somewhat part of RATM'S point. The Gulf War itself was part of the propoganda. The bullets flying in Iraq, then and now, are in our heads every time we support the war.
    Flag WillAndWindon October 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:People are really misinterpreting the first paragraph of this song. Remember, this song came out/was written in the early 90's a good 10-15 years before the yellow ribbons became associated with the troops.

    Simply put, the first paragraph deals with am unknown gang member getting killed by someone in the Latin Kings. "Yellow ribbon, instead of a swastika" just says he was killed by a gang member as opposed to a neo nazi (I'm actually not sure if the swatstika refers to neo nazis or the us govt/police).

    "Fools follow rules while the set commands you"

    Basically talking about you don't really follow any rules/laws except what your gang tells you to do.

    "Said it was blue when ya blood was red thats how you got a bullet blasted through your head"

    Gang members talk about being cold blooded (i.e. said your blood was blue) when talking about how tough they are, but with all that tough talk they're still gonna die.

    This paragraph is juxtaposed with the rest of the song for a particular effect, comparing how the poor/underclass in america has a gun to their heads, while the middle class has a metaphorical gun to their heads.

    This makes much more sense than a reference to the yellow ribbon project. Zach De La Rocha writes some great lyrics, but I really doubt he would sing about it over 10 years before the symbol came about.
    Flag tpmc12on October 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:RATM is all about social enemies.

    Psychology majors who use reverse psychology on people to tell lies how the world really is like and the victim believing whatever they say aka bullet in the head. While the INN people of society watches these people commit suicide/homicides as entertainment here in America. Supposedly all societies does to this to people.

    Really it's ignorance. Screwing with people's head through reaction and psychology. It's 1 big assumption from the people in power.
    Flag marvelouson September 18, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The general theme of the song is about how the US government use the media, to brainwash people into basically being idiots……..

    And how they use the media as a weapon for their own propaganda.

    “They load a clip of Omnicolour” (what TV is broadcast in)

    “They pack the 9, and fire it at prime time” (9pm being what’s considered primetime in television, because that is when most people are watching. Basically they’re saying that the government pack primetime TV with propoganda).

    However, the song is a lot deeper, and more controversial than many thing.

    He comments:

    “You wear a yellow ribbon, instead of a schwazitka”.

    Yellow ribbons are worn by people, in support of troops fighting abroad. And it tends to be a conservative/republican symbol. He’s basically saying people who blindly support invading US troops, are no better than the Nazis 70 years ago………….

    He goes on to say “fools follow rules” and “that’s how you got a bullet in your head”.

    Basically, he’s stating that people who fight for the US army, blindly, because of the propaganda the government pumps out, are idiots, and can’t complain if they’re killed


    To conclude, the songs generally about the US government using TV to control US citizens.

    But the actual theme “bullet in your head” is about how the US government uses TV to legitimise illegal wars and invasions……..




    Flag ceej1979on July 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: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

    What does this mean? Anyone knows?

    And also:

    Play it again jack and then rewind the tape
    ¨
    Who is Jack... or what does the name represent?
    Flag RATM333x2on November 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is saying that the media puts a metaphorical propaganda bullet in our head, and we do whatever the tv says. "a yellow ribbon instead of a swastika" The bullet is shot this time is not by a soldier fighting with a swastika on his sleeve, but by an american soldier in the gulf war, to which the yellow ribbon was the symbol. This was the only line not about what i said before.
    Flag FeelTheFunkBlaston February 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is saying that the media puts a metaphorical propaganda bullet in our head, and we do whatever the tv says. The bullet is shot this time is not by a soldier fighting with a swastika on his sleave, but by propaganda"
    Flag FeelTheFunkBlaston February 22, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:zack is just telling the braindead sheeple of america to wake up
    Flag yosemityon May 31, 2009   Link

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