Along with one of the band's most well known and embraced breakdown riffs, the song features many innovative guitar techniques executed by Tom Morello.
Bullet in the Head
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And muthafuckas lost their minds
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high? Yeah
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? Yeah
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 omnicolor
Said they pack the nine, they fire it at prime time
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And muthafuckas 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 braindead, ya gotta fuckin' bullet in ya head
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high? Yeah
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high?
Uh, yeah
Check, fuck
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 the 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
"Bullet in the Head" is a song that criticizes the influence of the media, corporations and the government over the masses. The song starts by talking about the bullet, which is symbolic of the brainwashing and manipulation that people go through, without even realizing it. The reference to the yellow ribbon instead of the swastika refers to the way that these tactics have become more subtle and less overt over time. The next few lines talk about the propaganda that is presented to the public, and how it is not really proper.
The message then turns to how people are blindly following the set commands, like fools. The reference to blue and red blood is a reference to the political polarization of American society, where people blindly follow their political affiliations without seeing the bigger picture. The chorus talks about how people are victims of the in-house drive-by, meaning that they are helpless victims of the system. The remaining lyrics criticize the media and their ability to influence people through repeated messaging and lies.
Overall, "Bullet in the Head" is a politically charged song that criticizes the actions of corporations, media, and the government. It is a critique of the society that is built around these institutions and calls for people to be more aware of the brainwashing that is happening to them.
Line by Line Meaning
This time the bullet cold rocked ya
You have been struck by a bullet
A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika
Your propaganda is misleading and harmful
Nothin' proper about ya propaganda
Your propaganda is not right or just
Fools follow rules when the set commands ya
People blindly follow orders and rules given to them
Said it was blue, when ya blood was read
You have been deceived about your bloodshed
That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head
This is how you ended up being shot in the head
I give a shout out to the living dead
Acknowledging those who are unresponsive and indifferent to the government's control
Who stood and watched as the feds cold centralized
People watched as the government centralized all the power
So serene on the screen, you were mesmerized
You were hypnotized and entranced by what was on the media
Cellular phones soundin' a death tone
Mobile devices are warning of an impending doom
Corporations cold turn ya to stone before ya realize
The power of corporations can freeze you over before you know it
They load the clip in omnicolour
The guns are loaded with many different colors of bullets
Said they pack the nine, they fire it at prime time
The government is firing their weapons during peak hours of television
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
The government has put people to sleep or under control like a prison
And muthafuckas lost their minds
People have lost their sanity
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
People are just victims of the government's attacks
They say jump, you say how high? Yeah
Government officials are giving orders and people are following them without question
Checka, checka, check it out
Listen up everyone!
No escape from the mass mind rape
There is no way to avoid the government's manipulation of the masses
Play it again Jack, and then rewind the tape
The media is replaying and rewinding the same misinformation and propaganda
And then play it again and again and again
The media is constantly bombarding people with the same lies
Until ya mind is locked in
Until your mind is trapped and convinced by their false information
Believin' all the lies that they're tellin' ya
People are believing all the false information they are being fed
Buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya
People are blindly buying into all the consumerist propaganda
Ya braindead, ya gotta fuckin' bullet in ya head
You are brainwashed and in danger, with a bullet in your head
Ya standin' in line
You are waiting in line
Believin' the lies
You still believe the lies being told to you
Ya bowin' down to the flag
You are still submitting to the government's authority
Ya gotta bullet in ya head
You are still in danger with a bullet in your head
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brad J Wilk, Timothy Commerford, Tom Morello, Zack M De La Rocha
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Samuel santos nascimento
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 red
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 centralised
So serene on the screen you was mesmerised
Cellular phones soundin' a death tone
Corporations cold turn ya to stone before ya realise
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
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high, yeah
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
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
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, yeah
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say jump, you say how high
Uggh!
Yeah!
Yeah!
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!
Nathan Lybarger
I love how Tom Morello’s guitar tone isn’t over saturated with distortion, yet it has such an aggressive attack that makes you want to trash the room you are in.
TJ Hall
Overdriven Marshall JCM800 for the win!
Draven Wolf
My dad got me into Rage Against The Machine when I was a kid and now I realize they the speak the truth about how the world is today thank you dad for showing this band
Kevin Waller
Absolutely the same for me
Kyrkos Ekaterinaris
Your dad passed his great taste to you.
Carrie Nicole
Parenting done CORRECTLY!!
Dani Burke Arts
Cool Dad 🖤🤘🏻
Marco Barrantes
this is music during high school for me, on repeat
G E
We need more bands like RATM
Damian D'Souza
I agree but also think all we ever needed was them and thats it coz its all we still have and im never lettimg go