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.
Zapata's Blood
Rage Against the Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wasn't spilt in vein
So now you're pullin' the moves pullin'
the moves pullin' the moves
We'll wage, we'll wage we'll wage war
To replace our name
Some guys got blurred
So now you're pullin' the moves, pullin'
We'll wage, we'll wage, we'll wage war
To reclaim our terrain
On January 1st, 1994
The indigenous farmers of Southern Mexico
Declared war on an unjust
and illigitimate government
Of of the debt of the most wild, the most poor
Came a just arm struggle
for democracy, justice, and liberty
And it won't stop until that 65 year old dictatorship,
the Partido Revolucionario Institucional
(Institutional Revolutionary Party) is buired in the ground
and the people's voicce is heard once again
So check it out:
On January 1st, they became known as
the Zapatista movement
And they have a saying, and I want you all to
sing along with me real quick.
It goes something like this
It goes, everything for everyone...
and nothing for ourselves.
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves.
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves.
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves.
Yeah, sing that shit...
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves.
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves.
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves.
Everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves...
The lyrics to Rage Against the Machine's song "Zapata" reflect on the Zapatista movement that began on January 1st, 1994, in Southern Mexico. The indigenous farmers of Southern Mexico declared a war on an unjust and illegitimate government that had created debt and poverty for the most disadvantaged members of society. The Zapatista movement embarked on an arm struggle for democracy, justice, and liberty to replace their name and reclaim their terrain. The movement strives to continue until the dictatorship of the Institutional Revolutionary Party is wiped from power, and the people's voice is heard once again. The use of the phrase "pullin' the moves" reflects the urgency and action needed to push the movement forward.
The second part of the lyrics highlights the Zapatista movement's slogan, "everything for everyone, and nothing for ourselves." The slogan reflects the movement's desire to create a more egalitarian society where everyone has equal access to resources, education, healthcare, and basic human rights. This goal is in opposition to the greed and corruption that had led to the poverty of the most vulnerable members of society. The use of repetition in the song's chorus reinforces the message of unity in the struggle for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Like they deserve
The indigenous people of Southern Mexico deserved to fight for their rights and freedom
Wasn't spilt in vein
Their bloodshed during the struggle was not for nothing
So now you're pullin' the moves pullin' the moves pullin' the moves
The Zapatistas are taking action against the government and fighting back
We'll wage, we'll wage we'll wage war
The movement is ready to go to war to take back their territory and rights
To replace our name
The indigenous people want to reclaim their identity and culture, which has been disregarded by the government
Some guys got blurred
Some Zapatistas have lost their lives in the struggle
So now you're pullin' the moves, pullin' the moves, pullin' the moves
Despite the losses, the movement is not giving up
We'll wage, we'll wage, we'll wage war
They will continue to fight for justice and freedom
To reclaim our terrain
The Zapatistas want to take back their land and resources from the government's control
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: COMMERFORD, DE LA ROCHA, MORELLO, WILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@remedy9648
Nothing comes close to Rage! Every member of this band is genius. Please come back guys, we need Rage right now!
@givenspade
And we are! they announced tour dates today on their instagram
@remedy9648
I see it and am praying they’ll add more shows. I live in NYC and nothing yet but there’s hope. If not, we are thinking of taking a trip to Texas for the March shows. Too exciting! You going to any shows?
@givenspade
@Vicky Dee I live in Alabama and I can't travel that far either so if they announce more shows and come to alabama or georgia then I plan to go. I want to so bad though but since I'm in school and stuff I can't travel to Texas or Arizona.
@remedy9648
GivenSpade it’s torture to know they’re playing and not knowing if you can make a show or even afford it. I’m still not sure if I have the money for such a trip. My daughter and her bf are trying to make it happen and thinking of flying. If we can get tix, I’m gonna beg them to drive with me and split costs. I can’t imagine them not adding dates and venues, especially if the demand is what I think it’ll be. Rage, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden are 3 bands i didn’t get to see live and regret.
I hope you get to go see them. 🤘🏿💜
@givenspade
@Vicky Dee Well I hope you can make it, it will be an amazing experience.
@cesarlopezcordon9894
Nosotros nacimos de la noche. En ella vivimos. Moriremos en ella. Pero la luz será mañana para los más, para todos aquellos que hoy lloran la noche, para quienes se niega el día, para quienes es regalo la muerte, para quienes está prohibida la vida. Para todos la luz. Para todos todo. Para nosotros el dolor y la angustia, para nosotros la alegre rebeldía, para nosotros el futuro negado, para nosotros la dignidad insurrecta. Para nosotros nada.
Emiliano Zapata - EZLN
@monguito
Un revolucionario que solo vio por su porvenir y sumando que nunca fue pobre
@johnjacksie8534
It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees,EMILIANO ZAPATA, R.I.P LEGEND.
@edertinoco383
SmokeSeshTV hahaha he was ambushed, they never caught him ;)