"Guerrilla Radio" was performed live on the Late Show with David Letterman in 1999. During the commercial break, "Bulls on Parade" was played and was re-joined in progress while the credits were playing. Letterman joked that "he hoped they (Rage Against the Machine) weren't neglecting their school work". The performance was controversial due to Zack de la Rocha giving the middle finger on live TV and wearing a "Free Mumia Abu-Jamal" T-shirt.
On January 28, 2000, documentary film maker Michael Moore convinced campaigning politician Alan Keyes to mosh in a truck with young teenagers listening to "Guerrilla Radio". Keyes, who was campaigning for the Republican nomination at the Iowa caucuses, agreed to join in the mosh for the endorsement of Moore's satirical television show, The Awful Truth.
The song was covered by lounge/comedy group Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, whose band name also spoofs Rage. In April 2007, Alanis Morissette covered it live.
In July 2007, the song's video for "Guerrilla Radio" was ranked #45 on MuchMusic's 50 Most Controversial Videos for extreme amounts of profanity. Though, it appeared in RTPNadverts in the summer of 2006, as an instrumental song.
This song is featured on the album Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran.
"Guerrilla Radio" made its live debut on September 11, 1999, at the Oxford Zodiac in England.
The song is one of 31 music files in the Sony BMG v. Tenenbaum case, which resulted in finding the individual file-sharer liable for copyright infringement in July 2009, demanding an award of $22,500 a song.
In December 2009, Guerilla Radio was placed #54 on Channel V's Top 1000 Noughties Music Videos of the decade, Countdown.
"Guerrilla Radio" is played at Los Angeles FC home matches when the team scores a goal. It was also on the soundtrack and opening sequence for the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and returned to the soundtrack when the re-mastered Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 was released in 2020. In Japan, Fuji Television used it as the theme song for its broadcasts of Pride Fighting Championships.
The promo was shot by production company Squeak Pictures in Los Angeles in October 1999 and directed by Honey, i.e., the husband-and-wife directorial team of Laura Kelly and Nicholas Brooks. The video which, among others, touches upon the exploitation of garment workers, parodies the popular late '90s Gap commercials directed by Pedro Romhanyi. These ads featured attractive young people singing songs while against a white backdrop, wearing Gap clothing. The phrase "everybody in denial" was a play on "everybody in khaki" which was a Gap TV ad campaign at the time.
The video begins with bland, generic, elevator music being played. There are shots of sweatshop workers (UNITE! union members playing themselves) at their tables, against a white backdrop. Shortly, the phrase "everybody in denial" is flashed on screen. The band is then seen standing against a white background, calmly playing their instruments. As the song picks up, pictures are seen of a man putting money from the workers in his pockets, taking a girl away from her mother, and the band playing live in a dark, strobe-lit room.
Guerrilla Radio
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A decade of the weapon of sound above ground
No shelter if you're lookin' for shade
I lick shots at the brutal charade
As the polls close like a casket
On truth devoured
A Silent play in the shadow of power
A spectacle monopolized
The camera's eyes on choice disguised
Was it cast for the mass who burn and toil?
Or for the vultures who thirst for blood and oil?
Yes a spectacle monopolized
They hold the reins and stole your eyes
Or the fistagons
The bullets and bombs
Who stuff the banks
Who staff the party ranks
More for Gore or the son of a drug lord
None of the above fuck it cut the cord
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio
Contact I highjacked the frequencies
Blockin' the beltway
Move on D.C.
Way past the days of Bombin' M.C.'s
Sound off Mumia gwan be free
Who gottem yo check the federal file
All you pen devils know the trial was vile
An army of pigs try to silence my style
Off 'em all out that box
It's my radio dial
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
Lights out
Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime
What better place than here, what better time than now?
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
The opening lyrics, "Transmission third world war third round," set the tone for the rest of the song, expressing the idea that there is a constant cycle of violence and warfare happening around the world, particularly in developing nations. The next line, "A decade of the weapon of sound above ground," refers to the power of music to spread political messages and ideas, particularly in a time when the internet and other forms of media are becoming more accessible.
The lines "No shelter if you're lookin' for shade / I lick shots at the brutal charade" describe the harsh reality facing those who seek shelter or refuge in this violent world. The person speaking in the lyrics takes a stance against the "charade" of those in power who claim to be working for the people, but are really only interested in their own interests.
The refrain, "Lights out / Guerrilla Radio, turn that shit up," encourages listeners to take action in their own way, to use their voices and their platforms to create change. The lyrics speak to the power of music as a tool for resistance and activism, particularly in situations where traditional methods of protest may be suppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Transmission third world war third round
The message of this song is the third world war that is currently going on, the war of inequality and discrimination, and this song is the third round of the fight against such war.
A decade of the weapon of sound above ground
This song has been fighting for this cause for ten years now using sound as a weapon, spreading awareness and encouraging people to join the fight.
No shelter if you're lookin' for shade
If you are looking for shelter from this war of injustice, you won't find any, and you will be forced to fight against it.
I lick shots at the brutal charade
The singer is taking his shots at the lies and hypocrisy of the people in power, who do not hesitate to sacrifice countless lives for their personal gain.
