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.
Without A Face
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life is prison, no parole, no control
Jura got my number on a wire tap
'Cause I jack for similac, fuck a Cadillac
Survive, one motive, no hope
'Cause every sidewalk I walk is like a tightrope
Yes, I know, my deadline sire, when my life expires
I'm sendin' paper south under the barbed wire
It's my life for their life so call it a free trade
"Por vida" and our name upon the stall
I took a death trip when I tried to cross the white wall
Walk unseen past the graves an the gates, born without a face
One motive no hope ah, born without a face
Walk unseen past the graves an the gates, born without a face
One motive no hope ah, yeah, born without a face
Without a face
Yeah, I tried to look back to my past long lost
A blood donor to the land owner holocaust
Pops heart stopped, in came the air drop
Flooded the trench he couldn't shake the toxic shock
Maize was all we needed to sustain
Now her golden skin burns, insecticide rain
Down with DDT, yeah you know me
I'm raped for the grapes, profit for the bourgeoisie
War tape boomin', path is Luminoso
I'm headed north like my name was kid 'Cisco
To survive one motive no hope, ah
It's hard to breathe with Wilson's head around my throat
Strangled and mangled another SS curtain call
When I tried to cross the white wall
When I tried to cross the white walls
Walk unseen past the graves an the gates, born without a face
One motive no hope ah, born without a face
Walk unseen past the graves an the gates, born without a face
One motive no hope ah, born without a face
You say fortify, reaction, you divide
And you say fortify, reaction, reaction
And you say fortify, reaction, reaction
You say fortify, reaction, you divide
The song "Without a Face" by Rage Against the Machine speaks of the struggles and oppression faced by individuals living in poverty, particularly those of color. The opening lines, "Got no card so I got not soul/Life is prison, no parole, no control" illustrate the hopeless feeling that comes with poverty. The singer feels trapped in their circumstances, with no way out. The line "Jura got my number on a wire tap/Cause I jack for similac, f*ck a Cadillac" speaks to the desperation of providing for oneself or one's family, even if it means resorting to illegal activities, while prioritizing survival over materialistic things.
The reference to a "white wall" possibly indicates the pervasive system of racism that the singer faces. The line "Pops heart stopped, in came the air drop/Flooded the trench he couldn't shake the toxic shock" refers to the Vietnam War and the use of Agent Orange, which led to devastating health consequences for both Americans and the Vietnamese. The lyric "Down with DDT, yeah you know me/I'm raped for the grapes, profit for the bourgeoisie" speaks to the exploitation of those who work the land by corporate interests.
The chorus "Walk unseen past the graves an the gates, born without a face/One motive no hope ah, born without a face" emphasizes the feeling of invisibility faced by those in poverty, who are often ignored and unseen by those in power. The line "You say fortify, reaction, you divide" could be referencing the government's response to poverty and unrest, which often involves militarization and the suppression of dissenting voices.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh! Got no card so I got not soul
I don't have a credit card, so I feel like I don't have a soul/personality
Life is prison, no parole, no control
Life feels like a prison where I have no control and won't ever be released
Jura got my number on a wire tap
The government is listening in on my phone calls
'Cause I jack for similac, fuck a Cadillac
I have to steal for baby formula instead of chasing materialistic dreams or luxury cars
Survive, one motive, no hope
My only motivation is to survive because I've lost all hope
'Cause every sidewalk I walk is like a tightrope
Every step I take is a risky balancing act as if walking on a tightrope
Yes, I know, my deadline sire, when my life expires
I'm aware of my limited lifespan and eventual death
I'm sendin' paper south under the barbed wire
I'm sending a note or letter to someone via an underground or illegal route under intense security measures
The mother of my child will lose her mind at my grave
My death will cause my child's mother to become insane with grief
It's my life for their life so call it a free trade
I would sacrifice my life for my loved ones, and consider it fair trade
"Por vida" and our name upon the stall
I'm dedicating my actions (like graffiti) to someone I care about with the phrase "for life"
I took a death trip when I tried to cross the white wall
I risked my life and faced death when I attempted to cross a barrier or wall I wasn't supposed to
Walk unseen past the graves an the gates, born without a face
Being born into a poor or oppressed situation can make you feel invisible and without an identity
One motive no hope ah, born without a face
I have only one motivation left, which is to survive, but I feel hopeless and like I don't have a true identity
Yeah, I tried to look back to my past long lost
I tried to think back to my distant past that feels lost or unimportant
A blood donor to the land owner holocaust
I've been forced to sacrifice my own blood, sweat, and tears to support the wealthy or powerful land owners who cause widespread suffering and destruction
Pops heart stopped, in came the air drop
My father suddenly died, and relief aid was brought in by parachutes
Flooded the trench he couldn't shake the toxic shock
The relief aid flooded the trench where he was, but he couldn't survive the toxic environment
Maize was all we needed to sustain
All we used to need was maize/corn to survive, but now things have gotten more complicated
Now her golden skin burns, insecticide rain
Now, due to environmental changes or pollution, even the skin of people we care about is harmed or damaged
Down with DDT, yeah you know me
I'm against the use of DDT (a harmful pesticide), and you already know it
I'm raped for the grapes, profit for the bourgeoisie
I'm exploited or taken advantage of by those who profit from my labor, and I get nothing in return
War tape boomin', path is Luminoso
The sound of war is intense and overwhelming, and the path or goal seems illuminated (or clear)
I'm headed north like my name was kid 'Cisco
I'm heading north like I'm on a mission or a kid with a cool nickname
It's hard to breathe with Wilson's head around my throat
It's suffocating or difficult to live with the influence or pressure of those in power (like President Wilson) over me or my community
Strangled and mangled another SS curtain call
I've fought against or resisted authority figures (like the SS or secret police), and they've made an attempt to punish or eliminate me
When I tried to cross the white wall
I faced danger and challenges when I attempted to go beyond a barrier or divide
You say fortify, reaction, you divide
You want to strengthen defenses and take action, but in doing so, you create division and fragmentation
And you say fortify, reaction, reaction
You repeat your desire to strengthen and react, but it feels like an endless loop
And you say fortify, reaction, reaction
You repeat your desire to protect and react, but it can be tiring and have negative consequences
You say fortify, reaction, you divide
Your attempts to create safety and take action end up dividing or harming more people than intended
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brad J Wilk, Timothy Commerford, Tom Morello, Zack M De La Rocha
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind