Calm Like a Bomb
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, check it out, yo, yo, yo
I be walkin' god like a dog
My word war returns to burn
Like Baldwin home from Paris
Like Steel from a furnace
I was born landless
This is tha native son
Born of Zapata's guns
Stroll through tha shanties
And tha cities remains
Same bodies buried hungry
But with different last names
These vultures rob everything
Leave nothing but chains
Pick a point on tha globe
Yes tha pictures tha same
There's a bank There's a church a myth and a hearse
A mall and a loan a child dead at birth
There's a widow pig parrot
A rebel to tame
A whitehooded judge
A syringe and a vein
And tha riot be tha rhyme of tha unheard
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
This ain't subliminal
Feel tha critical mass approach horizon
Tha pulse of tha condemned
Sound off America's demise
Tha anti-myth rhythm rock shocker
Yes I spit fire
Hope lies in tha smoldering rubble of empires
Yes back through tha shanties and tha cities remains
Tha same bodies buried hungry
But with different last names
These vultures rob everyone
Leave nothing but chains
Pick a point here at home
Yes tha picture's tha same
There's a field full of slaves
Some corn and some debt
There's a ditch full of bodies
Tha check for tha rent
There's a tap, tha phone, tha silence of stone
Tha numb black screen
That be feelin' like home
And tha riot be tha rhyme of tha unheard
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm like a bomb
Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite
Calm Like a bomb
There's a mass without roofs
There's a prison to fill
There's a country's soul that reads post no bills
There's a strike and a line of cops outside of tha mill
There's a right to obey
And there's a right to kill
There's a mass without roofs
There's a prison to fill
There's a country's soul that reads post no bills
There's a strike and a line of cops outside of tha mill
There's a right to obey
And there's a right to kill
The lyrics to Rage Against the Machine's song "Calm Like a Bomb" critique the inequalities and injustices present in American society. The song speaks to the experience of those who are marginalized and unheard, and the frustration they feel with the system that keeps them down. The opening lines, "Feel the funk blast," establish the rebellious tone of the song and the need for change to occur.
The first verse addresses issues of poverty, violence, and imperialism. The singer compares themselves to a dog, suggesting that they are seen as subhuman and unworthy of basic rights. They describe the theft of resources and labor from oppressed communities, leaving them hungry and unable to survive. The "riot be the rhyme of the unheard" line implies that the only way marginalized communities can gain attention is through acts of rebellion and civil unrest.
The chorus, "Calm like a bomb," juxtaposes the idea of staying composed with the destructive power of a bomb. The phrase is a warning to those in power that revolution is brewing and that oppressed communities are ready to explode.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel the funk blast
The intensity of the following message is going to hit you hard.
I be walkin' god like a dog
I am powerful and unstoppable in my actions and thoughts.
My narrative fearless
I tell the truth without fear of the consequences.
My word war returns to burn, like Baldwin Home from Paris
My words condemn the injustices of our society like Baldwin's did when he returned from Paris.
Like Steel from a furnace
My words come with strength and purpose like steel forged in a furnace.
I was born landless, this is tha native son, born of Zapata's guns
I am the son of the oppressed, born into poverty and violence.
Stroll through tha shanties and tha cities remains, same bodies buried hungry but with different last names
The poor and oppressed are everywhere, even in the cities and the graveyards.
These vultures rob everything, leave nothing but chains
The elites rob the poor of everything and control them with debt and poverty.
Pick a point on tha globe, yes tha pictures tha same, there's a bank there's a church a myth and a hearse, a mall and a loan a child dead at birth, there's a widow pig parrot a rebel to tame, a whitehooded judge, a syringe and a vein
The struggles of the oppressed are universal, and follow the same patterns and institutions of injustice.
And tha riot be tha rhyme of tha unheard
Riots are the voice of the voiceless and the desperate who have no other way to express their anger.
Calm like a bomb
My anger is controlled but explosive, as dangerous as a bomb waiting to go off.
This ain't subliminal
My message is direct and clear, not hidden or hinted at.
Feel tha critical mass approach horizon
The coming revolution and collapse of the system is inevitable and imminent.
Tha pulse of tha condemned, sound off America's demise
The oppressed and marginalized are the heartbeats of America's collapse.
Tha anti-myth rhythm rock shocker, yes I spit fire
I am the voice of the revolution, speaking truth to power and waking people up with my words.
Hope lies in tha smoldering rubble of empires
Out of the destruction of the current system, we can build something better and more just.
There's a field full of slaves, some corn and some debt, there's a ditch full of bodies, tha check for tha rent
The oppression and violence of our system is woven into every aspect of society, from agriculture to housing.
