The song's lyrics, most of which are delivered rapid-fire by Chuck D with interjections from Flavor Flav, include boasts of Public Enemy's prowess, an endorsement of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, retorts to unspecified critics, and arguments for rap as a legitimate musical genre on par with rock. The lyrics also have a remarkable metrical complexity, making extensive use of meters like dactylic hexameter. The title phrase appears in the chorus. The song includes several shout-outs to artists like Run-DMC, Eric B, LL Cool J and, unusual for a rap group, thrash metal band Anthrax, allegedly because Chuck D was flattered about Scott Ian wearing Public Enemy shirts while performing Anthrax gigs.
The song's production by The Bomb Squad, which exemplifies their characteristic style, features a dissonant mixture of funk samples, drum machine patterns, record scratching by DJ Terminator X, siren sound effects and other industrial noise.
"Bring the Noise" was ranked #160 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Bring The Noise
Public Enemy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Death row, what a brother knows
Once again, back is the incredible
The rhyme animal
The uncannable D, Public Enemy Number One
Five-O said, "Freeze!" and I got numb
Can I tell 'em that I never really had a gun?
But it's the wax that the Terminator X spun
'Cause a brother like me said, "Well
Farrakhan's a prophet and I think you ought to listen to
What he can say to you, what you wanna do is follow for now"
Power of the people, say
"Make a miracle, D, pump the lyrical"
Black is back, all in, we're gonna win
Check it out, yeah y'all, here we go again
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
Never badder than bad 'cause the brother is madder than mad
At the fact that's corrupt as a senator
Soul on a roll, but you treat it like soap on a rope
'Cause the beats and the lines are so dope
Listen for lessons I'm saying inside
Music that the critics are blasting me for
They'll never care for the brothers and sisters
Mow, 'cause the country has us up for the war
We got to demonstrate, come on now, they're gonna have to wait
Till we get it right
Radio stations I question their blackness
They call themselves black, but we'll see if they'll play this
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
Get from in front of me, the crowd runs to me
My deejay is warm, he's X, I call him Norm, ya know
He can cut a record from side to side
So what, the ride, the glide should be much safer than a suicide
Soul control, beat is the father of your rock and roll
Music for whatcha, for whichin', you call a band, man
Making a music, abuse it, but you can't do it, ya know
You call 'em demos, but we ride limos, too
Whatcha gonna do? Rap is not afraid of you
Beat is for Sonny Bono, beat is for Yoko Ono
Run-DMC first said a deejay could be a band
Stand on its feet, get you out your seat
Beat is for Eric B. and LL as well, hell
Wax is for Anthrax, still it can rock bells
Ever forever, universal, it will sell
Time for me to exit, Terminator X-it
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
From coast to coast, so you can stop being like a comatose
"Stand, my man? The beat's the same with a boast toast"
Rock with some pizzazz, it will last. Why you ask?
Roll with the rock stars, still never get accepted as
We got to plead the Fifth, we can investigate
Don't need to wait, get the record straight
Hey, posse's in effect, got the Flavor, Terminator
X to sign checks, play to get paid
We got to check it out down on the avenue
A magazine or two is dissing me and dissing you
Yeah, I'm telling you
In "Bring the Noise," Public Enemy makes a bold statement with their lyrics, putting race and politics at the forefront. The song opens with the iconic bass line and the question "Bass! How low can you go?" before delving into the experiences of Chuck D, the main rapper for Public Enemy, as a black man in America. Chuck D uses a metaphor of death row to describe the feeling of living in a society where the odds are already stacked against him. He goes on to showcase his lyrical abilities and boasts about his reputation as Public Enemy Number One. The song then shifts to a more political tone, with Chuck D referencing Louis Farrakhan, a leader in the Nation of Islam, and calling for unity among black people. The chorus "Turn it up! Bring the noise!" is a call to action for the audience to speak out and make themselves heard.
Throughout the song, Public Enemy also criticizes the music industry and the mainstream media for their lack of representation and support for black artists. Chuck D even goes so far as to question the authenticity of radio stations that call themselves "black" but refuse to play music like his. He argues that rap music is a legitimate art form and deserves respect.
Overall, "Bring the Noise" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that speaks to the experiences of black people in America and calls for change. The lyrics are full of metaphor and wordplay, showcasing Chuck D's skill as a rapper and his dedication to the message of his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Bass! How low can you go?
Starting off with a catchy shoutout for the bass, asking just how low can things get in this crazy world
Death row, what a brother knows
Referencing the brutality of the prison system and how it can shape a person's view of the world
Once again, back is the incredible
The singer is back, continuing their message to the masses, hyping up their own abilities
The rhyme animal
Emphasizing their raw talent as a rapper, wild and unpredictable like an animal
The uncannable D, Public Enemy Number One
Dubbing themselves as untouchable, the number one public enemy, a force to be reckoned with
Five-O said, "Freeze!" and I got numb
Recalling a moment of being stopped and questioned by law enforcement, describing the fear and shock it caused
Can I tell 'em that I never really had a gun?
Asserting their own innocence while being accused of criminal activity
But it's the wax that the Terminator X spun
Giving credit to the DJ, recognizing that it's the music they create that truly speaks for them
Now they got me in a cell 'cause my records, they sell
Illustrating how the success of their music led to legal trouble, repression by the government
'Cause a brother like me said, "Well
Conveying the idea that their outspoken nature and freethinking is what led to their current predicament
Farrakhan's a prophet and I think you ought to listen to
Calling attention to this figure, urging others to listen to their message
What he can say to you, what you wanna do is follow for now"
Encouraging listeners to tune in to the rhetoric of Farrakhan, united in a common goal
Power of the people, say
Highlighting the power of the masses, how collective action can lead to change
"Make a miracle, D, pump the lyrical"
Urging the singer to create something that will inspire change, to use their lyrical abilities to motivate listeners
Black is back, all in, we're gonna win
Saying that being Black is something to be proud of, despite those who try to make them feel otherwise. Unity leads to victory
Check it out, yeah y'all, here we go again
Reiterating that the message they're about to share isn't new but it remains relevant and ever pressing
Turn it up! Bring the noise!
The start of the chorus, demanding the sound be cranked up to spread their message loud and clear
Never badder than bad 'cause the brother is madder than mad
Stating that their anger is justified, and they will use it to fuel their work
At the fact that's corrupt as a senator
Calling out political corruption without backing down
Soul on a roll, but you treat it like soap on a rope
Comparing soulful music to something as trivial as soap on a rope, implying its value isn't fully understood
'Cause the beats and the lines are so dope
Acknowledging the ability for music to transcend societal biases and preconceived notions
Listen for lessons I'm saying inside
Encouraging the audience to really listen to the words beneath the beat, to hear the message and meaning of the lyrics
Music that the critics are blasting me for
Addressing the criticism they've received from critics, possibly for being too loud, too aggressive, or too politically charged
They'll never care for the brothers and sisters
Assuming that the critics don't care about their actual message, only the perceived image they're projecting
Mow, 'cause the country has us up for the war
Highlighting the government's willingness to wage war on people like them, rather than create the necessary social and economic changes
We got to demonstrate, come on now, they're gonna have to wait
Calling on listeners to demonstrate for their rights, with the knowledge that it'll take time, but it'll happen eventually
Till we get it right
Emphasizing that they will stop at nothing to attain their goals, no matter how long it takes
Radio stations I question their blackness
Pointing out the irony of radio stations that are supposed to represent the Black community but may not truly embody those values
They call themselves black, but we'll see if they'll play this
Challenging these radio stations to play their music, which has an important message, rather than avoiding it
Get from in front of me, the crowd runs to me
Commanding others to move out of their way, to give them space to do their work
My deejay is warm, he's X, I call him Norm, ya know
Giving a shoutout to their trusted DJ, referring to him as 'X' or 'Norm' and showing gratitude for his contributions
He can cut a record from side to side
Complimenting their DJ's technical ability to manipulate the beat and keep it fresh
So what, the ride, the glide should be much safer than a suicide
Providing a warning about the dangers of self-destruction or other high-risk behaviors, and that dancing to their music is a safer, healthier choice
Soul control, beat is the father of your rock and roll
Describing the power of the beat to move people, and how soul music influences other genres
Music for whatcha, for whichin', you call a band, man
Stating that music can serve many purposes, for dancing or for protesting, and doesn't need to be labeled
Making a music, abuse it, but you can't do it, ya know
Arguing that music can be used for good or for bad, but audiences can't be brainwashed or controlled by it
You call 'em demos, but we ride limos, too
Jokingly commenting on the success of their group, including the ability to afford luxury cars
Whatcha gonna do? Rap is not afraid of you
Challenging anyone who tries to silence or intimidate the group, asserting that their message is fearless
Beat is for Sonny Bono, beat is for Yoko Ono
Acknowledging the innovation of other artists, praising the diversity of backgrounds that inspires different types of music
Run-DMC first said a deejay could be a band
Giving credit to other influential artists in the hip-hop scene, highlighting Run-DMC's contribution to the emergence of the DJ as a crucial element in a band
Stand on its feet, get you out your seat
Proposing that their music can bring people to action, making them stand up and fight for change
Beat is for Eric B. and LL as well, hell
Naming these respected artists as colleagues, recognizing the influence they've had on the culture
Wax is for Anthrax, still it can rock bells
Playing on the phrase 'wax' (as in record wax) and referencing a metal band, Anthrax, illustrating that different types of music can still make a powerful impact
Ever forever, universal, it will sell
Suggesting that their message, packaged in their music, will never become obsolete and has the ability to reach people across the world
Time for me to exit, Terminator X-it
Announcing the DJ's departure from the song, cleverly incorporating their name into the phrase
From coast to coast, so you can stop being like a comatose
Addressing the vastness of the United States and how they want to wake people up from their passive, numb existence
"Stand, my man? The beat's the same with a boast toast"
Quoting a voice that speaks directly to the listener, urging them to stand up, take action, and enjoy the music
Rock with some pizzazz, it will last. Why you ask?
Encouraging people to dance to the beat, and guaranteeing it will have longevity, with emphasis on the rhetorical question for added impact
Roll with the rock stars, still never get accepted as
Saying that despite their success and fame, they're still not mainstream, still not accepted even after all that they've accomplished
We got to plead the Fifth, we can investigate
Acknowledging the systemic racism and lack of justice in the legal system, stressing the importance of exercising their constitutional right to protect themselves
Don't need to wait, get the record straight
Stating that they don't need approval from anyone, they'll make their message clear and unapologetic
Hey, posse's in effect, got the Flavor, Terminator
Bringing the listener back to the present moment, announcing their crew is on the scene, with Flavor Flav taking over for Terminator X
X to sign checks, play to get paid
Saying that the DJ, now replaced by Flavor Flav, will handle the business operations of the group, while they continue to make music for a living
We got to check it out down on the avenue
Informing the audience that they will be investigating the issues and corruption that plague society, urging others to join in the effort
A magazine or two is dissing me and dissing you
Addressing the negative press surrounding the group, clarifying that the message is not just for them but for all who face the same obstacles
Yeah, I'm telling you
Ending with a final word of encouragement, keeping their message clear and concise
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carlton Ridenhour, Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, Eric T. Sadler, James Henry Boxley Iii
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinkuliza
i remember that as well
it was great wasn't it?
i remember a time of chaos, Ruined dreams this wasted land
HANG ON... SORRY LOL
I mean.... I remember a time before the roadwarrior when the world was powered by the black fuel
SORRY.. HANG ON.. LOL
I remember a time before this
i remember a time when hip hop was one thing , back in the day of Grandmaster flash and NEW YORK, NEW YORK and L.L. Cool J - Radio
the time when Hip Hop and Metal was separated
i then remember the conflict that arose
i then remember the arguments of WHO'S MUSIC WAS THE HARDEST OF HARDCORE
and then.............. IT MASHED INTO ONE MUTHERFUCKING HARDCORE COMPOSITION TO ROCK THE WORLD AND BREAK THE BEATS
Thank you Anthrax
thank you Aerosmith
thank you Public Enemy
thank you Beastie Boys
Thank you Run DMC
Thank you Sir Mix a Lot
Thank you Metal Church
and it all sort of went from there didn't it
@theevilascotcompany9255
I remember whenever this song came up in a school dance, you had all the metalhead kids and all the hip hop kids on the dance floor at the same time just tearing it up. That was great.
@GraemeWilliams21
That's fucking based.
@marko43zla23
@@GraemeWilliams21 Based af
@DrJ-hx7wv
No dance at a school would ever play Anthrax back then.
You're full of it.
@QuinCreeperKid
@@DrJ-hx7wv didnt realize you attended every school dance in the world
@psychem7758
Based AF
@BlackWolf-kr7wo
This is what Martin Luther King Dreamed of.
@usualdosage7287
@Dac Tucker sounds like something a tucker dude would say
@towedarray7217
Truly. Well said. He might not have expected it but assuming he would have been a music fan and adaptive person (which he seemed to have been) he would have LOVED to see this. It would have given him hope. Heck it still gives me hope even now in 2020.
@matt8264
Thanks Obama and BLM for dividing us again.