Ashes In The Fall -- Rage Against The Machine

A mass of hands press on the market window Ghosts of progress
Dressed in slow death Feeding on hunger And glaring through the promise
Upon the food that rots slowly in the aisle  A mass of nameless at the oasis
That hides the graves beneath the masters hill Buried for drinking
The rivers water While shackled to the line  At the empty well

This is the new sound  Just like the old sound Just like the noose wound
Over the new ground   Listen to the fascist sing  Take hope here War is elsewhere
You were chosen This is god's land  Soon well be free Of blot and mixture
Seeds planted by our Forefathers hand

A mass of promises  Begin to rupture  Like the pockets  Of the new world kings
Like swollen stomachs In Appalachia  Like the priests that fuck you
As they whisper holy things A mass of tears have transformed to stones now
Sharpened on suffering  Woven into slings Hope lies in the rubble of this rich fortress
Taking today what tomorrow never brings 

This is the new sound Just like the old sound  Just like the noose wound x2
Over the new ground  aint the new sound  just like the old sound
just like the noose wound over the new ground  aint the new sound 
just like the old sound look at the noose now over the over the 
over the burning ground

Aint it funny how the factorys doors close Round the time that the school doors close
Round the time that the doors of the jail cells  Open up to greet you like the reaper
Aint it funny how the factorys doors close  Round the time that the school doors close
Round the time that a hundred thousand jail cells  Open up to greet you like the reaper
This is the new sound  Just like the old sound  Just like the noose wound
Over the new ground  Like ashes in the fall

The lyrics also deal with racism: "This is the new sound just like the old sound, just like the noose wound over the new ground" is a reference to lynchings in the American south.             
                                                                     (songfacts)   


                                     

               
                       

Racism in the Elevator  --    here with some insight into typical racist behavior. 

                                                   You can have a laugh at racism in our spoof-PSA.