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.
Testify
Brad Wilk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The movie ran through me
The glamour subdued me
The tabloid untied me
I'm empty, please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you, my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes, the car is our wheelchair
My witness, your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless ones
Who travel now in coffins
On the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door
Now testify
Now testify
It's right outside your door
Now testify
Yes testify
It's right outside your door
With precision, you feed me
My witness ,I'm hungry
Your temple, it calms me
So I can carry on
My slaving sweating
The skin right off my bones
On a bed of fire, I'm choking
On the smoke that fills my home
The wrecking ball is rushing
Witness, your blushing
The pipeline is gushing
While here we lie in tombs
While on the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door
Now testify
Yeah, testify
It's right outside your door
Now testify
Now testify
When it's right outside your door
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
And the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
And the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
And the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
And the price is set
Who controls the past now, controls the future
Who controls the present now, controls the past
Who controls the past now, controls the future
Who controls the present now?
Now testify
Testify
It's right outside your door
Now testify
Testify
It's right outside your door
The lyrics of Brad Wilk's song Testify are a reflection of the Iraq War, which happened during the early 2000s. The first verse describes the media's influence on the public's perception of the war. The "movie" that "ran through" the singer is a metaphor for the manipulation of media propaganda. The "glamour" and "tabloid" both serve as distractions from the truth of the war. The singer feels "empty" and wants to be "filled" with the truth.
The second verse refers to the manipulation of the media and how it has been used to justify the war. The singer refers to the anchor as "Mister" and wants to be "assured" that the war is necessary. The voice is described as "soothing" because it is meant to calm and assure the listener. The third verse is about the cost of the war. It describes the physical and emotional toll it has taken on soldiers and their families. The "car" and "wheelchair" are metaphors, and the "legless ones" are reference to the soldiers who have become disabled due to the war. The chorus calls for people to speak out against the war, to "testify" to the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
The movie ran through me
I was completely absorbed and affected by the movie
The glamour subdued me
The glitz and glamour of fame has had an overwhelming impact on me
The tabloid untied me
The media has exposed my flaws and vulnerabilities to the world
I'm empty, please fill me
I feel a sense of emptiness and am searching for something to fill the void
Mister anchor assure me
I'm seeking reassurance from the news anchor
That Baghdad is burning
I need confirmation of the events happening in Iraq
Your voice it is so soothing
The anchor's voice has a calming effect on me
That cunning mantra of killing
The repeated justification for war and violence is manipulative and deceptive
I need you, my witness
I require someone to confirm and validate my experiences
To dress this up so bloodless
To make the violence and horror of war seem less gruesome and horrific
To numb me and purge me now
To desensitize and cleanse me of the negative emotions and thoughts associated with war
Of thoughts of blaming you
I want to shift responsibility for the violence and trauma onto others
Yes the car is our wheelchair
We are dependent on technology and transportation to move and survive
My witness, your coughing
Your coughing is a reminder of the physical toll of pollution and damage to the environment
Oily silence mocks the legless ones
The lack of action and change in addressing environmental issues is ridiculing those who suffer the consequences
Who travel now in coffins
People are dying because of the effects of pollution and climate change
The jury's sleepless
The decision-makers and those with power are struggling to come to a conclusion or resolution
We found your weakness
We are aware of your flaws and vulnerabilities
And it's right outside your door
The problem or danger is nearby and imminent
With precision, you feed me
You are providing me with specific and exact details
My witness, I'm hungry
I am eager for more information and confirmation from you
Your temple, it calms me
Your presence and guidance has a calming effect on me
So I can carry on
I can continue to cope and survive in the face of adversity and challenges
My slaving sweating
I am working hard and putting in effort
The skin right off my bones
The physical and emotional toll of working hard is taking a severe toll on me
On a bed of fire, I'm choking
I am experiencing extreme discomfort and pain
On the smoke that fills my home
The pollution and environmental damage is affecting me on a personal level
The wrecking ball is rushing
The destruction and devastation is happening at an alarming pace
Witness, your blushing
You are feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable as a result of the situation
The pipeline is gushing
There is an overwhelming amount of harm and damage happening very quickly
While here we lie in tombs
We are dying or suffering as a result of the harm being caused
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
The pursuit of oil and wealth is leading to mass destruction and death
Who controls the past now, controls the future
Those who have power over the narrative and interpretation of historical events can shape the future
Who controls the present now, controls the past
Those who have power in the present can manipulate and alter how the past is remembered and understood
Now testify
Now is the time to speak out and take action
It's right outside your door
The danger, harm, or problem is very close and requires immediate attention and response
Contributed by Allison T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
IrishPablo
Brilliant very well played
gerry Orangefan
I would love to learn drums...What is the beat on this?
Mike Svensson
well played. though your cymbals comes across as a bit weak..not as much power as it should. keep it going =)
Minimal Bitz
thanks bro for the advice !!!
Mike Svensson
no problem =)
IrishPablo
Probly wants to make them babysitting last ,I'm not mad about Zildjian but K are beast