Settle For Nothing

Album: Rage Against The Machine (1992)
Play Video
  • A jail cell is freedom from the pain in my home
    Hatred passed on, passed on and passed on
    A world of violent rage
    But it's one that I can recognize
    Having never seen the color of my father's eyes
    Yes, I dwell in hell, but it's a hell that I can grip
    I tried to grip my family
    But I slipped

    To escape from the pain in an existence mundane
    I gotta nine, a sign, a set and now I gotta name

    Read my writing on the wall
    No-one's here to catch me when I fall
    Death is on my side, suicide!

    A jail cell is freedom from the pain in my home
    Hatred passed on, passed on and passed on
    A world of violent rage
    But it's one that I can recognize
    Having never seen the color of my father's eyes
    Yes, I dwell in hell, but it's a hell that I can grip
    I tried to grip my family
    But I slipped

    To escape from the pain in an existence mundane
    I gotta nine, a sign, a set and now I gotta name

    Read my writing on the wall
    No-one's here to catch me when I fall
    Caught between my culture and the system, genocide!

    Read my writing on the wall
    No-one's here to catch me when I fall
    If ignorance is bliss, then knock the smile off my face
    Yeah!

    If we don't take action now
    We settle for nothing later
    Settle for nothing now
    And we'll settle for nothing later
    If we don't take action now
    We settle for nothing later
    We'll settle for nothing now
    And we'll settle for nothing later

    If we don't take action now
    We'll settle for nothing later
    We settle for nothing now
    And we'll settle for nothing later
    If we don't take action now
    We settle for nothing later
    We'll settle for nothing now
    And we'll settle for nothing later Writer/s: Brad J. Wilk, Thomas B. Morello, Timothy Commerford, Zack M. De La Rocha
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Wixen Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Henry from Marion, MtGotta be one of Rage's heaviest, angriest songs but that is their forte. AWESOME!!!
  • Andrea from Redondo Beach , CaI love this song. I feel it talks about being part of a lower class. How you are caught in the middle. You need money to do anything. He was nothing until he made a name for himself. "I gotta 9, a sign, a set and now I gotta name."
  • Andrea from Redondo Beach , CaAlso, a favorite RAGE quote, "If ingnorance is bliss, then knock the smile off my face." Hell yeah. I love RAGE with a passion.
  • Zackattack from Sacramento, Cai Got the idea it might have something to do with his Dad also
  • Jarred from Narre Warren, Victoria, AustraliaWhat can I say... Awesome song. Love the rap/talking bit at the start, the bass directly after it is soooo good. Probably my favorite RATM song ever...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.