Killing In the Name – English Lyrics

• By: Rage Against the Machine

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language becomes a revolutionary act with Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name.' This song offers a powerful entry point into English through its raw, repetitive, and politically charged lyrics. By engaging with its direct and uncensored message against injustice, you'll not only expand your vocabulary but also gain insight into a pivotal moment in American history and the universal language of protest.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
killing /ˈkɪlɪŋ/ B1	noun - the act of causing death; homicide. verb - present participle of kill; causing death.
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known.
work /wɜːrk/ A1	verb - to expend effort toward a goal; to perform a job. noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.
forces /ˈfɔːrsɪz/ B1	noun - plural of force; a group of people, especially an armed group.
burn /bɜːrn/ A2	verb - to be damaged or destroyed by fire; to produce flames.
crosses /ˈkrɔːsɪz/ A2	noun - plural of cross; a mark, object, or figure with two intersecting lines.
told /toʊld/ A1	verb - past tense and past participle of tell; to communicate information to someone.
died /daɪd/ A2	verb - past tense of die; to stop living.
justified /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪd/ B2	adjective - having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason. verb - past participle of justify; to show or prove to be right or reasonable.
badge /bædʒ/ B1	noun - a small piece of metal or plastic, typically worn to show membership or authority.
chosen /ˈtʃoʊzn/ B2	adjective - selected as particularly special or worthy of favour. verb - past participle of choose; to pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate.
whites /waɪts/ B1	noun - plural of white; people belonging to a race having light-colored skin.
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B1	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events. verb - determine the behaviour or supervise the running of.
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information to someone in spoken or written words.

Key Grammar Structures

• Killing in the name of

  ➔ Present participle as a noun phrase

  ➔ The word "killing" is used as a noun, referring to the act of killing. It's a shortened title meaning "Killing in the name of [something]".

• Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses

  ➔ Relative Clause with "that"

  ➔ "that work forces" is a relative clause modifying "those". It identifies which "some" the speaker is referring to. The phrase "the same that burn crosses" indicates the shared identity or characteristic between the two groups.

• And now you do what they told ya

  ➔ Imperative implication and reported command

  ➔ The sentence implies a past command. "told ya" is informal for "told you". The repetition emphasizes the obedience and loss of autonomy.

• Those who died are justified for wearing the badge

  ➔ Passive voice with relative clause

  ➔ "Those who died" is a noun phrase modified by the relative clause "who died". The sentence uses the passive voice ("are justified") to emphasize that the act of justifying is done *to* the dead, implying by an external force or system.

• You justify those that died by wearing the badge

  ➔ Transitive Verb with prepositional phrase

  ➔ The transitive verb "justify" takes "those that died" as its direct object. The prepositional phrase "by wearing the badge" explains *how* the justification is done.

• Now you're under control

  ➔ State verb with prepositional phrase indicating condition.

  ➔ "Are" is a state verb, and "under control" is a prepositional phrase showing your current situation or state.

• Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me

  ➔ Complex sentence with negation and embedded clause.

  ➔ The sentence is a refusal. "I won't do" is the negative form of "I will do". "What you tell me" is a noun clause acting as the object of "do".