In 2012, Grace publicly came out as transgender. After a long period of line-up changes and uncertainty surrounding the band's future, their sixth studio album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, was released independently in January 2014 to critical acclaim. The band's seventh album, Shape Shift with Me, was released in 2016. In addition, the band have four well known EPs: Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!, The Acoustic EP, The Disco Before the Breakdown, and New Wave B-Sides. They have released numerous singles, two live albums, and demo versions of the three of their studio albums.
Band members:
Laura Jane Grace – vocals, guitar
James Bowman – lead guitar
Andrew Seward – bass
Atom Willard – drums
Former members:
Kevin Mahon – drums (1998–2001)
Dustin Fridkin – bass (2000–2002)
Warren Oakes – drums (2001–2009)
George Rebelo – drums (2009–2010)
Jay Weinberg – drums (2010–2012)
Inge Johansson – bass (2013–2018)
Discography:
• Reinventing Axl Rose (2002)
• As the Eternal Cowboy (2003)
• Searching for a Former Clarity (2005)
• New Wave (2007)
• White Crosses (2010)
• Transgender Dysphoria Blues (2014)
• Shape Shift with Me (2016)
Boyfriend
Against Me! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to hang around the graveyard
Waiting for something dead to come back
I know you think you've got one up on me
That you can see something I can't
It's not love, it's just adornment
Bathroom wall graffiti
Fortune cookie poetry
I don't want to waste a high
Hanging around some place I never was
Of all the reasons to feel hateful
You're the best of them
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me, right through me
I don't want to hang around the graveyard
Waiting for something dead to come back
I know you think you've got one up on me
That you can see something I can't
It's not love, it's just adornment
Bathroom wall graffiti
Like clichés printed on a t-shirt
Fortune cookie poetry
I don't want to waste a high
Hanging around some place I never was
Of all the reasons to feel hateful
You're the best of them
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me, right through me
In the song "Boyfriend" by Against Me!, the opening lines express a sense of being deceived and manipulated, as the singer talks about being lied to and through. This suggests a feeling of vulnerability and being taken advantage of in a relationship. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is aware of the dishonesty but still feels trapped in a situation where they are being misled.
The repeated imagery of hanging around a graveyard waiting for something dead to come back symbolizes a sense of hopelessness and futility. The singer seems to be stuck in a stagnant and unfulfilling relationship, holding on to something that no longer has life or meaning. There is a recognition that what they are holding onto is not genuine love but rather superficial adornment, like meaningless graffiti or fortune cookie platitudes.
The chorus of the song highlights the singer's frustration with being treated like just a "boyfriend," emphasizing a lack of respect and value given to their role in the relationship. The use of profanity adds a raw and emotional intensity to the lyrics, conveying a sense of anger and disappointment. It reflects a desire for authenticity and genuine connection, rather than being reduced to a mere stereotype or placeholder in someone else's life.
Overall, "Boyfriend" captures the struggle of being in a relationship where one feels unseen, unappreciated, and ultimately deceived. The repeated plea to stop lying and the refusal to accept being treated as less than worthy of respect reveal a sense of self-awareness and a longing for honesty and truth in interactions. The song conveys a powerful message about the importance of recognizing and confronting unhealthy dynamics in relationships, and the desire for genuine connection and mutual respect.
Line by Line Meaning
Lie to me, right through me
Be dishonest with me in a way that cuts through my emotions
I don't want to hang around the graveyard / Waiting for something dead to come back
I don't want to waste time in a hopeless situation, waiting for something that will never return
I know you think you've got one up on me / That you can see something I can't
You believe that you have an advantage over me, that you can perceive something I am unaware of
It's not love, it's just adornment / Bathroom wall graffiti / Like clichés printed on a t-shirt / Fortune cookie poetry
It's not genuine love, just superficial decoration like meaningless graffiti on a bathroom wall, clichés on a t-shirt, or shallow inspirational quotes from fortune cookies
I don't want to waste a high / Hanging around some place I never was
I don't want to waste a good feeling on being in a situation where I don't belong
Of all the reasons to feel hateful / You're the best of them
Out of all the possible reasons to feel anger and resentment, you are the most significant one
Treated me like a boyfriend / Some dumb fucking boyfriend / Treated me like a boyfriend / Like just some fucking boyfriend
You treated me as if I were just a disposable boyfriend without much value or respect
Lie to me, right through me
Be dishonest with me in a way that deeply affects me
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Adam David Willard, Thomas James Gabel, James Robert Bowman, Inge Rolf Johansson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@esanfilippo1230
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
I don't want to hang around the graveyard, waiting for something dead to come back
I know you think you got one up on me, that you can see something I can't
It's not love, it's just adornment, bathroom wall graffiti
Like clichés printed on a t-shirt, fortune cookie poetry
I don't want to waste a high hanging around some place I never was
Of all the reasons to feel hateful, you're the best of them
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
I don't want to hang around the graveyard, waiting for something dead to come back
I know you think you got one up on me, that you can see something I can't
It's not love, it's just adornment, bathroom wall graffiti
Like clichés printed on a t-shirt, fortune cookie poetry
I don't want to waste a high hanging around some place I never was
Of all the reasons to feel hateful, you're the best of them
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me
Lie to me
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
@judithhavens2461
My last ex treated me like shit just because I'm a transgirl, one of the worst decisions of my life, dating her
@littlemisspipebomb4723
We've all been there. but the important thing is that you've moved on
@judithhavens2461
Arcordia yep I definitely have moved on
@sicklillette
Some people can be so close minded. Be the strong beautiful you that you are.
@larko2717
I’m sorry :(
@sillyandjoyus
i’m so sorry :(
@esanfilippo1230
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
I don't want to hang around the graveyard, waiting for something dead to come back
I know you think you got one up on me, that you can see something I can't
It's not love, it's just adornment, bathroom wall graffiti
Like clichés printed on a t-shirt, fortune cookie poetry
I don't want to waste a high hanging around some place I never was
Of all the reasons to feel hateful, you're the best of them
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
I don't want to hang around the graveyard, waiting for something dead to come back
I know you think you got one up on me, that you can see something I can't
It's not love, it's just adornment, bathroom wall graffiti
Like clichés printed on a t-shirt, fortune cookie poetry
I don't want to waste a high hanging around some place I never was
Of all the reasons to feel hateful, you're the best of them
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me
Lie to me
Treated me like a boyfriend
Some dumb fucking boyfriend
Treated me like a boyfriend
Like just some fucking boyfriend
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
Lie to me, right through me
@leonagolden7919
After reading these lyrics it describes most of the relationships with cis girls I have had.
@TrickySketch
#ThatTransFeelWhen
@mychemicalawesomeness9713
Wow, I have never heard of this band before, it came up in my reccomends and it is awesome.