RATM analysis on "Testify" from 1999's Battle Of Los Angeles CD

The Battle Of Los Angeles arrived about the time I did in Cedar Rapids. My first year at KRNA was spent at the Rock 'N Roll Bunker in Iowa City. Then, it was a transfer to the Skybox in 1999. The final collection of original jams from Rage Against the Machine came out and we all loved it here at the station. I remember KRNA's Fish used to spotlight tracks from "Battle" on his overnight show. Those were memorable "programs."

Among other things, "Testify" looked at a the growing distrust and loathing of all politicians, regardless of party. 16 years later, 9% approval ratings out of Washington put this song in the "prophetic" category.

I miss those guys. Like many brilliant bands [Nirvana, The Beatles, Jane's Addction, Sublime, etc.], in the end the Rage catalog wasn't big enough to satisfy our desire for more, but the trail it left behind is unstoppable. Bands break up for lots of reasons, but it seems like these early exits from the recording studios leave a bigger mark. Maybe that's just a perception. Legacy cut short = an increase in legend?

I like trolling Songfacts for different opinions on songs and song lyrics, like this one from Brendan in Dublin, Ireland:

"Lyrically, this song is where RATM impugns you, the listener. You have to get the syntax of the poetry right, I think, and see who they're addressing. The first verse is pretty direct, where "me" is really us, the watcher of US news reports, and how we want it "bloodless" and calm. The last four lines of this verse, the pre-chorus, introduces us to what's right outside, on the corner - the jury, which is the real world and real world events. Our weakness is that it is right in front of us, close to consuming us, like it or not. Someone on here asked, what are we supposed to testify to? Answer: we're going to have to explain our inaction and our reasons for hiding from what's going on. This is like when people "testify" in church services - they lay bare their indiscretions and say how they've found their way. Second verse, same message - but introduces the "gushing pipeline," oil, which ties into the bridge, about pump prices being set as mass graves are dug for those who die for oil (the events we don't like to really look at). The second part of the chorus was already pointed out as a mantra from Orwell's 1984, an inescapable dystopia (which I assume RATM thinks we're headed towards). All in all, the verses tie out well with the chorus and the bridge - that we strive to be well insulated from the events that are caused by the actions we take as a nation to keep our standard of living. Pretty insidious, from RATM's perspective."

-------------------------------------------

The movie ran through me

The glamour subdue me

The tabloid untie me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Ones who travel now in coffins
On the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside our door
Now testify

Now testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Yes testify
It's right outside our door

With precision you feed me
My witness I'm hungry
Your temple it calms me
So I can carry on
My slaving sweating the skin right off my bones
On a bed of fire I'm choking on the smoke that fills my home
The wrecking ball is rushing
Witness your blushing
The pipeline is gushing
While here we lie in tombs
While on the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door
Now testify
Yeah testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Now testify
It's right outside our door

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set, and the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set, and the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set, and the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set, and the price is set

Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?

Now testify
Testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Testify
It's right outside our door

Categories: Articles

RATM analysis on “Testify” from 1999’s Battle Of Los Angeles CD