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)
Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious…
Against Me! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're all congressmen,
We're all cops
In waiting.
We're the workers of the world.
There is the elite and the dispossessed
And it's only about survival,
For all it's worth,
Reaching out for a scary kind of perfection.
Let's try to keep
As much emotion out of this
As possible.
Let's try not to remember any names.
We'll do it for our country,
For our people,
For a moral vision.
United, we'll make them remember
Our history,
Or how we like to be told
How we like to be told,
And we rock,
Because it's us against them.
We found our own reasons to sing,
And it's so much less confusing
When lines are drawn like that,
When people are either consumers or revolutionaries,
Enemies or friends hanging on the fringes
Of the cogs in the system.
It's just about knowing where everyone stands.
All of a sudden,
People start talking about guns,
Talking like they're going to war
'Cause they found something to die for.
Start taking back what they stole;
Sure beats every other option,
But does it make a difference how we get it?
Well, do you really fucking get it?
The lyrics of Against Me!'s song "Those Anarcho Punx Are Mysterious" speak to the idea of power dynamics and societal structures. The lyrics begin with the assertion that "we're all presidents, we're all congressmen, we're all cops in waiting." This suggests that everyone has the potential to hold positions of power and control, and that those positions are somewhat interchangeable or ambiguous.
The song goes on to explore the division between the "elite" and the "dispossessed," with the implication that life is a game and it's about survival of the fittest. The lyrics state, "who has skill to play the game for all it's worth, reaching out for a scary kind of perfection." This suggests that those who are successful in life do so because they are skilled at playing the game of power and control.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of "us against them," with the implication that people are either consumers or revolutionaries. The idea is that there is a clear line of demarcation between those who are part of the cogs in the system and those who are actively working against it. The lyrics suggest that people are willing to go to extreme measures, even resorting to violence and war, in order to take back what they feel has been stolen from them.
Line by Line Meaning
We're all presidents,
We are all leaders in our own way.
We're all congressmen,
We all have the power to make decisions.
We're all cops In waiting.
We are all waiting to seize control and enforce our own rules.
We're the workers of the world.
We are the ones who get the job done.
There is the elite and the dispossessed
There are those in power and those who are not.
And it's only about survival,
It's all about fighting to survive.
Who has skill to play the game
Who can play the game of life better.
For all it's worth,
With all the effort we put in.
Reaching out for a scary kind of perfection.
We strive for perfection, but it can be a scary thing.
Let's try to keep As much emotion out of this
Let's not let our emotions cloud our judgement.
As possible.
Let's try not to remember any names.
Let's not personalize things.
We'll do it for our country,
We will do what is best for the collective good.
For our people,
For the benefit of our fellow citizens.
For a moral vision.
To uphold a moral ideal.
United, we'll make them remember
Together, we will make sure we are not forgotten.
Our history,
Our past and the events that have led us here.
Or how we like to be told
How we want others to see our history.
How we like to be told,
How our story is told.
And we rock,
And we are a force to be reckoned with.
Because it's us against them.
Because it's a battle between us and the powers that be.
We found our own reasons to sing,
We have created our own motivation to move forward.
And it's so much less confusing
It is easier when people align themselves in one group or another.
When lines are drawn like that,
When people pick a side.
When people are either consumers or revolutionaries,
When people are classified in one of two categories.
Enemies or friends hanging on the fringes
People you either fight against or someone that you associate with even though you don't fully support them.
Of the cogs in the system.
Of the larger system at play.
It's just about knowing where everyone stands.
It's all about who is on which side.
All of a sudden,
Out of nowhere.
People start talking about guns,
People are talking about arming themselves.
Talking like they're going to war
Talking as if they are battle-ready.
'Cause they found something to die for.
Because they are fighting for a cause and are ready to die for it.
Start taking back what they stole;
Start reclaiming what was taken from them.
Sure beats every other option,
It is the best option available.
But does it make a difference how we get it?
Does it matter how we reclaim what is ours?
Well, do you really fucking get it?
Do you understand the gravity of this situation?
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marlon Tayag
We're all presidents, we're all congressmen
We're all cops in waiting
We're the workers of the world
There is the elite and the dispossessed
And it's only about survival
Who has the skill to play the game for all it's worth
And reach an obscure kind of perfection
Let's try and keep as much emotion out of this as possible
Let's try not to remember any names
We'll do it for a country, for a people, for a moral vision
United, we'll make them remember our history
Or how we'd like to be told
How we'd like to be told...
And we rock
Because it's us against them
We found our own reasons to sing
And it's so much less confusing
When lines are drawn like that
When people are either consumers or revolutionaries
Enemies or friends hanging on the fringes
Of the cogs in the system
It's just about knowing where everyone stands
All of a sudden
People start talking 'bout guns
Talking like they're going to war
Cause they found something to die for
Start taking back what they stole-
Sure beats every other option
But does it make a difference how we get it?
Well do you really fucking get it?
No, no, no, no
No, no, no, no....
blahbidityblahblah
I don't care what their new music is like, this song still gives me chills every time I listen to it... Great music
Cody Fox
"And we rock, Because it's us against them. We found our own reasons to sing, And it's so much less confusing when lines are drawn like that," -best part of any song ever
blahhayden
I'm going to thumb you up man. You're what this song is about. People should hear this song, feel its inspiration, and scroll down to see your story! I abandoned anarchy, and to be honest I was a complete poser (mohawk, studs, the whole thing). It's men like you that give Anarchy a real chance at being practically applied.
Matt Brand
Revisiting for first time since teenage years over a decade ago. Not often that a band from teenage years holds up and ages well both sonically and lyrically, but Against Me!'s a stark exception.
Much love and gratitude to Laura Jane and the band.
Charlesrh89
Anarchy: where there is love there is no need for law - Plato, the best definition ive found for the ideal i hold within
Rowly Jordan
I sure am going to miss Laura's voice, as she'll surely try to sound more feminine once she begins transitions, but if it's what makes her happy, then more power to her.
louisthedonothing
Boy, you sure were wrong
e a
Wow the drummer is really good. Those triplet kind of fills are actually really rare, and they fit the song so well. And like a true pro, he rly makes it look like nothing, to boot. Nothing extravagant, just like effortless. Anyway, love this version.
thehootz
I didn't start really start listening to these guys until New Wave. The only reason I'm grateful for that album is because it led me to the ones before it. I'd trade any concert I've been to just see these guys back in the day. I think it would've been something.
edward lubin
Revisiting voices is always a worthwhile endeavor.