Andrew Jackson Jihad (now referred to as just AJJ) was an American folk/pun… Read Full Bio ↴Andrew Jackson Jihad (now referred to as just AJJ) was an American folk/punk/rock group from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2004. They have been classified as everything from indie rock to anti-folk to Americana.

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!

Bang Bang Bang
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics

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You're helpless and hopeless
You want to help out the homeless
But you've got problems
You're selfish and worthless
And you have no fucking purpose
You're a cancer causing, cancer having slob
Whoa, Who-oa, Whoa

There are morals that conflict with orals
That conflict with annals, that believe in angels
Angels are hating on you
Good is the absence of evil
And evil is the absence of good
There is an axis of evil rolling into this neighborhood
With the sound of gun shots
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa

It was then that I found I am vampire
I have fangs fucking 15 inches long
And the sanguinary sweetness of stealing someones blood
Feels so good I am compelled to sing this song
At night when I retire to my coffin, to sleep for a hundred years or more
All you people that I know will have died long ago

And your children will have died 10 years before
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Andrew Jackson Jihad's song Bang Bang Bang explore the complex nature of human morality and personal struggle. The opening lines describe the internal conflict that the singer feels as they try to reconcile their desire to help the homeless with their own selfish tendencies. The harsh language used throughout the song emphasizes the singer's feelings of worthlessness and futility in the face of larger societal issues.

The next lines suggest that there are conflicting moral beliefs that contribute to the difficulty of understanding right and wrong. The concept of angels "hating" on the singer could be interpreted as a critique of the religious notion of good vs. evil, or as a comment on broader societal divisions. The line "there is an axis of evil rolling into this neighborhood" is particularly evocative, conjuring images of impending danger and violence.

The final verse takes a surreal turn, with the singer revealing that they are a vampire with 15 inch long fangs. The disconnect between this fantastical imagery and the earlier introspective lyrics creates a sense of whimsy, but also highlights the futility of trying to escape the human condition. The final line, "your children will have died 10 years before," emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.

Line by Line Meaning

You're helpless and hopeless
You feel powerless and incapable of achieving anything.

You want to help out the homeless
You have a desire to alleviate the suffering of the homeless.

But you've got problems
However, you have issues or difficulties that make it challenging for you to help.

You're selfish and worthless
You prioritize your own needs and desires over others and feel you're of no value.

And you have no fucking purpose
You feel directionless and lack any sense of meaning or significance.

You're a cancer causing, cancer having slob
You recognize that your unhealthy habits and behaviors are harmful and potentially deadly.

There are morals that conflict with orals
There are ethical principles that clash with what people say or promise.

That conflict with annals, that believe in angels
These values oppose established cultural beliefs that embrace the concept of divine beings.

Angels are hating on you
You feel the judgment and condemnation of what you perceive as celestial beings.

Good is the absence of evil
Goodness is defined by the absence of malevolence or wickedness.

And evil is the absence of good
Evil is the lack or non-existence of goodness or virtue.

There is an axis of evil rolling into this neighborhood
A metaphorical force of evil or villainy is coming into the area.

With the sound of gun shots
The entrance of this evil is accompanied by the sound of gunfire, suggesting violence.

Bang! Bang! Bang!
Onomatopoeic representation of the sound of gunfire.

It was then that I found I am vampire
I discovered that I identify as a supernatural creature that feeds on human blood.

I have fangs fucking 15 inches long
Describing the exaggerated, fantastical characteristics of vampires in literature and pop culture.

And the sanguinary sweetness of stealing someones blood
The pleasurable sensation of drinking human blood, despite its violent and macabre nature.

Feels so good I am compelled to sing this song
The emotional high of this experience evokes a desire to express it through creative expression.

At night when I retire to my coffin, to sleep for a hundred years or more
A nod to another common vampire trope where they sleep for long periods in coffins during daylight hours.

All you people that I know will have died long ago
Acknowledging the inevitability of human mortality and how it impacts personal relationships and connections.

And your children will have died 10 years before
Underlining the tragedy and inevitability of generational loss and decay.

Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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