As the polls close like a casket
Elections are meaningless because whoever is in power always works in their personal interest, and this is like the closing of a casket for the common people.
On truth devoured
The truth is being manipulated and distorted by people in power to keep their subjects under their control.
A Silent play in the shadow of power
The songwriter's message is being ignored because people are afraid to speak up and oppose those in power.
A spectacle monopolized
The media has been monopolized by those in power who use it as a propaganda tool to control people's minds.
The camera's eyes on choice disguised
People think they have a choice in selecting their leaders but in reality, their choices are already limited, and they are disguised behind a smoke screen.
Was it cast for the mass who burn and toil?
Elections are held for the masses who are struggling to survive every day and yet never had a say in the decisions that can change their lives.
Or for the vultures who thirst for blood and oil?
Elections are also held to satisfy the greed of some, who thirst for power and wealth while destroying the country's natural resources and human lives.
They hold the reins and stole your eyes
The people in power have taken control of everything, including people's minds and thoughts, deceiving them to satisfy their ego.
Or the fistagons
The brutal police force, military might, and powerful weapons used by those in power to silence the people who oppose them.
The bullets and bombs
The use of violence, military action, and war to control other nations and people who dare to oppose them.
Who stuff the banks
The people in power control the banks and use them to accumulate obscene amounts of wealth while keeping the general public's welfare at stake.
Who staff the party ranks
The powerful people control the political parties, hiring people to work according to their agendas while disregarding the people's needs.
More for Gore or the son of a drug lord
None of the options are good because political parties are controlled by equally corrupt people either who work for their self-interest or for their family or friend's interest.
None of the above fuck it cut the cord
When the choices are terrible, it's time to cut the cord and look for a different solution.
Contact I highjacked the frequencies
The songwriter is highjacking the frequencies to deliver his message to people directly, without the propaganda, false promises, and manipulation of people in power.
Blockin' the beltway
The system created by people in power is broken and is blocking the way of progress and justice, and we need to dismantle it.
Move on D.C.
We need to focus on changing the system of power altogether to make justice accessible everywhere.
Way past the days of Bombin' M.C.'s
The time for violence and war is over that only destroyed human lives and accomplished nothing, and we need to find new improved methods.
Sound off Mumia gwan be free
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a journalist and political activist, has been jailed on false charges, and we need to sound off to free him.
Who gottem yo check the federal file
We need to look at the legal documents to see the truth for ourselves and not to blindly trust those whose self-interests they serve.
All you pen devils know the trial was vile
Looking at the legal documents, everyone knows that the trial was unjust and false, yet the people in power continue to run the show.
An army of pigs try to silence my style
The powerful people have an army of police forces who try to suppress people's voices of opposition and their freedom of expression.
Off 'em all out that box
We need to throw out the people in power and the system that created this problem and find a new one.
It's my radio dial
The people have the power to choose to listen to someone who is not in power and follow the path of progress and justice.
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime
The change we need can only begin with one person who starts somewhere and sometime, and that action will create a domino effect that can change everything.
What better place than here, what better time than now?
The ideal time for action is here, and the better time to start fighting for justice and inequality than now?
All hell can't stop us now
Despite obstacles and resistance, we are determined to fight for justice and equality and nothing can stop us now.
All hell can't stop us now
Our collective spirit and determination will drive us towards change despite all the negative forces opposing us.
All hell can't stop us now
We are unstoppable in our pursuit of justice and equality.
All hell can't stop us now
We, as a collective, are more powerful than any obstacle that stands in our way, and we will work tirelessly to achieve our goal.
All hell can't stop us now
Nothing can stop our momentum towards a fairer and just world, and we will not relent until we have achieved our vision.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brad J. Wilk, Timothy Commerford, Tom Morello, Zack M. De La Rocha
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jammyfeen
Morello is the most unique guitarist ever, he gets sounds out of a guitar that nobody else does. Love it.
@vfrfandom3904
Tim as well
@luigimacchi9525
He's super overrated
@nero5971
Matt Bellamy takes inspiration from him you should listen to muse if you like
@HappyHumanist369
Hendrix was a huge influence; either admittedly or accidentally.
@michaelranieri.29
Shame he turned into such a lib lib.
@charlenemack7040
I’m new to rage against the machine. Maybe only two years now. I didn’t really listen to their music before, I heard it, my ears just didn’t listen and I didn’t give them a fair chance.I’m 71 years old which proves one is never too old to learn to love new kinds of music. My favorite song… Testify.
@sid6p0int7
You're never too old to learn new things. It's the School of Life; you graduate when you're dead.
@MAXSKEPTIC
Me too! I'd heard of them but never listened to their songs, their message.
I like political songs, even rap. A young friend of mine turned me on to Tom McDonald a few months ago.
Music is powerful and can incite change!
I'd love to see RATM in Glendale AZ.
Just turned 69 and I love my country but HATE OUR CORRUPTED GOVERNMENT
@StillRogue
@@MAXSKEPTIC Tom Mcdonald, who’s a cornball, is on the opposite side of RATM though lol