"Down Rodeo" is a promotional single by American rock band Rage Against the Machine which was initially sent out to various American radio stations. The song was intended as the third single from their Evil Empire album, although a domestic single was never released.

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"Down Rodeo"
Promotional single by Rage Against the Machine
from the album Evil Empire
Released	November 16, 1996
Genre	Rap metal, funk metal
Length	5:20
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Zack de la Rocha Tom Morello Tim Commerford Brad Wilk
Producer(s)	Brendan O'Brien, Rage Against the Machine

The song addresses social inequality between the rich and poor of America, and the simmering class warfare that existed in the band's home city of Los Angeles following the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. The lyrics of the opening verse, where the song gets its title, leave unclear why the narrator is driving with a shotgun through the upscale shopping district of Rodeo Drive. Although the shotgun motif suggests violence, band lyricist Zach De La Rocha stated in 2011 that the band "never advocated violence.". Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Shotguns are often seen as self defense weapons, and "Down Rodeo" was written just three years after six days of riots were sparked by police violence against minorities in the city. The full lyric must be put into context of the time period and the beating of Rodney King to be understood: "So now I'm rollin' down Rodeo with a shotgun, These people ain't seen a brown skin man, Since their grandparents bought one".

See also

• Political views and activism of Rage Against the Machine

Track listing

1. "Down Rodeo"

External links

• Official Website
• Down Rodeo at AllMusic

На других языках

[es] Down Rodeo