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!
Best Friend
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sparkle won’t shine if we don’t feed it light
Falls deep in reality
I spend all my time getting strung out on life
It’s not our world anymore
It’s not our world anymore
He’s walking up the stairs with you
What is the wind saying?
Does it tell who isn’t there?
Do the spirits haunt us
By blowing through our hair?
It’s not our world anymore
It’s not our world anymore
Your dead best friend is walking up the stairs
He’s walking up the stairs with you
It’s not our world
And it never was
And that’s not our problem
That’s not our problem anymore
In "Best Friend" by Andrew Jackson Jihad, the singer reflects on his current state of mind, expressing his feelings of vulnerability and despair. The opening lines, "Everything makes me bleed, the sparkle won’t shine if we don’t feed it light", suggests that the singer is struggling to find meaning in life and that he feels everything is pointless. He then continues with "falls deep in reality, I spend all my time getting strung out on life", which implies that life is not living up to his expectations, and he is struggling to cope with the harsh realities of existence.
The mood of the song takes a darker turn when the singer ponders deeper philosophical questions, asking, "what is the wind saying, does it tell who isn't there, do the spirits haunt us by blowing through our hair?" The lyrics suggest the singer is feeling haunted by the past and is searching for answers to the ultimate questions about life and death. The chorus, "it’s not our world anymore," is repeated throughout the song, suggesting that the singer feels disconnected from society and the world around him. The closing lines, "and that’s not our problem anymore," seem to convey a sense of hopelessness, as if the singer has given up on trying to make sense of life and is resigning himself to his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything makes me bleed
Every little thing affects me deeply and causes me pain
The sparkle won’t shine if we don’t feed it light
Nothing good will happen if we don't put effort into it
Falls deep in reality
I am very aware of the harsh realities of life
I spend all my time getting strung out on life
I am constantly trying to find meaning and purpose in life
It’s not our world anymore
The world we used to know has changed, and we don't have control over it anymore
Your dead best friend is walking up the stairs
Your memory of your deceased friend is still with you and affecting your life
What is the wind saying?
I wonder if nature is trying to tell us something
Does it tell who isn’t there?
Perhaps the absence of a loved one is felt through the winds of change
Do the spirits haunt us
Maybe the memories of those who have passed on still linger and affect us
By blowing through our hair?
Do we feel the presence of the dead through the physical sensations around us?
It’s not our world
We are not in control of the world around us
And it never was
We never truly had complete control over the world
And that’s not our problem
This lack of control isn't a burden we have to bear
That’s not our problem anymore
We can let go of trying to control everything and just live our lives
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DinoTheAynlsmasher
Every thing makes me bleed
The sparkle won't shine if you don't feed it light bulbs
Deep in reality
I spend my all my time getting strung out on life
Its not our world any more,
Its not our world any more
Your dead best friend is walking up the stairs, he is walking up the stairs with you
What is the wind saying
Does it tell who isn't there?
Do the spirits haunt us
By blowing through our hair
Its not our world any more,
Its not our world any more
Your dead best friend is walking up the stairs
Hes walking up the stairs with you.
It's not our world, and it never was,
and that's not our problem
that's not our problem anymore
DinoTheAynlsmasher
Every thing makes me bleed
The sparkle won't shine if you don't feed it light bulbs
Deep in reality
I spend my all my time getting strung out on life
Its not our world any more,
Its not our world any more
Your dead best friend is walking up the stairs, he is walking up the stairs with you
What is the wind saying
Does it tell who isn't there?
Do the spirits haunt us
By blowing through our hair
Its not our world any more,
Its not our world any more
Your dead best friend is walking up the stairs
Hes walking up the stairs with you.
It's not our world, and it never was,
and that's not our problem
that's not our problem anymore
Joshua Mohr
+DinoTheAynlsmasher The sparkle won't shine if you don't feed it light bulbs
Deep in reality
Should be The sparkle won't shine if you don't feed it light,
Balls Deep in reality
DinoTheAynlsmasher
@***** Hey dingus, I copied this from google.
June The Dog
One of the best songs on a fantastic album, I fucking love it.
E Carlos
This song is weird and different which is why it's a great song!
James Cox
This is the best song on the album imo. It's pure genius.
Stultus
This song gets me emotional everytime, I love it
earthtomikeg
Beautiful vocal harmonies on this track
misti-step
fav line is "do the spirits haunt us by blowing thru our hair"
Maddy
I love this sooo much