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!
Forest Fire
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishing you were sleeping, you don't want to leave the house.
Dripping from your dreaming of a habit you renounced.
Get out of bed, please go away, get out, get out, get out.
You see a liar in the mirror he's sneering in that way.
That makes you feel unsafe, insane and you hate to see his face.
You punch the mirror to shut him up but he won't go away.
Is it getting better?
It's really getting worse.
I'll give a thousand apologies for a thousand hurts.
The forest is on fire but we're gonna let it burn.
We're controlling it.
We've got it handled.
Thanks for your concern
The song Forest Fire by Andrew Jackson Jihad presents a vivid portrayal of the experience of waking up to face the challenges of life with a sense of despair and disillusionment. The lyrics narrate the struggle of a person who is trying to overcome an addiction, but keeps relapsing into old habits. The opening lines of the song describe the struggle to wake up and face the day, with the taste of failure and disappointment still lingering in the mouth. The singer wants to avoid leaving the safety of the house, dreading the prospect of facing temptation and slipping back into addiction.
The second verse of the song is even more intense, as the singer confronts his own inner demons. The mirror, which is often a symbol of self-reflection and introspection, becomes a source of anxiety and fear, as the singer sees a distorted image of himself, that of a liar who is mocking him. The singer tries to shut him up by punching the mirror, but it only makes the situation worse, as the image of the liar multiplies and intensifies, becoming twenty tiny blades, representing the negative thoughts and feelings that are cutting him from within.
The final lines of the song are somewhat ironic, as they suggest a sense of detachment and apathy in the face of the problems that the singer is confronting. The forest, which is a symbol of nature and the environment, is on fire, but the singer is not worried, because he believes that he and his peers have it under control. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the sense of powerlessness and fatalism that often comes with addiction and mental health problems: the person is aware of the danger and the risks, but feels unable to do anything to stop it.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking from napping with a bad taste in your mouth.
Starting your day with an unpleasant feeling.
Wishing you were sleeping, you don't want to leave the house.
Feeling unmotivated to face the day ahead.
Dripping from your dreaming of a habit you renounced.
Being haunted by the memories of a past addiction.
Get out of bed, please go away, get out, get out, get out.
Struggling to fight off negative thoughts and urges.
You see a liar in the mirror he's sneering in that way.
Being confronted with your own self-doubt and insecurities.
That makes you feel unsafe, insane and you hate to see his face.
Feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable with your own reflection.
You punch the mirror to shut him up but he won't go away.
Trying to silence your inner critic, but realizing it's not that simple.
He just multiplies, intensifies, he's twenty tiny blades.
Realizing that your self-doubt can be relentless and painful.
Is it getting better?
Asking yourself if you're making any progress.
It's really getting worse.
Feeling like things are spiraling out of control despite your efforts.
I'll give a thousand apologies for a thousand hurts.
Feeling guilty about past mistakes and willing to make amends.
The forest is on fire but we're gonna let it burn.
Seeing a destructive force taking over, but choosing to let it run its course.
We're controlling it.
Acknowledging that you have some power over the situation.
We've got it handled.
Feeling confident that you can manage the consequences.
Thanks for your concern.
Being dismissive of someone's attempts to help, because only you can truly understand your own struggles.
Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
брух
Just to make it easier for myself
Bad things happen everyday
Cancer and murder, and herpes and AIDS
We'll all die alone someday
I hope we don't die alone
And our vices make it bearable enough
To know our lives should've been to not give a fuck
They make it bearable enough to help us on our way
But still it feels nice to feel alive
To try to find a house or home or some place to thrive
It feels great to be alive
Except for all those times you feel dead
And how do we maintain our buoyancy
In this salty lake of shit, tears, and murder and disease
How do we keep ourselves afloat?
In all this sad stuff
I've gotta know the answers
I've gotta know it now
And I need the answers, I have to know how
We'll all die alone someday
I hope we don't die alone
Waking from napping with a bad taste in your mouth
Wishing you were sleeping, you don't want to leave the house
Dripping from your dreaming of a habit you renounced
Get out of bed, please go away, get out, get out, get out
You see a liar in the mirror he's sneering in that way
That makes you feel unsafe, insane and you hate to see his face
You punch the mirror to shut him up but he won't go away
He just multiplies, intensifies, he's twenty tiny blades
Is it getting better?
It's really getting worse
I'll give a thousand apologies for a thousand hurts
The forest is on fire but we're gonna let it burn
We're controlling it
We've got it handled
Thanks for your concern
Dingus, yo.
the transition into forest fire is the most god damn amazing thing ever
брух
Just to make it easier for myself
Bad things happen everyday
Cancer and murder, and herpes and AIDS
We'll all die alone someday
I hope we don't die alone
And our vices make it bearable enough
To know our lives should've been to not give a fuck
They make it bearable enough to help us on our way
But still it feels nice to feel alive
To try to find a house or home or some place to thrive
It feels great to be alive
Except for all those times you feel dead
And how do we maintain our buoyancy
In this salty lake of shit, tears, and murder and disease
How do we keep ourselves afloat?
In all this sad stuff
I've gotta know the answers
I've gotta know it now
And I need the answers, I have to know how
We'll all die alone someday
I hope we don't die alone
Waking from napping with a bad taste in your mouth
Wishing you were sleeping, you don't want to leave the house
Dripping from your dreaming of a habit you renounced
Get out of bed, please go away, get out, get out, get out
You see a liar in the mirror he's sneering in that way
That makes you feel unsafe, insane and you hate to see his face
You punch the mirror to shut him up but he won't go away
He just multiplies, intensifies, he's twenty tiny blades
Is it getting better?
It's really getting worse
I'll give a thousand apologies for a thousand hurts
The forest is on fire but we're gonna let it burn
We're controlling it
We've got it handled
Thanks for your concern
TheNixon333
"To know our lives are shit but to not give a fuck."
lilydngerously
forest fire is pretty much the best song I've ever heard.
Arúspice
+Jonathan Wingo Yeah man, definitely my favorite AJJ song
Arúspice
jesus fucking christ it's been 6 years and here I am again.
The more things change the more they stay the same in some ways.
Surprised I'm still here at all
Passion Complex
Came here from a "If this tour doesn't kill you / DVP" by Pup comment saying this transition is fire too.
Didn't disappoint <3
Maxolotl
Shit man I seen that same comment, welcome to the club.
conk18
Same xD
Jarrett Lowery
Same here