I was talking to Ben Smith, one of my top students about The Nightwatchman, when he stated that his sound, intellect, and words would appeal to me. Ben was right; I just bought The Nightwatchman and quickly found myself engaged in his message. The Nightwatchman, also known as Tom Morello, is a Harvard graduate and a student of politics and history. He is also a former band member of one of my favorite hard rock bands: Rage Against the Machine. Read the words to “One Man Revolution” as you formulate your own conclusions:
On the streets of New York
The cabs don’t stop
On the street where I live
They called the cops
Found a noose in my garage
Now how ’bout that
So tonight I’m in the bushes
With a baseball bat
Cause I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
The time is nigh
The day is dark
There’s only one solution
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
On the streets of Havana
I got hugged and kissed
At the Playboy Mansion
I wasn’t on the list
On the streets of Cape Town
*&%$ ready to blow
I don’t know how to get there
But I’m ready to go
Cause I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
The time is nigh
The day is dark
There’s only one solution
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
Sacrifice and neon lights
Slaveships don’t wait
Love many, trust few
And don’t be late
In my nightmares
The streets are aflame
And in my dreams
It’s much the same
And on the streets of L.A.
They know my name
And if you’ve come this far mister
Maybe we’re one and the same
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
The time is nigh
The day is dark
There’s only one solution
I’m a one man
I’m a one man
I’m a one man revolution
His Bio:
The Nightwatchman is the alter ego of Tom Morello, guitarist with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. While Morello is best known for his bracing mix of hard rock fury with hip-hop accents, as the Nightwatchman he performs as a solo acoustic singer and songwriter, playing self-penned songs that reflect his leftist political beliefs. Born in New York City in 1964 and raised in Libertyville, IL, by his mother (a longtime political activist), Morello taught himself to play guitar while he was a student at Harvard University, where he received a degree in political science. After graduating, Morello moved to Los Angeles and joined a hard rock band called Lock Up, which scored a deal with Geffen Records; however, Lock Up‘s sole album, released in 1989, sank without a trace and they soon broke up.
Morello had much better luck with his next project — Rage Against the Machine, which fused hip-hop rhythms and fractured heavy…
LA Riots. police profiling of blacks,he talks a lot about this stuff i a way that all can hear. I live the blue grasss aspect of music.
I was sad when Rage broke up. Tom Morello is an extremely talented artist. This is good stuff.
…and his CD is great.
I havnt heard this album but i do know that Morello is a great guitar player. i really enjoyed his audioslave work and rage agaist the machince. I think that he could make it on his own based upon his talent. But the best musician that came out of audioslave was chris cornell. I think that him and Morello are probeby two of the best musician of today. its a shame that audioslave broke up, they were a pretty good band.