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!
Kokopelli Face Tattoo
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the corner of a King Tut tomb
When the hate train started
Going choo choo.
I was a rat on a burning ship
When we sunk, our fire got put out.
It was just like the great plague,
Hey dude I hate everything you do
But I’m trying really hard to not hate you
Hating you won’t make you suck any less
I was a wheel in a war machine
Now I’m a toilet in a restaurant
Somebody’s gotta do it
I know my place
I was a baby killing Cadillac
Now I’m a drug induced heart attack
Somebody’s gotta do it
I know my place
Have you ever wanted to be
Have you ever wanted wanted to see
Someone better, in the mirror
Have you ever wanted to go
Have you ever wanted to know
Somewhere greener, somewhere cleaner
I bet you got something beautiful in mind
They’re gonna beat me till I’m black and blue
Give me a kokopelli face tattoo
And I’ll tell you a secret
Crisis (German for Williams[?])
In the blood cult of the wayward youth
I’ve got a bad case of the yellow flashlight blues
Let me tell you some weird shit
Civil war, civil wa
The lyrics to Andrew Jackson Jihad's song Kokopelli Face Tattoo are cryptic and haunting, with each verse detailing a degradation in status or a fall from grace - a viper ruin, a rat on a burning ship, a wheel in a war machine, a baby killing Cadillac. Amidst these dark descriptions, the singer reflects on the difficulty of hating someone despite despising their actions, and the desire for self-improvement and a better way of living. The chorus contains the repeated phrase, "Somebody’s gotta do it, I know my place", which could be interpreted as a resigned acceptance of one's lot in life, or perhaps a commentary on societal expectations and the pressure to conform to pre-determined roles.
The song's cryptic and surreal imagery lends itself to multiple interpretations, and the title reference to a "Kokopelli face tattoo" adds to the enigmatic nature of the lyrics. Kokopelli is a figure in Native American mythology, often depicted as a humpbacked flute player and fertility deity, and his appearance in the song's title could indicate a connection to themes of rebirth and renewed life. Meanwhile, the phrase "yellow flashlight blues" in the second verse could be interpreted in various ways - as a reference to cowardice or fear, or as a metaphorical description of a search for enlightenment in the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a sexy little viper ruin
I used to be something dangerous and attractive, but now I am broken down and worthless.
In the corner of a King Tut tomb
I was hidden away and forgotten, in a place of royalty and ancient history.
When the hate train started Going choo choo.
When people began expressing their hate and anger, I was there to witness it.
I was a rat on a burning ship When we sunk, our fire got put out.
I was a part of a doomed situation, and the end result was complete destruction.
It was just like the great plague, It's like the birth of underwear.
The disaster felt as catastrophic as a massive disease outbreak, but also mundane and commonplace like something as basic as underwear.
Hey dude I hate everything you do But I’m trying really hard to not hate you Hating you won’t make you suck any less
I strongly dislike your actions, but I am making an effort to not let my hatred of those actions consume my opinion of you as a person.
I was a wheel in a war machine Now I’m a toilet in a restaurant Somebody’s gotta do it I know my place
I used to be part of something larger and more important, but now I have a lower and less glamorous position. I understand that this is where I belong.
I was a baby killing Cadillac Now I’m a drug induced heart attack Somebody’s gotta do it I know my place
I used to be something that caused harm and destruction, but now I am a consequence of that same type of behavior. I accept that this is where I belong.
Have you ever wanted to be Have you ever wanted wanted to see Someone better, in the mirror
Have you ever wished that you were someone else, or had something better or different about yourself?
Have you ever wanted to go Have you ever wanted to know Somewhere greener, somewhere cleaner
Have you ever desired to escape your current situation and find a better, more pure and refreshing environment?
I bet you got something beautiful in mind
I imagine that you have a wonderful idea or plan in your thoughts, that you would love to execute.
They’re gonna beat me till I’m black and blue Give me a kokopelli face tattoo And I’ll tell you a secret Crisis (German for Williams[?])
