As of 2016, Morello is a member of the supergroup Prophets of Rage. Morello was also a touring musician with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. He is also known for his acoustic solo act, The Nightwatchman, and Street Sweeper Social Club. Morello also co-founded Axis of Justice, which airs a monthly program on Pacifica Radio station KPFK (90.7 FM) in Los Angeles.
Born in Harlem, New York and raised in Libertyville, Illinois, Morello became interested in music and politics while in high school. He attended Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies. After his previous band Lock Up disbanded, Morello met Zack de la Rocha, and the two founded Rage Against the Machine together, going on to become one of the most popular and influential rock acts of the 1990s.
He is best known for his unique and creative guitar playing style, which incorporates feedback noise, unconventional picking and tapping, as well as heavy use of guitar effects. Morello is also known for his leftist political views and activism; creating the Nightwatchman offered an outlet for his views while playing apolitical music with Audioslave. He was ranked number 40 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
Night Falls
Tom Morello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He said I've, I've got to go
She whispered I, I love you so
He said I, I've got to go
night falls on the river valley
Night falls on the mines and fields
Night falls on the
Night falls
in the next time there's trouble
Needs
There's dynamite under the porch
Me and my four kids are hungry
A man's yelling through the scream door
night falls on the river valley
Night falls on the mines and fields
Night falls on the
Night falls
only kin in the morning
Shoulder to shoulder
End to end
You don't have to speak
You just have to stand
stiff siting down there on the bridge
Local three...
A black and white picture of the common of the law
The dam is broken the river come
night falls on the river valley
Night falls on the mines and fields
Night falls on the just a non
Night falls
she want him, want him not to go
He said I've, I've got to go
She whispered I, I love you so
night falls
Night falls
The song Night Falls by Tom Morello The Nightwatchman revolves around the themes of love, sacrifice, and survival. The opening verse portrays a dialogue between two individuals, where one person wants the other not to leave, but the other person has no choice but to go. The first person whispers, "I love you so," while the other one replies, "I've got to go." This conversation sets the tone for the rest of the song, where the night falls on different areas, including the river valley, mines, and fields, reflecting the darkness that surrounds the characters of the song.
As the song progresses, we see an image of desperation and need. A man is yelling through the screen door, signaling a challenging situation, while the singer and his four kids are hungry, indicating financial struggles or poverty. However, despite the hardships, the song also highlights the importance of human connection and kinship. The lines, "Only kin in the morning, Shoulder to shoulder, End to end," describe the support that comes from being there for each other, even when there are no words to speak.
In the final verse, the scene shifts to a bridge where a group of vigilantes is about to take action against someone, possibly a worker involved in a union strike, as evidenced by the presence of "Local three," a reference to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 3. The reference to a "black and white picture of the common of the law" refers to the concept of "common law," where legal decisions are based on precedents rather than statutes. The line, "The dam is broken, the river come," may be interpreted as the culmination of the tensions and struggles of the people that have led to an inevitable breaking point.
Overall, the song seems to capture the struggles of ordinary people against systems of oppression and unfairness, while also highlighting the importance of human connection and support in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
She want him, want him not to go
She has mixed feelings about him leaving
He said I've, I've got to go
He has a sense of duty and cannot stay
She whispered I, I love you so
She expresses her love before he leaves
He said I, I've got to go
He reiterates that he cannot stay
night falls on the river valley
It becomes night over the river valley
Night falls on the mines and fields
It becomes night over the mines and fields
Night falls on the
It becomes night over the unspecified area
Night falls
Night arrives
in the next time there's trouble
When the next crisis occurs
Needs
Help and support are required
There's dynamite under the porch
An explosive situation is brewing
Me and my four kids are hungry
The artist's family is in need
A man's yelling through the scream door
Someone is shouting for attention
only kin in the morning
Only family will remain in the end
Shoulder to shoulder
Standing together in unity
End to end
All the way until the end
You don't have to speak
Silence can also express solidarity
You just have to stand
Being present and showing support is enough
stiff siting down there on the bridge
Someone is sitting stiffly on the bridge
Local three...
Referring to the local union, number three
A black and white picture of the common of the law
A photograph of the forces of authority
The dam is broken the river come
A disaster has occurred, and the consequences are inevitable
night falls on the just a non
Night falls over an unspecified area
night falls
It becomes night
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TOM MORELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind