Two questions:

1. I downloaded some .rar files on my Mac. How do I access them? Do I need to decode them? Please give me a step by step description because I'm dumb.

2. One of the files that I downloaded was a text file for some reason and when I open it is just a bunch of text stuff. Is there something else that I should do?

This is a general question and not related to any attempt to illegally download music.

You need to open the rar files with Stuffit Expander it should be pre-installed on your mac.

Type it into the Spotlight icon top right of your screen.

If it's not preloaded you can get it here free http://download.cnet.com/...53042.html

Click always open with this application when prompted

The bunch of text stuff was probably a windows download (wrong language) mac only...