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.
Voice of the Voiceless
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
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Through steel walls
Your voice blastin' on
True rebel my brother Mumia
I reflect upon
You be tha spark
That set tha prairie fires on
To trample tha fascists on
At fifteen exposed Philly's finest killing machine
With boots and mad guns
They tried to pacify you young
Cause and effect
Smell tha smoke and tha breeze
My panther my brother
We are at war until you're free
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You see tha powerful got nervous
Cause he refused to be their servant
'Cause he spit truth
And burned like black churches
Prose and verses
A million poor in hearses
Watch tha decision of Dred Scott
As it reserves
So long as tha rope
Is tight around Mumia's neck
Let there be no rich white life
We bound to respect
Cause and effect
Can't ya smell tha smoke in tha breeze
My panther my brother we are at war until you're free
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
And Orwell's hell a terror era coming through
But this little brother's watching you too
And Orwell's hell a terror era coming through
But this little brother's watching you too
The song “Voice of the Voiceless” by Rage Against the Machine is a tribute to the political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was sentenced to death in 1982 for allegedly murdering a police officer. The first verse of the song addresses Mumia directly, describing him as a “true rebel” who has lit the fire of resistance against fascism. The second verse addresses the broader struggle against oppression and notes that the powerful are nervous because Mumia refuses to be their servant and speaks the truth. The chorus proclaims that the voiceless will never be silenced, and that the struggle for freedom will continue until Mumia and others like him are free.
The third verse of the song shifts to a broader critique of the surveillance state and the erosion of civil liberties, referencing George Orwell’s “1984” and noting that even in a terror era, ordinary people are keeping watch over those in power. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that the struggle for freedom is ongoing and cannot be silenced.
Overall, “Voice of the Voiceless” is a powerful political statement that uses music to amplify the voices of those who are marginalized and oppressed. By addressing the specific case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the song helps to draw attention to the issue of mass incarceration and police brutality, while also challenging listeners to think critically about the role of the state in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Through steel walls
Despite barriers and obstacles, the voice of the voiceless reaches far.
Your voice blastin' on
The voice of the voiceless is powerful and cannot be silenced.
True rebel my brother Mumia
Mumia Abu-Jamal is an inspiration to those fighting against injustice and oppression.
I reflect upon
The artist thinks deeply about the impact of Mumia Abu-Jamal's activism and voice.
You be tha spark
Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice has ignited change and revolution.
That set tha prairie fires on
Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice has sparked a movement that spreads and catches on like a wildfire.
Make tha masses a mastodon path
Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice paves the way for the masses to follow and fight against oppression like a mighty, unstoppable mammoth.
To trample tha fascists on
Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice helps the masses defeat fascist oppression and tyranny.
At fifteen exposed Philly's finest killing machine
At a young age, the artist witnessed the brutality and violence of the Philadelphia police force.
With boots and mad guns
The police used excessive force and weapons to terrorize and oppress the people they were supposed to serve.
They tried to pacify you young
The police tried to silence and subdue the young people who rose up against their oppressive tactics.
Cause and effect
The consequences of police brutality and oppression lead to a revolution and uprising.
Smell tha smoke and tha breeze
The signs of revolution are in the air, the people are rising up.
My panther my brother
The singer refers to Mumia Abu-Jamal as a fellow revolutionary, a member of the Black Panther Party.
We are at war until you're free
The singer is committed to fighting until Mumia Abu-Jamal is freed from imprisonment and injustice is abolished.
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
The voice of the voiceless is too powerful to be silenced or ignored, and it will continue to be heard.
You see tha powerful got nervous
The oppressors are afraid of the power of Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice and the movement behind it.
Cause he refused to be their servant
Mumia Abu-Jamal refuses to submit to oppression and take orders from those in power.
'Cause he spit truth
Mumia Abu-Jamal speaks the truth about the oppression and injustice faced by Black people, and his words cannot be ignored.
And burned like black churches
Mumia Abu-Jamal's voice ignites passion and revolution, like the fires that burned down Black churches during the Civil Rights Movement.
Prose and verses
Mumia Abu-Jamal's words are powerful and poetic, and inspire revolution and change.
A million poor in hearses
The consequences of oppression and poverty are deadly and widespread, leading to death and destruction for the most vulnerable.
Watch tha decision of Dred Scott
The singer references the landmark Supreme Court decision that upheld slavery and denied citizenship to Black people.
As it reserves
This decision set a dangerous precedent and continues to shape American society and law.
So long as tha rope
As long as Mumia Abu-Jamal is on death row, there is no justice in this system.
Is tight around Mumia's neck
Mumia Abu-Jamal is being strangled by the unjust laws and imprisonment of the American legal system.
Let there be no rich white life
The singer calls for an end to the privilege and power of the wealthy and white ruling class.
We bound to respect
The artist demands respect and justice for Black people and all oppressed groups.
Can't ya smell tha smoke in tha breeze
The signs of revolution are in the air, and the people are fighting back against oppression.
And Orwell's hell a terror era coming through
The singer references George Orwell's novel 1984 to comment on the oppressive and totalitarian state of society.
But this little brother's watching you too
The singer is vigilant and watching out for the oppressors, and will continue to fight until justice is served.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BRAD J. WILK, THOMAS B. MORELLO, TIMOTHY COMMERFORD, ZACK M. DE LA ROCHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind