Killing In The Name | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: D5 :|| x4
||: bass riff D (Eb swell) :|| x4
||: Riff 1 :|| x8
||: D Eb :|| x4
| N.C |
Killing in the name of.
||: Big Verse riff (D blues scale, 9th + maj 3r) :|| x4
Verse 1
||: Muted Verse riff :||
||: Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses :|| x3
Some of those that work forces, you are the same that burn crosses.
Pre-chorus A 1
||: Pre chorus A :||
Ugh! Killing in the name of, killing in the name of.
Pre-chorus B 1
||: Pre chorus B :||
||: Now you do what they told ya :|| x4
||: And now you do what they told ya :|| x4
||: But now you do what they told ya :|| x4
Chorus 1
||: Chorus Riff :||
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
You justify those that died, by wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
You justify those who died, for wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
Verse 2
||: Muted Verse riff :|| Muted riff variation |
||: Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses :|| x3
Some of those that work forces, you are the same that burn crosses.
Pre-chorus A 2
||: Pre chorus A :||
Ugh! Killing in the name of, killing in the name of.
Pre-chorus B 2
||: Pre chorus B :||
||: Now you do what they told ya :|| x4
And now you do what they told ya (Now you’re under control).
Now you do what they told ya (Now you’re under control).
||: And now you do what they told ya (Now you’re under control) :|| x6
Chorus 2
||: Chorus Riff :||
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
You justify those that died, by wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
You justify those who died, for wearing the badge, they’re your chosen whites.
Solo
||: Chorus Riff :||
Solo D minor blues scale
(Come on! Ugh! Yea! Come On! Ugh!)
Outro Chorus
||: Noise! :||
||: Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me :|| x8
||: Chorus Riff :||
||: Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me :|| x8
End
||: Outro Dm riff :||
Motherfucker, Ugh!
Killing In The Name Chords: Learn the progressions
Since the song doesn’t have chords, we can’t really analyse a chord progression. Instead, let’s look at the intervals each riff uses.
All riffs are best understood as using a D minor pentatonic framework with added notes. By studying these added notes, we can understand the harmonic landscape of Killing In The Name.
Intro
This is just a D5, played with drop D tuning. You can strum all the way from string 6, including string 5 (A is the 5th of D).
After four bars of this, pause, let the bass take over, and then play an Eb using the volume knob to swell.
Riff 1
This riff is in Dorian. The intervals used are:
- 6th and b7, followed by 9th and m3rd.
- No other scale contains this exact set of notes.
At the end of the section, bend from m3rd to major 3rd.
Big Verse Riff + Muted Verse Riff
Best thought of as D minor pentatonic with added major 3rd and 9th.
Muted Verse Variation
The quick run at the end follows the Conspirian scale (minor pentatonic + b5 and b7).
Pre-Chorus A
This section is D minor pentatonic with a chromatic descending line:
- 6 – b6 – 5th
- Finishes on a C5.
Pre-Chorus B
- Octave D, followed by another D with scratches.
- Then, shift up another octave.
Chorus
No extra notes—just D minor pentatonic.
Solo
- The underlying riff is the chorus.
- The solo notes are mainly D minor pentatonic, with 9th and b5 added towards the end.
Outro
During the outro, we move away from D5 power chords and D minor pentatonic riffs and instead play a full Dm chord in an Am shape.
Here’s a chord chart.
Killing in the Name Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Download my chord chart as a guide when you practise Killing In The Name‘s riffs, it’ll keep you on track. If you don’t like my layout, use the iReal Pro file to change it:
Killing In The Name – A Protest Song Against the L.A.P.D. and Simon Cowell
Killing In The Name was Rage Against The Machine’s first single and has since become the band’s signature song.
Tom Morello came up with the riff—played in drop D—during a guitar lesson. The next day, at band practice, the band finished the song together.
Lyrically, Killing In The Name is a protest song against the L.A.P.D., claiming that some members of the police force are affiliated with the KKK.
Released in 1992, it was the first single from their debut album. However, the song didn’t reach #1 in the U.K. until 18 years later—not as a protest against the L.A.P.D., but against Simon Cowell’s X-Factor single.
In an organised campaign, people downloaded the track in 2009 to stop that year’s X-Factor winner’s single from claiming the Christmas #1 spot.
The video guitar lesson demonstrates the different riffs of Killing In The Name. Below, you’ll find the lyrics with the various riffs outlined—since the song doesn’t have chords in the traditional sense, simply copy what Rory plays in the video above.
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