Vietnow

"Vietnow" was the final single for Rage Against the Machine's Evil Empire album. Officially it is only the third single from the album, as "Down Rodeo" was a promo release only.

The cover photograph of an elderly lady seen from the back, carrying a boombox radio and walking down a mountain was taken by the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide in the Sonoran Desert in 1979. The original photograph is called "Mujer Ángel" and has also appeared in the black-and-white photography book Canto a la Realidad: Fotografia Latinoamericana, 1860-1993 as compiled by Erika Billeter.

The song's lyrics concern right-wing AM radio shows, hosted by people such as Rush Limbaugh, Oliver North and Michael Reagan^{[citation needed]}. The verse riffs bear a resemblance to "The Wanton Song" by Led Zeppelin, whom Tom Morello has cited as a major influence.

The lyrics "is all the world jails and churches", are perhaps influenced by the works of American novelist James Baldwin. Baldwin's 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain includes the character Roy Grimes arguing with his mother and commenting, “You think that's all that's in the world is jails and churches?” At least one of James Baldwin's books is contained on Rage Against the Machine's Evil Empire liner notes.^[1]

The line "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" is a reference to Sgt. Stacey Koon, one of the 4 LAPD policemen videotaped beating black motorist Rodney King in 1992. He and Laurence Powell were the only two convicted of the four.

Vietnow made its live debut during the 1996 Big Day Out festival in Australia.

During live performances, Bassist Tim Commerford is known for adding in the vocals: "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" and "aw shit, I got a head rush!"

The song was covered by the hardcore punk band Stray From The Path in 2012.

Track listing

"Vietnow"
"Clear The Lane" - b-side
"Intro/Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos [Live Version]"
"Zapata's Blood [Live Version]"

References

↑ "Rage Against the Machine: Book List". Ratm.net. Retrieved 2011-11-19.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rage Against the Machine.

Official Website
Axis of Justice Tom Morello and Serj Tankian's Activist Website "Axis Of Justice"
Vietnow at AllMusic
Graciela Iturbide´s Official Website
Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

v t e Rage Against the Machine

Zack de la Rocha Tom Morello Tim Commerford Brad Wilk

Studio albums	Rage Against the Machine (1992) Evil Empire (1996) The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) Renegades (2000)

Live albums	Bulletproof (1994) Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium (2003)

Compilation albums	Live & Rare (1998)

Demo albums	Rage Against the Machine (1991)

Video	Rage Against the Machine (1997) The Battle of Mexico City (2001) Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium (2003)

Singles	"Killing in the Name" "Bullet in the Head" "Bombtrack" "Freedom" "Year of tha Boomerang" "Bulls on Parade" "People of the Sun" "Down Rodeo" "Vietnow" "The Ghost of Tom Joad" "No Shelter" "Guerrilla Radio" "Sleep Now in the Fire" "Testify" "Calm Like a Bomb" "Renegades of Funk" "How I Could Just Kill a Man"

Other songs	"Know Your Enemy" "Tire Me" "Wake Up"

Tours	Rage Against the Machine Tour 1994–1995 Tour Evil Empire Tour The Battle of Los Angeles Tour Reunion tour

Related acts	Inside Out Lock Up Audioslave The Nightwatchman One Day as a Lion Street Sweeper Social Club

Related articles	Discography Awards Political views and activism

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