There's a tap, tha phone, tha silence of stone, tha numb black screen, that be feelin' like home
The tools of our oppression are everywhere, from the taps and phones we use to the screens and media that numb and distract us.
There's a mass without roofs, there's a prison to fill, there's a country's soul that reads post no bills, there's a strike and a line of cops outside of tha mill, there's a right to obey and there's a right to kill
The oppressed are everywhere, from the homeless without homes to the prisoners without freedom. Power is exerted through both obedience and violence.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BRAD J WILK, TIMOTHY COMMERFORD, TOM MORELLO, ZACK M DE LA ROCHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@blucat4
@@justinholland9844 You must be kidding? I don't like any metal bands or any other rap or hip hop bands but this is awesome. Nothing comes close to what these guys do, again and again. I made a compilation from the 3 albums I have, as much as I could fit on a CD. It's also now a playlist on my Youtube channel. The first 7 tunes are from The Battle Of L.A.
1 - Testify
2 - Guerilla Radio
3 - Calm Like A Bomb
4 - Sleep Now In The Fire
5 - Born Of A Broken Man
6 - New Millennium Homes
7 - No Shelter
8 - Bombtrack
9 - Pistol Grip Pump
10 - Take The Power Back
11 - Renegades Of Funk
12 - Bullet In The Head
13 - I'm Housin'
14 - Know Your Enemy
15 - How I Could Just Kill A Man
16 - The Ghost Of Tom Joad
17 - Maggie's Farm
@jordaneggerman4734
@Angelo it was deep when I was 14 too...wait til you're 30. Rage is one of the most thought-provoking bands, not just since then, but likely ever.
"There's a mass without roofs;
there's a prison to fill.
There's a country's soul that reads,
"post no bills".
There's a strike, and a line of cops,
outside of the Mill.
There's a right to obey,
And a right to kill."
@aironcarman6413
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Feel the funk blast
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, check it out, yo, yo, yo
I be walkin' god like a dog, my narrative, fearless
My word war returns to burn like Baldwin home from Paris
Like Steel from a furnace, I was born landless
This is the native son, born of Zapata's guns
Stroll through the shanties and the cities remains
Same bodies buried hungry but with different last names
These vultures rob everything leave nothing but chains
Pick a point on the globe! Yes, the picture's the same
There's a bank, there's a church, a myth and a hearse
A mall and a loan, a child dead at birth
There's a widow pig parrot, a rebel to tame
A white-hooded judge, a syringe and a vein
And the riot be the rhyme of the unheard
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
We're calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
We're calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
This ain't subliminal, feel the critical mass approach horizon
The pulse of the condemned, sound off America's demise
The anti-myth rhythm rock shocker, yes I spit fire
Hope lies in the smoldering rubble of empires
Yes back through the shanties and the cities remains
The same bodies buried hungry, but with different last names
Them vultures robbin' everyone, leave nothing but chains
Pick a point here at home, yes the picture's the same
There's a field full of slaves, some corn and some debt
There's a ditch full of bodies, the check for the rent
There's a tap, the phone, the silence of stone
The numb black screen that be feelin' like home
And the riot be the rhyme of the unheard
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
What ya say, what ya say, what ya say, what?
Calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
I'm calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
Calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
We're calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
Calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
We're calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
Calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
We're calm like a bomb (Ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite, ignite)
We're calm like a bomb
There's a mass without roofs, there's a prison to fill
There's a country's soul that reads post no bills
There's a strike and a line of cops outside of the mill
There's a right to obey and there's a right to kill
There's a mass without roofs, there's a prison to fill
There's a country's soul that reads post no bills
There's a strike and a line of cops outside of the mill
'Cause there's a right to obey and there's the right to kill
@jonahmotley919
My dad was a maintenance man for these apartments back in 2005. He found this CD in one of the houses he had to clean out and gave it to me. I was 10 years old. Now im 26,,, Thankfull he gave it to me. Love you dad
@the2ndcoming135
“This is the native son, born of Zapata’s guns.”🤝
@bippo2571
Wow. Incredible. Bad ass stuff right there.
@omarguerrero951
Wow awesomeness
@DravensPit
@Jonah, why you got to make me feel super old? 😂
@chuckaudio3191
Also be thankful to whoever left it behind to spread the word!
@trashasaurus
"There's a mass without roofs, a prison to fill. There's a country's soul that reads post no bills. There's a strike and a line of cops outside of the mill. There's a right to obey and a right to kill"
Goddamn I love that line
@assurdo8888
Me too. I've ever loved it.
@ericphilen3433
🔥
@angelolivares8754
This is one of their best songs. That killer bass intro and then the guitar solo sounds like an UFO is landing over your rooftop