We Laugh at Danger
Against Me! Lyrics

It was a birthday gift
The singer received a Mexican Telecaster as a birthday present.

Of a Mexican Telecaster
The gift that the singer received was a Mexican Telecaster.

And from this day on I will play along
From the day the singer received the Mexican Telecaster, they decided to play along with their favorite records.

To all my young pioneers records
The singer decided to play along with their collection of Young Pioneers records.

And there will be a poetry spoken silently
While the singer plays along with the records, there will be a silent poetry spoken between them and the music.

Between me and the stereo
The silent poetry will exist between the singer and their stereo system.

I'll work mornings
The singer has a job to attend in the mornings.

And you can work through the night
The singer's companion can work through the night.

Mary, there is no hope for us
The singer talks about Mary and confesses that there is no hope for them, implying a relationship that did not work out.

If this GM van don't make it
The singer talks about a GM van, and says that if it does not make it across the state line, it's the end of the story.

Across the state line
The GM van has to cross the state line safely to continue the journey.

We might as well lay down and die
If the van doesn't make it across the state line, there's no other hope.

Because if Florida takes us
The singer talks about Florida and how if they don't make it past it, it's the end of the line.

We're taking everyone down with us
If they fail, they will be bringing everyone down with them.

Where we're coming from (yeah)
The singer talks about their origin.

Will be the death of us
The singer implies that their origin will eventually bring their downfall.

And I cannot help but hold on
The singer mentions how they can't stop reminiscing about old memories.

To a handful of times
Specifically, the singer is reminiscing about a few past moments.

When what was spoken
The singer talks about a time when something revolutionary was spoken.

Was a revolution in itself,
This 'something revolutionary' was a form of revolution.

And what we were doing
During this time, the singer was doing something significant.

Was the only thing that mattered
During this time, the only thing that mattered to the singer was what they were doing.

And how good it felt
The singer reflects on how good it felt doing what they were doing during that time.

To kill the memory of nights spent
The singer talks about killing the memory of past nights.

Holding your shirt for the smell
The singer references holding someone's shirt for the smell as a memory they want to forget.

I heard you used to cry
The singer mentions hearing about someone crying in a past relationship.

When you made love to him
The crying happened during intimacy with someone else.

But this band will play on
Despite all the memories and troubles, this band will continue playing.

Because all we can do
The band feels like all they can do is just keep playing.

Is what we've always done
The band is going back to their roots and doing what they always have.

And on and on and on...
The song repeats to show the endless cycle of life and the feeling of being stuck in the past.