Vietnow by Rage Against the Machine

Album: Evil Empire (1996)

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This song rails against the extremely right-wing radio shows hosted by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy, and Michael Reagan (son of Ronald Reagan), that were very popular in 1996 when the song was released (their #1 enemy: President Bill Clinton, a Democrat). Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha thought these guys were all putting forth similar reactionary agendas over the US airwaves, and he was urging fans to turn them off:

Turn on tha radio? Nah f--k it turn it off
Fear is your only god on the radio
The line, "crosses and kerosene" refers to the Ku Klux Klan practice of burning crosses in the front yards of people they wish to threaten.
The same one that ran around Managua wit a sword

During the Iran-Contra affair in the mid 1980s, Oliver North and company funded the counterrevolutionaries in Nicaragua, based in Managua.
Check out tha new style that Ollie found

This refers to Oliver North, whose conviction in the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s was overturned on a technicality, now hosts an extremely right-wing radio talk show and has run for the US Senate.
Comin' down like bats from Stacy Coon

Former Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Stacey Coon was one of the four LAPD policemen videotaped beating black motorist Rodney King in the early '90s. He was the only one convicted. The 1992 Los Angeles riots followed the trial and acquittals.
The song title is a reference to the Vietnam war, a debacle for America that ended in 1975 with over 50,000 troops dead and nothing gained. America stayed in the war for years, in part because many citizens bought into the narrative pushed by the government and abetted by the media: that if Communists were allowed to control the country, Communism would eventually spread to the US.

By calling the song "Vietnow," Rage is implying that we're still buying into false narratives that will lead to disaster.
The song is part of the second Rage Against The Machine album, Evil Empire, released in 1996 at the peak of their popularity. It came out four years after their self-titled debut and was highly anticipated. The album went straight to #1, with fans delighted that the group's scathing invective and blistering sound were still intact - they definitely hadn't gone soft.

Comments: 9

Mike from Selden, Nythe wanton song and this song are not the same. the fast riff you're probably refering to in the wanton song is played with a G and its octive where as vietnow is played along the E scale, however both riffs root themselves on the (low) E string. Perhaps most similar aspect between the two is that their tempos are both between 108 and 110 beats per minute and both played with sixteenth notes.
J.d. from Detroit, MiI am not very adept with lyics, which is why I always carry a book of them.

I am most unfamiliar with R.A.M., but this song makes me want to learn more about them. As a frequently protest musician, I need to know the melody and chord structure, so anyone who can help me there, please do so.
-J.D., Detroit
Sam from Cambridge, Ontario, Canadai think when Jamie says "they" he means rage; and that rage is against "fascist pigs", but he put the hyphen in the wrong spot.
Nick from Putnam, CtAnybody else thing the riff in this song is borrowed from Zeppelin's The Wanton Song?
Matt from Sulechow, PolandThis song is totally crushing, I just love listening to it, it's extremely powerful. The bass and guitar background, together with the quite simple (but great) rythmical pattern, create a perfect mixture - the song just flooows:-)
John from Glasgow, Scotlandwhen you talk about anti-fascist pigs, who do you mean? rage?
Jamie Jay from West Oxfordshire, EnglandThey aren't anti white they are anti fascist-pigs and that isn't always the same thing, in fact who am i to tell you who they are against?
Jamie Jay from West Oxfordshire, EnglandI like the bit when Y.Tim.K shouts 'huh' over and over again ( off the beet) while Brad Wilk does a smart little rhythmical trip-up on the drums.
Jamie Jay from West Oxfordshire, EnglandWhen he says 'coming down like bats from Stacey Coon' it sound like 'bats from Stacey Coonan!'

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