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.
Kick Out The Jams
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I feel pretty good
And I guess that I could get crazy now, baby
'Cause we all got in tune
When the dressing room got hazy
I know how you want it
The girl can't stand it
When you're doing it right when they're up on the stand
Let me kick out the jams
Kick out the jams, we're gonna kick 'em out
And I'm startin' to sweat
You know my shirt's all wet
What a feeling now baby
And the sound that abound and resounds and rebounds straight off of the ceilin'
You gotta have it baby
You can't do without
You get that feelin' gotta kick 'em out
Put that mic in my hand
And let me kick out the jams
Kick out the jams, we gotta kick 'em out
Got to get it up
You know you can't get enough miss Mckenzie
'Cause it gets in your brain
It drives you insane' a loopy frenzy
We got a guitar and a crash on the drums
If you wanna keep on rockin' till the mornin' comes
Let me be who I am
And let me kick out the jams, yeah kick out the jams
I done kicked 'em out
The song Kick Out the Jams by Rage Against the Machine is an uproarious call to action, urging listeners to stand up and rebel against the status quo. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer feeling exhilarated and ready to cause chaos. The hazy dressing room mentioned in the lyrics serves as a metaphor for the confusion and chaos of the larger world. The singer is in tune with this chaos and is ready to harness it to create something powerful.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more urgent and aggressive. The singer wants to "kick out the jams" and remove anything that is holding back progress or change. This includes people who are stuck in their ways and refuse to see things from a new perspective. The call to action begins to spread, with the singer exhorting others to "keep on rockin' till the mornin' comes" and never give up the fight.
The message of Kick Out the Jams is one of unity and defiance in the face of oppression. It encourages listeners to push back against the forces that seek to limit their potential and to stand up for what they believe in, no matter the cost. It is a powerful anthem that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
We gotta kick 'em out
The band wants to create a lively atmosphere in the dressing room and get the audience pumped up.
Well I feel pretty good
The lead singer is excited and energetic.
And I guess that I could get crazy now, baby
The lead singer is ready to unleash all of his energy and put on a wild show.
'Cause we all got in tune
The band and audience are all on the same page and working together to create a great experience.
When the dressing room got hazy
The band is creating a smoky, intense atmosphere in the room to build excitement.
I know how you want it
The lead singer understands the audience's desire for an intense, energetic performance.
When you're hot and tight
People want a thrilling experience that gets them excited and worked up.
The girl can't stand it
The energy is so intense, it's almost overwhelming and hard to handle.
When you're doing it right when they're up on the stand
The band is giving it their all and putting on a great show when the audience is most engaged.
Let me kick out the jams
The lead singer wants to take control and really get the energy going.
Kick out the jams, we're gonna kick 'em out
The band is going to take the audience's energy and use it to create an even bigger vibe.
And I'm startin' to sweat
The excitement and energy is causing the lead singer to become physically worked up.
You know my shirt's all wet
The intensity of the performance is causing the lead singer to sweat through his clothes.
What a feeling now baby
The band is really feeling the energy of the performance and the intense atmosphere in the room.
And the sound that abound and resounds and rebounds straight off of the ceilin'
The sound created by the band is filling the room and echoing around, adding to the excitement and energy of the performance.
You gotta have it baby
The audience needs this exciting performance to really enjoy themselves and let loose.
You can't do without
This kind of high-energy performance is essential to creating a fun and engaged audience.
You get that feelin' gotta kick 'em out
Once the audience gets caught up in the energy of the performance, they'll be fully engaged and excited.
Put that mic in my hand
The lead singer wants control of the performance and the ability to direct the energy of the audience.
And let me kick out the jams
The lead singer is ready and excited to really get the crowd going and energized.
Kick out the jams, we gotta kick 'em out
The band is ready to take the excitement and energy to an even higher level.
Got to get it up
The band needs to create an intense atmosphere in order to really engage the audience.
You know you can't get enough miss Mckenzie
The audience is hungry for an exciting, high-energy performance.
'Cause it gets in your brain
This level of energy and excitement is really something that can get the audience hyped up and worked up.
It drives you insane' a loopy frenzy
The excitement can cause people to become almost crazed and unable to contain themselves.
We got a guitar and a crash on the drums
The band has all the necessary elements to create an exciting and intense performance.
If you wanna keep on rockin' till the mornin' comes
The band is willing to keep the energy going all night long if the audience is willing to keep responding.
Let me be who I am
The lead singer wants to keep the energy going and maintain control of the performance.
And let me kick out the jams, yeah kick out the jams
The band is really trying to create an intense, exciting and energizing performance for the audience to engage with.
I done kicked 'em out
The band has successfully created the high-energy performance they were aiming for.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert W. Derminer, Wayne S Kramer, Dennis A. Tomich, Frederick Smith, Michael H Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind