Brad's success as the drummer of Rage Against the Machine came from the failure of a different band; he once auditioned for a band called Lock Up, who released one album (titled Somethin' Bitchin' This Way Comes) through Geffen records in 1989 and broke up when the album received little media attention upon release. Former Lock Up guitarist Tom Morello was looking to pick up where Lock Up left off and start a new band, and called up Brad to see if he was interested in playing the drums. A short while after, the duo met Zack de la Rocha, a rapper, and through de la Rocha met bassist Tim Commerford (a childhood friend of Zack's) and Rage Against the Machine was born.
When Zack De La Rocha left Rage Against the Machine in late 2000, Brad and the two remaining members, Tom Morello and Tim Commerford, opted to stay together to form a new rock band. Producer Rick Rubin suggested they have a jam session with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. The meeting was an immediate success and they subsequently formed a band called Civilian, which was later renamed Audioslave. Brad Wilk has been the drummer of Audioslave since its formation in 2001.
Born As Ghosts
Brad Wilk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Safe from the screams of the children born as ghosts
Gates, guns and alarms shape the calm of the dawn
Peering down into the basin where death lives on
When young run foaming at the mouth with hate
When burning batons beat the freezing who shake
Under the toxic sunsets, they dine and toast
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
We're the children born as ghosts, born as ghosts
One book and forty ghosts stuffed in a room
The school as a tomb
Where home is a wasteland, taste the razor wire
And thought is locked in the womb
The tales that tear at the myth of the dream
(Myth of the dream, myth of the dream)
A suffering that shocks the lives off the screen
(Myth of the dream, myth of the dream)
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
We are the children born as ghosts
Born as ghosts, born as ghosts
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
Born as ghosts
We're the children born as ghosts
Born as ghosts, born as ghosts
The song "Born As Ghosts" by Brad Wilk sheds light on the brutal realities of living in a war-torn society. The lyrics depict the hills finding peace only through armed guard posts, which implies that violence and war have taken over the natural tranquillity of the area. The screams of children who are "born as ghosts" serve as a reminder of the devastating effects of war, and how it affects the most vulnerable among us. The use of metaphorical language such as "toxic sunsets" and "walls that deny terror" illustrates how war not only destroys physical landscapes but emotional and psychological ones as well.
The second verse of the song is equally powerful, as it portrays the bleak reality of a school turned into a tomb, where children's thoughts are locked in the womb. The use of language such as "wasteland" and "razor wire" paints a vivid picture of the lack of hope and freedom that exists for these young students. The chorus of the song, "Born as ghosts, a warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word" urges those who have suffered to speak out, to shed light on the atrocities that are occurring in their communities. The song ends as it begins, with a reminder that the children are still born as ghosts, and their voices must be heard.
Line by Line Meaning
The hills find peace locked armed guard posts
The hills appear peaceful because they are guarded by heavily armed security personnel.
Safe from the screams of the children born as ghosts
The screams of the suffering children cannot be heard in the hills, as they are protected and isolated.
Gates, guns and alarms shape the calm of the dawn
The calm of the morning is maintained by the presence of security gates, guns and alarms.
Peering down into the basin where death lives on
From the hills, people can see the basin where the children suffer and where death is a common occurrence.
When young run foaming at the mouth with hate
The young are fueled by hate and anger to the point of being uncontrollable.
When burning batons beat the freezing who shake
Security personnel use burning batons to subdue those who are shaking with fear and terror.
Under the toxic sunsets, they dine and toast
In the midst of a toxic environment, people celebrate and feast as if nothing is wrong.
Of walls deny the terror faced by the children born as ghosts
The walls that separate the suffering children from the rest of society deny the terror they endure.
One book and forty ghosts stuffed in a room
In a small room, only one book is available to the forty suffering children who are trapped there.
The school as a tomb
The school serves as a place where the children are trapped and unable to escape their suffering.
Where home is a wasteland, taste the razor wire
Life at home for these children is barren and harsh. There is a constant reminder of the suffering they endure by the presence of razor wire.
And thought is locked in the womb
The children are unable to develop and express their own thoughts and ideas because they are trapped in an environment that stifles creativity and individuality.
The tales that tear at the myth of the dream
The stories of the suffering experienced by these children shatter the myth of the American Dream.
A suffering that shocks the lives off the screen
The intense suffering these children endure is so shocking that it cannot even be conveyed through media outlets.
Born as ghosts
The children are referred to as 'ghosts', suggesting that they are invisible and forgotten by society.
A warning, you sufferers, begin to speak our word
A call to action for others who may be suffering to speak out and share their stories.
We're the children born as ghosts, born as ghosts
Reiterating the fact that these children are forgotten and invisible to society.
Contributed by Xavier W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.