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)
White People for Peace
Against Me! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So their generals gave call, gathered troops at the border
With guns at ready, drawn and aimed
Each side was praying to a God to bless them with strength and courage
It was in His name artillery lit the sky on fire
The people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs in response to military aggression
But the battle raged on
Sirens filled the air, and the ground shook with war
Civilian casualties had been a cost that was predetermined
When interviewed for report, victims pleaded in frustration
Their claim: that this was a war without reason
And bureaucrats engaged in debate to try and reach a resolution
The people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs in response to military aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs in response to military aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on
While the broadcast, like their prayers, went unanswered and ignored
God, like the rest of the world, just watched in silence
There was purpose to be served, there were fortunes to be earned
Before a peace could be called to stop the fighting, they sang...
Protest songs in response to military aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs in response to military aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs in response to military aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs in response to military aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on
"White People for Peace" is a song by Against Me! that comments on war, aggression, and the failure of peaceful resolution. The first verse describes a conflict between two factions, East and West. Despite attempts at diplomatic solutions, the generals on both sides call for border troops, with guns at the ready, aimed towards each other. The situation is so dire that the people sing protest songs, hoping to halt the impending violence. However, the prayers offered in the name of God are answered with gunfire as artillery lit up the sky.
The second verse describes the aftermath of the attacks. Sirens wail as the war rages on, with civilian casualties considered collateral damage. Victims are interviewed and plead in frustration, insisting that there is no reason for this war. Meanwhile, bureaucrats debate potential solutions to bring about peaceful resolution, but the conflict continues. The song's chorus repeats the idea of protest songs as an attempt to stop the soldiers' guns.
In the final lines of the song, no solution has been reached, and God seems to remain indifferent to the violent conflict. The war serves some larger purpose, either financial or political, and no peaceful resolution has been reached. The song ends with the people singing protest songs, even as the battle rages on, suggesting that they will continue to use their voices to speak truth to power.
Line by Line Meaning
East and West could not agree
Two sides could not come to an agreement
So their generals gave call, gathered troops at the border
Generals ordered troops to gather at the border
With guns at ready, drawn and aimed
Soldiers had their guns ready and aimed
Each side was praying to a God to bless them with strength and courage
Both sides were praying to God for strength and courage
It was in His name artillery lit the sky on fire
Artillery was fired in the name of God
The people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
People tried to stop the soldiers' guns with protest songs
Sirens filled the air, and the ground shook with war
Sirens blared, and the ground shook with the chaos of war
Civilian casualties had been a cost that was predetermined
Civilian casualties were expected and accepted as a cost of war
When interviewed for report, victims pleaded in frustration
Victims expressed frustration in interviews
Their claim: that this was a war without reason
They claimed that the war had no valid reason
And bureaucrats engaged in debate to try and reach a resolution
Bureaucrats debated to reach a solution
While the broadcast, like their prayers, went unanswered and ignored
Their prayers and broadcast went unanswered and ignored
God, like the rest of the world, just watched in silence
God was silent and so was the world
There was purpose to be served, there were fortunes to be earned
People had motives unrelated to peace
Before a peace could be called to stop the fighting, they sang...
People sang to try and stop the fighting
But the battle raged on
The war continued
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: THOMAS JAMES GABEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JayRizzo
White People for Peace Lyrics
[Verse 1]
East and West
Could not agree
So the Generals gave call
Gathered troops at the border
With guns at ready
Drawn and aimed
Each side was praying to a God
To bless them with strength and courage
[Pre-Chorus]
And it was in His name
Artillery lit the sky on fire
The people sang protest songs
Try and stop the soldier's gun
[Chorus]
Protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try to stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on
[Verse 2]
Sirens filled the air
And the ground shook with war
Civilian casualties had been a cost
That was predetermined
When interviewed for report
Victims plead in frustration
Their claim — That this is a war without reason
[Pre-Chorus]
And bureaucrats engaged in debate
To try to reach a resolution
The people sang protest songs
Try and stop the soldier's gun
[Chorus]
Protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try to stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try to stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on
[Bridge]
All the protests, like their prayers
Went unanswered and ignored
God, like the rest of the world, just watched in silence
There was purpose to be served
There was fortunes to be earned
Before a peace could be called to stop the fighting
[Chorus]
They sang protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try and stop the soldier's gun
[Outro]
Protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest songs
In response to military aggression
Protest songs
Try to stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on
Joseph M.
"White People For Peace"
East and West could not agree
So their generals gave a call and gathered troops at the border
With guns ready, drawn and aimed
each side was praying to a God
to bless them with strength and courage
it was in His name that artillery lit the sky on fire
the people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on......
Sirens filled the air and the ground shook with war
Civilian casualties has been a cost that was predetermined
when interviewed for report victims pleaded in frustration
Their claim: That this was a war without reason
Bureaucrats engaged in debate to try and reach a resolution
the people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on......
The Broadcast like their prayers went unanswered and ignored
god, like the rest of the world, just watched in silence
There was purpose to be served, there were fortunes to be earned
before a peace could be called to stop the fighting
Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on......
qwertydino1
is seems a lot of people are confused over the meaning of this song/video, from what i see, the two teams fighting represent two different countries fighting while the cheerleaders represent sensationalism to gain support for the war. the guy in pink represents the person gaining all the benefits from the war while not giving a shit about the people fighting it, and the crusty with the guitar represents non violent protest (songs) that really does nothing to stop whats happening.
Mr. Beat n Skeet
@John Dave Nah he's pretty clearly meant in an honestly pretty on-the-nose way to represent the anemic nature of people who seek change through something like protest songs. And given Against Me! is itself a politically active band, likely a projection of the frustration you effectively cannot stop it.
Steny138
As others I would love to see this video remade in the context of today, only to show that it's still here . I'm to lazy to read the rest of the comments but I don't see how anybody could see it any other way. Maybe the man in pink is the government ant not privet industry?
Ck Smif
So relevant now
John Dave
Ol crusty with the guitar (IMO) represents the addive "see no evil, hear no evil" which for me is the perfect metaphore for the ignorance of the population, completely unaware that weapon manufacturer's and certain politicians make money from wars.
Merely Mayhem
I love this song, I just wish the lyrics would stop being relevant...
cei kkd
And it rages on still.
JayRizzo
And the battle rages on...
gregory lee
the battle rages on...
petMonster28
That coordinated wailing on the chorus is f**king amazing. I can listen to that for hours.