Rage Against the Machine: Bulls on ParadeJoin now to read essay Rage Against the Machine: Bulls on ParadeJordan Friedlander-TapiaComposition IIMrs FrogattRage against the Machine: Bulls On ParadeBulls on Parade is a famous song created by Rage Against The Machine in 1996 whichbrought their second album “Evil Empire” to sixth on the all time billboard record sales. Althoughone can try to name the main themes in this song, its not necessarily on any one subject. This song ishas extremely complex lyrics that one has to “dig” into. Although one may think there is no politicalmessage behind the song upon hearing it for the first time, One will clearly see that the lead singerwho wrote the song is talking about the American Structure of force.“This song deals with what is commonly referred to as “military industrial complex” whichis the tendency of the arms industry to encourage military action in order to gain military contractsand obviously increase profits” according to Zach DeLa Rocha the lead singer of rage against theMachine (Vasher 65). This fact was made apparent by the lyrics: “Weapons; not food, nothomes, not need, just feed the war cannibal-animal,” and “what we don’t know keeps the contractsalive and moving, they don’t have to burn the books they just remove em.” These are just a coupleof examples of the several allusions to the military- industrial notion throughout the song. Rageagainst the machine have always had a political agenda with their songs. One can even rememberthe famous Saturday Night Live episode (Alluc.org) where a presidential candidate was gueststarring and during their set they hung an upside down banner of the American flag because of hisbacking towards such groups as Haliburton and foreign intervention on our part into other countries.In Bulls of Parade the notion that the government uses fear of terrorism to manipulate theAmerican population into supporting fraudulent actions is an extremely accurate accusation and something that our countries government shoves under the table. For instance the words: “Terror
reigns, drenching, quenching the thirst of the power dons” is essentially criticizing the Americanmilitary as their war turns the higher in command into a higher social class due to their riches. Eventhe term Terror reigns could be interpreted as a double entendre where the terror is not only from ourgovernment invading but the rebels possibly taking their possessions as well. Even with the term“The rotten sore on mother earth gets bigger, the triggers could empty its purse.” describes thedownside of war on our planet and that by emptying its purse, it empties out human beings.The song also mentions the idea that education is an important factor in a countries societyand that militaries often burn the national libraries down thus depriving its people of the joys ofbooks;
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