Bombtrack by Rage Against the Machine

Album: Rage Against The Machine (1992)

Charted: 37

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Inspired by Rage Against The Machine's political viewpoints, this song's main theme is authoritative oppression, ranging from landlords and "power whores" to censors.

Rage was an extremely political band that filled their songs with generalized invective, often repeating a line over and over like a manta. In "Bombtrack," it's "Burn, burn, yes ya gonna burn."

Figuring they'd get your attention with the songs, they used interviews, music videos and live shows to hash out specific issues that you wouldn't know about unless you followed the news closely. They used "Bombtrack" to draw attention to these two stories:

1) Rebellion in Peru, which Rage believed was being quelled by the US government. In 1992, the leader of the rebel group Shining Path, Abimael Guzman, was captured and imprisoned. Rage takes on this topic in the music video.

2) The plight of Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who was convicted of the 1975 murder of two FBI agents. Rage frontman Zach de la Rocha would often introduce the song by talking about Peltier, insisting he was jailed for crimes he didn't commit. This activism helped keep Peltier top of mind, and in 2025 he was released from prison in one of Joe Biden's final acts as president.
"Bombtrack" is the first song on Rage Against The Machine's self-titled debut album, letting listeners know exactly what they're in for. It was also Track 1 on the cassette tape the band made in 1991 that they sold at concerts and used as a demo. You wouldn't think a band like this would have much appeal to record companies, but paradoxically, the most anti-commercial bands were the most coveted in 1992, when Pearl Jam and Nirvana were blowing up. Rage had a lot of offers and went with Epic because they promised creative freedom. They spent the rest of the decade lighting figurative and literal fires (they burned an American flag at Woodstock '99) before breaking up in 2000 when Zach de la Rocha left the group over various disputes. Instead of replacing him, his bandmates formed an entirely new band with Chris Cornell as lead singer: Audioslave. They released three successful albums before breaking up in 2007. That year, Rage returned to action, and although they didn't release new music, they played live until 2011, when they took a long hiatus. COVID pushed back plans for their next reunion, which took place in 2022. That tour was cut short when Zach de la Rocha tore his Achilles tendon in a stage mishap, effectively ending the band. They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2023, but only guitarist Tom Morello attended.
Burning is the metaphor in this song for affecting change, but the album cover shows a stunning, very litteral act of immolation. It's a Pulitzer Prize winning photo of a monk who set himself on fire in South Vietnam as a protest against the government's treatment of Buddhists.
"Bombtrack" was the second single Rage Against The Machine released, following "Killing In The Name." It remains one of their most popular songs.

Comments: 16

Fart Spray from Humid Hell, OklahomaI don't even know man. I just use RATM when I'm drunk or when I'm working out haha. Or if i feel like a bad ass driving to school. So I don't really pay too much attention to the lyrics but I hope they weren't talking about burning the American flag.
Sam from I'm Not Telling YouAl, just because you wanna be some private eye you haven't done your research man. R.A.T.M. are against oppression of any kind and the music video tackles three problems.
1. The oppression towards Native Americans
2. The Oppression of Peruvians
3. Shining Path
Need I say more?
Chris from Windsor Locks, CtAl, RATM isn't supporting Shining Path in Peru. They are criticising the oppressive goverment and Shining Path. Also, its hard to criticise other people for being unintelligent when you cant even spell it right yourself.
Al from Philadelphia, Pafunny how ratm seems to only rant about the oppressive goverment in peru and completely ignores the fact that the shining path was responsible for the brutal,sadistic murder and torture of tens of thousands of peruvians.
ratm are some of the biggest hypocrites in american media, claiming to be against propaganda while every one of their "songs" meets the definition of propaganda 100%. supporting murderers and thugs and criticising goverment. yep real inteligent.....
Kyle from George Town, Cayman IslandsThis song was on matrix released at of the movie
Lee from Milwaukee, WiEric from CT is right on in my opinion
Lee from Milwaukee, Afghanistani dont think this song is strictly about the shinning path and the rebbillions in peru even though that is what the video focuses on but i think it is more about oppression in general and how everyone who abuses their own athurity will eventually pay and also how zack is going to bring these isues to everyones attention
Jacob from Rocky Mount, NcCool song. I find not to many bands can, in my opinion, pull off Rap-Metal without producing the same music everytime. Every song on this album is different in mood and music. The only song I don't like on it is Settle For Nothing, it is a little wierd. Cool, but wierd and I don't get it.
Talha from Lahore, Pakistanit's by far the best rap-metal song i've ever heard ,the 1st one i heard of their's was "wake up" ,but this 1's got such a "funky-killer-slow-groove" 2 it,Zack just floats and chants like a snake charmer, and they finish it up with a real hard-rockin groove
Reuben from Amsterdam, NetherlandsWhen I heard this song for the first time, when it was issued here, I was pleasantly shocked. It is so agressive, attractive and uneasy at the same time.
Tom from Erie, PaThe music video for this song focuses on the US backed regime of President Alberto Fujimori who slaughtered and oppressed thousands of Peruvians and it also focuses on the Shining Path maoist movement of Peru which was fighting against the rule of Fujimori by the means of guerilla warfare.
Tom from Maidstone, EnglandA "bombtrack" is a piece of music which starts out with a low rumble and explodes into the intro or first verse with increased volume. And this song has one :)
Eric from Barkhamsted, CtZack starts by saying "just another bomb track", meaning that such songs with the same message have been sung before. On the other hand, "suckers be thinking that they can fade this, but i'm a drop it at a higher level", which means that although such messages have been preached, Zack's gonna tell it a different way and in such a way that everyone hears. He'll even "stoop down" to their level if he has to. He tells of how businesses "burned us" and how news has lied to us (Americans). The landlord's and powerwhores symbolizes those who will stop at nothing to get to the top. The chorus, with "burn, burn, yes, ya gonna burn" is a symbol of what is going to happen to these "landlord's and powerwhores". Perhaps, not that they would burn here, but perhaps after death in judgement. The other verses reitterate what Zack already stated in the first verse.
- Eric, CT
Anon. from Twin Cities, Mnone of the best intros i have ever heard
Luke from Manchester, EnglandPeople can put songs they like in films
John from Glasgow, Scotlandi thought this song was more about the revolutions in peru, since thats in the video "the shining path"

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

Run Like HellPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" was released as a single in America because it has a catchy beat, but the lyrics describe a reign of terror instigated by the despot Pink, the main character in the concept album The Wall.

Killer QueenQueen

The Queen song "Killer Queen," according to lead singer Freddie Mercury, is about a high-class call girl.

Careless WhisperWham!

George Michael was 17 and on a bus to his job at the cinema when he came up with the idea for "Careless Whisper" and the lyrics, "Something in your eyes calls to mind a silver screen."

Blinded By The LightBruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded By The Light," which was a #1 hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The "Madman Drummers" line is a reference to Springsteen's first E-Street drummer, Vinnie "Mad dog" Lopez.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.