Lyrics to "In a World Gone Mad"

"In a World Gone Mad" by The Beastie Boys

[CHORUS]

In a world gone mad it's hard to think right
So much violence hate and spite
Murder going on all day and night
Due time we fight the non-violent fight

Mirrors, smokescreens and lies
It's not the politicians but their actions I despise
You and Saddam should kick it like back in the day
With the cocaine and Courvoisier
But you build more bombs as you get more bold
As your mid-life crisis war unfolds
All you want to do is take control
Now put that axis of evil bullshit on hold
Citizen rule number 2080
Politicians are shady
So people watch your back 'cause I think they smoke crack
I don't doubt it look at how they act

[CHORUS]
In a world gone mad it's hard to think right
So much violence hate and spite
Murder going on all day and night
Due time we fight the non-violent fight

First the 'War On Terror' now war on Iraq
We're reaching a point where we can't turn back
Let's lose the guns and let's lose the bombs
And stop the corporate contributions that their built upon
Well I'll be sleeping on your speeches 'til I start to snore
'Cause I won't carry guns for an oil war
As-Salamu alaikum, wa alaikum assalam
Peace to the Middle East peace to Islam
Now don't get us wrong 'cause we love America
But that's no reason to get hysterica
They're layin' on the syrup thick
We ain't waffles we ain't havin' it

[CHORUS]
In a world gone mad it's hard to think right
So much violence hate and spite
Murder going on all day and night
Due time we fight the non-violent fight
Now how many people must get killed?
For oil families pockets to get filled?
How many oil families get killed?
Not a damn one so what's the deal?

It's time to lead the way and de-escalate
Lose the weapons of mass destruction and the hate
Say ooh ah what's the White House doin'?
Oh no! Say, what they got brewing?!
Well I'm not pro Bush and I'm not pro Saddam
We need these fools to remain calm
George Bush you're looking like Zoo Lander
Trying to play tough for the camera
What am I on crazy pills? We've got to stop it
Get your hand out my grandma's pocket
We need health care more than going to war
You think it's democracy they're fighting for?

[CHORUS]
In a world gone mad it's hard to think right
So much violence hate and spite
Murder going on all day and night
Due time we fight the non-violent fight

"In a World Gone Mad" by The Beasie Boys

Final Song Analysis:

The Beastie Boys are a punk-turned-hip/hop band who got their start in the early 1980s. Although being mainly of the alternative hip-hop genre, they were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 due their major success.


The song “In a World Gone Made” was released by the Beastie Boys in 2003 as a free download on their website. The song is socially relevant to the time period of 9/11 and the Iraq War, and is entirely a protest of America’s involvement in the war. Not only is the song a great example of an anti-war protest, but it is also full of poetic devices. The song starts off with the title line stating “in a world gone mad” which is an example of personification. Also in the chorus, there is a paradox in the words “non-violent fight”. In the first verse there is a few allusions and alliteration. The line “You and Saddam should kick it like back in the day” is an allusion to how before 9/11, George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein had gotten along and the U.S. had even helped Iraq out by providing them with weapons in the Iraq/Iran War. The line “cocaine and Courvoisier” is both alliteration and an allusion to both the heavy drug growing and trade in Iraq, and to a brand of alcohol that is somewhat of a symbol in the hip-hop community made famous by stars like P. Diddy. Another allusion, “axis of evil”, references the speech George W. Bush made after 9/11 in which he referred to the countries of Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan as such. More alliteration is found in this verse in the line, “build more bombs as you get more bold”.

The second verse of the song also contributes many allusions and alliteration. Some of this alliteration includes, “corporate contributions”, “sleeping on your speeches”, and “alaikum assalam”. Another allusion is of the “oil war”, which relates to the feelings of many Americans at this particular time that America was really only in Iraq because of the oil they had there, and not because the country’s security was at stake. The Beastie Boys also throw a little humor and symbolism into their song with the line “They’re layin’ on the syrup thick/We ain’t waffles we ain’t havin’ it”. The “syrup” symbolizes all of the propaganda promoted by the government that surrounded the Iraq War. In addition, in the song’s bridge there is irony within the lines, “Now how many people must get killed? For oil families pockets to get filled? How many oil Families get killed? Not a damn one so what’s the deal?”. This is ironic because the Beastie Boys are poking fun at how the only people dying in Iraq are the soldiers and civilians who have nothing to do with the oil trade, which the Beastie Boys believe is fueling (no pun intended) the war in Iraq.

In the third and last verse, the Beastie Boys continue on with the allusions, saying that “George Bush you’re looking like Zoo Lander”, which is a reference to a Ben Stiller movie in which his character is sometimes made about to be a foolish model who is brainwashed to do bad things. The line “get your hand out my grandma’s pocket” is figurative language and also symbolism, for it represents the government’s excessive taxing of senior citizens to help pay for the war. Also in the last verse the line “we need health care more than going to war” is an understatement, because it is common sense that our government’s money should be spent on more important things than funding an unpopular war. The last line of the song, “You think it’s democracy they’re fighting for?” is ironic because of America’s representation as a model democratic society that only fights to convert other countries into democracies. Yet the Beastie Boys believe that America is not in Iraq and the Middle East to fight for freedom. The universal relevance of this song catapulted its popularity when it was released, mainly because it speaks out against the government, whom many Americans were beginning to lose faith in during that time.