Rage Against the Machine released its eponymous debut album in 1992 to commercial and critical success, leading to a slot in the 1993 Lollapalooza festival. Their second album, Evil Empire, was released in 1996. Their third, The Battle of Los Angeles, followed in 1999, and in 2003, it was ranked number 426 on the same list. During their initial nine-year run, they became one of the most popular and influential bands in music history. They were also ranked No. 33 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
In 2000, Rage Against the Machine released the cover album Renegades and disbanded because of growing creative differences. Members formed the rock supergroup Audioslave with Chris Cornell, the former frontman of Soundgarden. The same year, Rage Against the Machine announced a reunion and performed together for the first time in seven years at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2007. Until 2011, the band continued to perform at more live venues and festivals around the world. In 2016, Morello, Commerford and Wilk formed a new band, Prophets of Rage, with B-Real, Chuck D, and DJ Lord. Rage Against the Machine were nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2017 and 2018, although both bids failed. The band had a large influence on the nu metal genre which came to prominence during the second half of the 1990s. In 2003, their self-titled album was ranked number 368 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
At the start of 2024, Wilk confirmed that the group had permanently broken up.
Down on the Street
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Floatin' around on a real low mind
See a pretty thing, in a wall
See a pretty thing, in a wall
In a wall
In a wall
In a wall
Yeah deep in the night I'm lost in love
Yeah deep in the night I'm lost in love
A thousand eyes they look at you
A thousand eyes they, they look at you
Oh come on!
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh come on!
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh come on!
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh come on!
Where faces shine
A real low mind
Faces shine
A real low
Oh come on!
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh come on!
Yeah yeah yeah
The song "Down on the Street" by Rage Against the Machine speaks about the different faces of people that one comes across while wandering the streets. The first few lines set the scene, describing the faces of people that are shining, seemingly lost in their own thoughts. They're navigating the world on a "real low mind," which could suggest a level of discontent or dissatisfaction. As the song progresses, one of the faces seen is described as a "pretty thing in a wall" and then repeated several times for emphasis. This could refer to a poster or image of a person on a wall, creating an objectification of the person on an emotional level.
The lyrics then shift to the chorus, which speaks about being "lost in love" and feeling watched by "a thousand eyes," creating a feeling of paranoia. The repeated phrase "Oh come on!" could be seen as a plea to snap out of this daze, a call to wake up and see the reality of the world around us. The song ends with the repeated lines "Faces shine, a real low mind," emphasizing the idea that despite the shining faces, something is off, something isn't quite right. The song seems to be a commentary on society and how people can become disconnected from reality, becoming lost in their own thoughts and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the street where the faces shine
Walking along the road, surrounded by people who seem happy and satisfied
Floatin' around on a real low mind
Feeling disoriented and detached, in a low state of mind
See a pretty thing, in a wall
Noticing something or someone of interest but realizing that it is unreachable or inaccessible for some reason
Yeah deep in the night I'm lost in love
Being caught up in romantic feelings that consume one's thoughts and emotions
A thousand eyes they look at you
Feeling like other people are staring, judging or watching one's every move
Oh come on!
An expression of frustration or disbelief, sometimes used to encourage or provoke someone
Where faces shine
Observing that many individuals appear to be happy or content in their lives
A real low mind
Feeling emotionally disengaged, bored or unsatisfied with life
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALEXANDER, JAMES OSTERBERG, RONALD ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind