Andrew Jackson Jihad was formed after its original drummer, Justin James White, approached Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty, who had just left Rodan (not the Rodan of Kentucky fame) and The Sub-Standards. Since then, many significant Arizona musicians have sat in with the remaining duo of Sean and Ben, including John De La Cruz of Fatigo and Asleep In The Sea's Owen Evans. Dylan Cook also plays mandolin regularly with the band.
According to Songfacts, Bonnette, who is also the lyricist of the band (with upright bass player Ben Gallant handling most of the production and some vocals as well) volunteered at a suicide prevention hotline for teenagers for eight years, and worked with homeless men and women in the Phoenix, Arizona area. These experiences gave him a sometimes bleak, but at moments, hopeful outlook on life, often reflected in the band's lyrics.
On Halloween 2005, Andrew Jackson Jihad covered Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea album in its entirety at CounterCulture Cafe.
Their biggest performance to date has been in their hometown with Flogging Molly and Authority Zero on St. Patrick's Day 2006.
On April 15, 2006, the band played as part of the 2006 New Times Music Showcase, nominated for Best Americana Band, and won a 2006 Best of Phoenix later that year.
Besides their local shows, where they have become arguably the most prominent representative in Arizona of the DIY ethic, they have also toured in clubs and basements across the Western United States, appearing at such venues as the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, CA. One show in Kimberly, Idaho saw the band in a cowboy bar and leaving the premises as soon as possible after the show.
Andrew Jackson Jihad also performed at St. Augustine, Florida's second annual Harvest of Hope Festival in 2010. They played a dual set with Bomb the Music Industry!
American Tune
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one clutches their purses when they're in a room alone with me
And I can drive through any neighborhood I please
At any hour, and the police don't do a thing
So if I see a penny on the ground
I leave it alone or fucking flip it
I'm a straight white male in America
I'm a guy getting paid more than a girl with a degree
And I can walk down the streets after dark, no one wants to rape me
And I can get a girl pregnant, and just as easily flee
Just like my straight white male dad did to me
So if I see a penny on the ground
I leave it alone or fucking flip it
I'm a straight white male in America
I've got all the luck I need
I've got a pile of broken mirrors and I'm walking under ladders
And I'm spilling tons of salt because to me that doesn't matter
Because my skin and my gender and my orientation
Are the best things to have when you live in this nation
I recommend it highly
So if I see a penny on the ground
I leave it alone or fucking flip it
I'm a straight white male in America
I've got all the luck I need
Shit's gonna work out for me
I'm a straight white male in America
I got all the luck I need
The lyrics to Andrew Jackson Jihad's "American Tune" critique the societal privileges afforded to white, heterosexual men in America. The singer acknowledges their own privilege as a straight white male, having never experienced discrimination or fear due to their appearance or actions. They reflect on the fact that they can move through the world without ever being second-guessed or scrutinized, something which many people of color or women can’t do. The singer specifically mentions how they can enter any neighborhood, at any time, without being questioned or harassed by the police. They also allude to the gender pay gap and their ability to impregnate a woman but not bear any of the consequences, as their father did to them. The final lines suggest that the singer is aware of their privileged status and ultimately does not care if they step on a crack or break a mirror, as they are convinced things will work out in their favor.
Overall, the song addresses the societal advantages that come with being a straight, white man living in America. It represents a challenge to those in dominant groups to recognize and take responsibility for their privilege, and to use that privilege to dismantle oppressive systems, rather than perpetuating them.
Line by Line Meaning
I am white, and I've got everything I need
As a white person, I am privileged enough to have everything I need without facing any obstacles.
No one clutches their purses when they're in a room alone with me
I don't have to face any racial profiling, unlike people of color, who are often unfairly judged and discriminated against.
And I can drive through any neighborhood I please
At any hour, and the police don't do a thing
I don't have to worry about getting pulled over or harassed by the police, unlike people of color, who are often victims of police brutality and racial profiling.
So if I see a penny on the ground
I leave it alone or fucking flip it
I'm a straight white male in America
I've got all the luck I need
I have an easy life compared to others, so something as small as finding a penny on the ground doesn't have any significance for me.
I'm a guy getting paid more than a girl with a degree
And I can walk down the streets after dark, no one wants to rape me
And I can get a girl pregnant, and just as easily flee
Just like my straight white male dad did to me
I have the privilege of being a man and can avoid facing certain consequences that women often have to endure, such as being paid less, facing the threat of sexual assault, and taking responsibility towards my child.
I've got a pile of broken mirrors and I'm walking under ladders
And I'm spilling tons of salt because to me that doesn't matter
Because my skin and my gender and my orientation
Are the best things to have when you live in this nation
I recommend it highly
Despite being a superstitious person and constantly tempting fate, I know that my privileged identity as a white, straight male will always trump any bad luck that may come about.
Shit's gonna work out for me
I'm a straight white male in America
I got all the luck I need
I am confident that my privileged identity will secure my success in life, despite any hardships or obstacles that may come about.
Contributed by Levi T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pokemanic33
That fucking kazoo
MDBurck
So, I know a lot of you are arguing over the whole issue of privilege, but can we at least agree that the kazoo in this song is pretty great?
ali hassan
@Ethan Simmonds From Ethan SimmondsPosting wdym
Ethan Simmonds From Ethan SimmondsPosting
Dam this comment hasn’t aged well
A cool cat
@JimJamCereal were talking about the kazoo shush
JimJamCereal
it sucks, I can agree with this whole song but at the same time I'm a white male and most of this doesn't fit me orz
Erik H
Can confirm Kazoo is great
Cracked Statues
"Though it’s hard to decide whether or not humans are good or evil, it is easy to point out that there’s lots of injustice, particularly directed at certain people in the United States and not at others. As long as we do our best to end that injustice while still allowing ourselves to be happy people, then it’s time well spent." - Sean Bonnette
Fickle Epicure
all the people who disliked this are the people who need to hear it the most
LinusDickTips
I'm a gay man who doen't live in American and I think this song is cringe af lol