The world would be a lot better now, if my generation actually listen to the lyrics at a rage concert, instead of being drawn to the mosh pit

I think you might have overshot the yellow ribbon analysis... I think in the context of the song its more of a shock analogy aligned with supporting war. the reason I say this is that zak is smart enough to understand the wheels of the war machine have nothing to do with the troops... they are simply pawns in the game and I cant see someone like zak pointing the finger at pawns when you can take aim at the royals.

9mn is the film type and the bullet... clip.. .video clip... gun clip... these dudes are rappers.. not rockers... thats why they toured with Wu-Tang..

He’s talking about propaganda and knee jerk patriotism in the first bit. Not the troops, but how people are willing to follow what your government tells you to follows. Very much a jab at government controlled media. They also talked about all the propaganda in movies as well, in other songs. I’d recommend “The Ghost of Tom Joad” if you haven’t done it yet.

"Tie a yellow ribbon around the tree to say you will wait for me" was a song about a man going to war 😔

It's not that he doesn't support the troops. He just doesn't support their orders or the people giving those orders .

Yellow ribbon is for dead soldiers

RATM was raging against propaganda and echo chambers 30 years before the current era. I have to echo Kory Beavers below. If only more of my generation (22 when this was recorded) took Rage's lyrics to heart instead of just losing it in the mosh pit.

Man...I've listened to RATM since '92, bought every CD, saw them live half dozen times, and heard this track I don't know how many times... and you sir, you ABSOLUTELY NAILED IT. I wasn't sure when you got stuck briefly on the, "load the clip, fire it into primetime," but then you freakin 100% nailed this song's message. You are really good at picking up on the lyrics as they happen. It's impressive. Much love MrLBoyd

I have a request, Rage Against the Machine: The Ghost of Tom Joad. Buckle up

A quick search for the meaning of yellow ribbon brings this up:

Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt

if you really think about it every thing he said in this song kinda hold true today .

Thanks, that was both fun and really impressive that you figured the meaning out that quickly. This was during the first gulf war, hence the haated for the yellow ribbons.

PREACH ON ZACK!

"They load the clip in omnicolour" they're talking about TV and how's utilized to blast messages to the public as bullets to the head of the people.

Probably the most honest and interesting reaction to a Rage song I've ever seen. I hadn't thought of it in exactly that way, but cool.

This song reminds me of Tool's "Vicarious". It's about vicariously living through the tragedies on the news and TV but keeping our distance in our safe space yet drawn to the "bleeds it leads" agenda of the news. Give it a listen!

Thank you so much for your perspective. This was awesome!

These guys lyrics are so dead on even to this day it’s crazy.