Cover art for Settle for Nothing by Rage Against the Machine
Nov. 3, 19921 viewer93K views

Settle for Nothing Lyrics

[Verse]
A jail cell is freedom from the pain in my home
Hatred passed on, passed on, and passed on
A world of violent rage but it's one that I can recognize
Having never seen the color of my father's eyes
Yes, I dwell in hell, but it's a hell that I can grip
I tried to grip my family but I slipped

To escape from the pain in an existence mundane
I got a nine, a sign, a set, and now I got a name

[Chorus]
Read my writing on the wall
No one's here to catch me when I fall
Death is on my side
Suicide

[Verse]
A jail cell is freedom from the pain in my home
Hatred passed on, passed on, and passed on
A world of violent rage but it's one that I can recognize
Having never seen the color of my father's eyes
Yes, I dwell in hell, but it's a hell that I can grip
I tried to grip my family but I slipped

To escape from the pain in an existence mundane
I got a nine, a sign, a set, and now I got a name

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About

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Genius Annotation

“Settle for Nothing” is a song by American metal band Rage Against The Machine. It’s the fourth song from their 1992 eponymous debut album. A heavy and aggressive song, possibly the heaviest track on the album. This song was written in the first person from the point of view of a frustrated youth in the slums.

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