Rage Against the Machine’s “Know Your Enemy” Lyrics Meaning

As the name of the band implies, Rage Against the Machine is a group who is known for vociferously criticizing the system. And “Know Your Enemy” is one of their track’s which exemplifies that ideal the most.

For starters, the titular “enemy” itself would actually be akin to the American system, i.e. the ones who are putting forth the ideology which is commonly referred to as the ‘American dream’. That is to say that the United States is commonly referred to, by those who run it, as “the land of the free”. But the band would argue to the contrary. Rather what they are basically saying is that whoever promotes this falsehood (i.e. the government itself) is trying to brainwash citizens into being compliant.

America is not Free

And as an example of how America is not actually free, the singer seems to identify largely with African-Americans. And said group is a group of people that have been historically oppressed in the United States. For instance, Zack De La Rocha’s reference to a raised fist calls back imagery of the famous/infamous Black Power salute of the 1968 Olympics. And he also identifies the police, i.e. “a badge and a gun”, as an issue about which “something must be done”. Well it has been acknowledged by just about everyone some three decades after this song was released that African-Americans indeed have big issues with abuse by law enforcement.

But generally speaking, Rocha and his lyrical companion, Maynard James Kennan, are trying to excite any and everyone who feels oppressed by the hypocritical, repressive and dishonest system. And the primary sentiment being expressed isn’t a criticism of the powers-that-be per se as much as the lyricist themselves now reaching the point in which they refuse to be compliant to such entities. 

Conclusion

So at the end of day, we can say that “Know Your Enemy” is very much a song of resistance. And what the band is resisting, succinctly put, is a mentally and physically-oppressive rulership.

Facts about “Know Your Enemy”

Keenan dropped this track alongside Rage Against the Machine around the time the band he would eventually go on to lead, Tool, was just coming into existence.

“Know Your Enemy” can be found on Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled maiden album. It was released in November 1992.

Rage Against the Machine didn’t release this as a single. The album in question produced four singles, including “Killing in the Name“.

Zack Rocha is the primary lyricist of this classic. The other writers are:

• Tim Commerford
• Brad Wilk
• Tom Morello

The entire band joined forces with Garth Richardson to produce this social justice classic. Richardson is a noted record producer from Canada.

It has been noted that a certain part of this song sounds pretty similar to “Iron Man” from Black Sabbath. And said section is a portion of its guitar chord.

What genre of music is “Know Your Enemy”?

It is a rap metal song. Additionally, it can also be put into the alternative metal genre.