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.
War Within a Breath
Brad Wilk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cripples us leaves us maimed
Silent and tamed
And with our flesh and bones
He builds his homes
Southern fist rise through tha jungle mist
Clenched to smash power so cancerous
A rising sun loomin' over Los Angeles
'Cause for Raza livin in La La
Is like Gaza on to tha dawn of Intifada
Reach for tha lessons tha masked pass on
And seize the metropolis, it's you that it's built on
Everything can change on a new year's day
As everything changed on a new year's day
Everything can change on a new year's day
And everything changed on a new year's day, come on
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land
Their existence is a crime
Their seat, their robe, their tie
Their land deeds, their hired guns
They're the crime
Shots heard underground round the rapture
Tha world's eye captured at last in a Mexican pasture
Tha masked screaming land or death
Within a breath, a war from the depth of time
Who shot four puppets in a line
Who shook all tha world bankers who think they can rhyme
Shot tha landlords who knew it was mine
Yes, it's a war from tha depth of time
Everything can change on a new year's day
Everything can change on a new year's day
Everything can change on a new year's day
And everything can change on a new year's day, yeah
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
Yeah
Come on
Come on
Yeah, yeah
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
War within a breath, it's land or death
In these lyrics, Brad Wilk speaks out against corruption and oppression by those in power who use their authority to harm the people they are supposed to serve. He equates official figures to those who cause physical harm to others, leaving them crippled and maimed. He accuses them of using the very bodies they harm to build up their own fortunes and power, thus creating a system in which those in power benefit from the suffering of those without.
The second half of the lyrics focus on resistance and the necessity of fighting against this system of oppression. The imagery used is that of a rising revolutionary movement, described as a "southern fist" that is "clenched to smash power so cancerous." Wilk equates the struggle of people living in Los Angeles to those living in Gaza, both facing similar challenges and having to fight against systems that seek to oppress them. He calls for people to learn from the revolutionary movements of the past and seize their own metropolis, declaring that the city is built on the labor and suffering of the people.
Overall, "War Within a Breath" is a call to resist oppression and fight against corrupt systems of power that exploit and harm the people they are meant to serve.
Line by Line Meaning
Every official that comes in
Every person in a position of authority who enters our lives
Cripples us leaves us maimed
Weakens us and harms us physically, emotionally or mentally
Silent and tamed
Quiet and obedient
And with our flesh and bones
Using our physical bodies
He builds his homes
Constructs his buildings and establishments
Southern fist rise through tha jungle mist
A revolt and uprising in the southern US
Clenched to smash power so cancerous
Determined to destroy a corrupt system
A black flag and a red star
Symbols of revolution and communism
A rising sun loomin' over Los Angeles
A new era and revolution approaching in Los Angeles
'Cause for Raza livin in La La
For Latinos living in Los Angeles
Is like Gaza on to tha dawn of Intifada
They face similar struggles as those in Gaza facing Intifada
Reach for tha lessons tha masked pass on
Take inspiration from the lessons of the revolutionaries
And seize the metropolis, it's you that it's built on
Take control of the city, which belongs to you
Everything can change on a new year's day
A new beginning, a chance for change
As everything changed on a new year's day
Reflecting on the change that has already happened in the past
Their existence is a crime
Their presence and actions go against what is just and fair
Their seat, their robe, their tie
Their clothing and position of power
Their land deeds, their hired guns
Their ownership of land and use of violence to maintain their power
They're the crime
They are the problem and source of injustice
Shots heard underground round the rapture
A sudden burst of revolution
Tha world's eye captured at last in a Mexican pasture
The whole world is finally paying attention to the Mexican struggle
Tha masked screaming land or death
Revolutionary fighters calling for their land or death
Within a breath, a war from the depth of time
An intense war rooted in a long history of struggle
Who shot four puppets in a line
Those in power who control and manipulate the masses
Who shook all tha world bankers who think they can rhyme
A revolution that shook the world of powerful bankers who think they are above the struggle
Shot tha landlords who knew it was mine
Taking back the land from landlords and owners who exploit it
Yes, it's a war from tha depth of time
A battle that has been fought for generations
War within a breath, it's land or death
The fight for land and freedom is immediate and vital
Yeah
A simple expression of agreement and energy
Contributed by Mila W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@losingapathy
One of the most underrated RATM songs. Love this cover dude!