I will endure physical violence to the point of injury if it means I can receive a permanent symbol of my beliefs or values, and I will even reveal a personal secret to you. (Note: The meaning behind 'Crisis' in the lyric is unclear.)
In the blood cult of the wayward youth I’ve got a bad case of the yellow flashlight blues Let me tell you some weird shit Civil war, civil wa
I am part of a group of misguided and rebellious young people, and I am experiencing negative emotions and uncertainty as a result. I have some strange and unrelated thoughts to share about the Civil War.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wolfcub1835
I was a sexy little viper rune
In the corner of a King Tut tomb
When the hate train started
Going "Choo-choo."
I was a rat on a burning ship
When we sunk, our fire got put out
It was just like the great plague
It's like the birth of underwear
Hey dude I hate everything you do
But I’m trying really hard to not hate you
Hating you won’t make you suck any less
I was a wheel in a war machine
Now I’m a toilet in a restaurant
Somebody’s gotta do it
I know my place
I was a baby killing Cadillac
Now I’m a drug induced heart attack
Somebody’s gotta do it
I know my place
Hey dude, I hate everything you do
But I'm trying really hard to not hate you
Hating you won't make you suck any less
Have you ever wanted to be
Have you ever wanted to see
Someone better, in the mirror
Have you ever wanted to go
Have you ever wanted to know
Somewhere greener, somewhere cleaner
I bet you got something beautiful in mind
They’re gonna beat me till I’m black and blue
Give me a kokopelli face tattoo
And I’ll tell you a secret
Kreuz is German for "Williams"
In the blood cult of the misled youth
I’ve got a bad case of the yellow flashlight blues
Let me tell you some weird shit
There's gonna be a big ole Civil War inside my house tonight
Hey dude, I hate everything you do
But I'm trying really hard to not hate you cause
Hating you won't make you suck any less
And hating you won't make me suck any less
Hating you won't make you suck any less
@conure3029
I was a sexy little viper room
In the corner of a King Tut tomb
When the hate train started
Goin' "Choo-choo"
I was a rat on a burnin' ship
And when we sunk, our fire got put out
It was just like the great plague
Just like the birth of underwear
[Chorus]
Hey dude, I hate everything you do
But I’m trying really hard to not hate you
Hating you won’t make you suck any less
[Verse 2]
I was a wheel in a war machine
Now I’m a toilet in a restaurant
Somebody’s gotta do it
I know my place
I was a baby-killin' Cadillac
Now I’m a drug induced heart attack
Somebody’s gotta do it
I know my place
[Chorus]
Hey dude, I hate everything you do
But I’m trying really hard to not hate you
Hating you won’t make you suck any less
[Bridge]
Have you ever wanted to be
Have you ever wanted to see
Someone better
In the mirror?
Have you ever wanted to go
Have you ever wanted to know
Somewhere greener?
Somewhere cleaner?
I bet you've got somethin' beautiful in mind
[Verse 3]
They’re gonna beat me till I’m black and blue
Give me a Kokopelli face tattoo
And I’ll tell you a secret
"Kreuz" is German for "Williams"
In the blood cult of the misled youth
I’ve got a bad case of the yellow flashlight blues
Let me tell you some weird shit
There's gonna be a big old Civil War inside my house tonight
[Chorus]
Hey dude, I hate everything you do
But I’m trying really hard to not hate you 'cause
Hating you won’t make you suck any less
And hating you won't make me suck any less
Hating you won’t make you suck any less
@sideonedummy
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@Suph373
Lines like "Hating you won't make you suck any less" is why I love AJJ
@zahrajaffary3547
Suph373 gut hallo hallo hallo hallox
@alexanderdempsey9424
Suph373 cringe commemt
@gingerale1591
@@alexanderdempsey9424 ?
@themichealjordanofbirdwatc9409
@@gingerale1591 commemt
@kachigga586
@@themichealjordanofbirdwatc9409 commemt
@Shtoops
"Hating you won't make you suck any less" is honestly a brilliant lyric.
@Flymehomegiantswan
These guys have so much fucking heart
@MrBLACKSTAR360
SkyFace Bear when I saw them live, The song Big Bird made your statement an understatement. :)